The end-of-year holidays, beyond bringing joy and togetherness for many families, also generate stress and anxiety. At this time of year, people are exposed to constant advertisements that encourage them to purchase, often generating uncontrolled and compulsive behaviors, which not only affect the economy of the buyer but also that of their family environment, turning a daily act, such as buying, into a bigger problem. On this occasion, the psychologist Mary Castro, from Clinica Ricardo Palma, provides us with more information on the subject.

Characteristics of a compulsive shopper

Among the main characteristics we find:

• Impulsiveness
• The need for immediate satisfaction
• Anxiety about having something new that he/she considers vital for him/her at that moment
• Financial problems (consequence)

Causes

The main cause that conceals this type of behavior is emotional problems. Within which we find:

• Low self-esteem
• Unsafety
• Emotional instability
• Poor impulse control
• Low tolerance for frustration, among others

Treatment

It is necessary to seek a specialist to handle this problem, since it not only harms the person who suffers from it, but it can also cause family problems, as it can alter household finances.

Recommendations

Our specialist gives us the following recommendations to avoid falling into compulsive shopping:

• Make a table of needs that should not be altered, especially on festive dates when many may exceed expenses.
• Establish a spending budget that includes social gatherings (which usually occur in December) and gifts.
• Reflect on whether the purchases being made are necessary and useful; that is, if they are really going to be used for a long time.
• Go to a specialist if you realize that he is frequently altering your finances and putting your economic well-being at risk by making unnecessary purchases.

Mary Castro
Psychologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma