Terrence Shulman
The Shulman Center for Compulsive Theft Spending and Hoarding, USA
Title: Bought Out & Spent! Understanding & Treating Compulsive $hopping and $pending
Biography
Biography: Terrence Shulman
Abstract
We all shop for many reasons but the addict buys to relieve anxiety and over time the buying creates a dysfunctional lifestyle and more and more of their focus is on shopping and sometimes the cover-up too. Statistics reveal that approximately 10% of Americans (roughly 30 million people) meet the criteria for a compulsive buying/shopping/spending diagnosis. Other research reveals that the average American is at least $10,000 (ten thousand dollars) in debt and that arguments over money and spending are the leading cause of relationship confl icts and break-ups. People are getting hooked on store shopping, TV
shopping and Internet shopping. There are various patterns of overshopping that people engage in, including:
Compulsive shoppers – shop to distract feelings; “when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping”
Trophy shoppers – fi nd the perfect accessory for outfi ts, etc. High class items will do.
Image shoppers – pick up tab, expensive cars, highly visible stuff
Bargain shoppers – buy stuff they don’t need just because it is a good deal. Out for the hunt.
Codependent shoppers – to gain love and approval
Bulimic Shoppers – buy and return, buy and return (similar to actual bulimia)
Collector Shoppers – have to have complete sets of objects or diff erent colors of same style of clothing
But what causes someone to become a compulsive shopper/spender? And what can be done to treat it?