“The most effective way to address retail therapy is to find out what deficit you're trying to remedy and face that head-on,” explains Dr. Investigate the feelings that push you to shop.īefore you figure out the best way to replace this savings-draining coping tool, you have to get to the root cause. So if you have to pull into a shopping plaza for whatever reason, c'est la vie. “This is a tenet of acceptance and commitment therapy, also known as ACT, which emphasizes accepting what is and isn't in our control,” explains Bryan-Podvin. While you can’t avoid shopping forever (well, unless you pursue a barter-and-trade lifestyle), accepting that fact can help you go easy on yourself when you’re trying to cut back. Here’s what you can do to keep your mental health in check without turning your bank statements into a mall directory. With all of that in mind, if you’re looking to replace retail therapy with some healthier options, I got you. Ditto if your spending habit becomes uncontrollable or compulsive, aka oniomania, according to the American Psychological Association.

So if the high of a purchase is quickly followed by feeling depressed, guilty, or ashamed-or you’re spending money you need to meet your basic needs-emotional shopping may not be doing you any favors, says Bryan-Podvin. Retail therapy isn’t necessarily a problem on its own, but you want to think about the ways shopping affects your physical and mental health, your ability to work and save money, and your relationships. “We recall and often want to relive the positive experiences from our past.” (Anyone else love the back-to-school shopping experience with their fam?) “It’s a form of nostalgia,” he adds. It’s also possible that shopping transports you back to a time when life was good, Dr. Ever lay awake in bed shopping for gym equipment when what you really need is sleep? Yep, that could be what’s going on. That’s because our mind can confuse the cravings for social interaction, rest, and food with cravings for stuff that doesn’t meet those needs, he adds. Then there’s the way being hungry, angry, lonely, and tired (aka HALT, as these common stressors are referred to in the recovery community) mess with your mind, explains clinical psychologist Ryan Howes, PhD.

Wanting to be or identify as someone else can also trigger emotional spending because we hope that this cool thing we’re about to own will make us better or happier in the long run, says Bryan-Podvin. Basically, the cycle goes: You put off the issue that really needs your attention to find something you want, you buy it, you enjoy it (or just enjoy the feeling of it coming your way), and you ignore your problems for a while-until they come flooding back, she explains. The desire to feel some sense of control over your life or avoid dealing with something stressful is one of the primary reasons people turn to retail therapy, says Bryan-Podvin. When I was in debt and feeling low or exhausted, splurging on expensive sushi was my kryptonite. Δ By subscribing to our email newsletter, you agree to and acknowledge that you have read our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.Īs a finance author and mental and financial health advocate-and someone who climbed their way out of $81,000 of student loan debt-I know how good it can feel to treat yourself when life isn’t going your way or your mind is swirling with negative thoughts. Shopping can even temporarily alleviate feelings of sadness and help you feel more in control, suggests a 2014 study on the effects of retail therapy. Spending money can be a coping mechanism like anything else, something you turn to when you’re feeling emotional, need a little flicker of something new or aspirational, or want to activate the feel-good chemicals in your brain, says Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, LMSW, certified financial therapist and founder of Mind Money Balance. Even thinking about it feels kinda good, huh? That’s the power of retail therapy, baby! Or maybe you walk into Target (uh-oh), where it is impossible to leave without grabbing a fun lil drink, an impromptu yoga mat, some home decor, and a cardigan that looks more expensive than it is. Then, suddenly, e-commerce is calling your name, practically begging you to go to The Container Store, Nordstrom, or just Instagram and “Add to Cart” with reckless abandon. Picture this: You’ve had a bad day at work, you were dumped, or you’re just in your feels for no apparent reason.

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