Self-Help Groups for Shopping Addiction

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns of Shopping AddictionReasons to Try a Self-Help GroupSelf-Help Groups to TryWhen to Seek Help

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs of Shopping Addiction

Reasons to Try a Self-Help Group

Self-Help Groups to Try

When to Seek Help

Self-help groups can be a helpful resource if you have ashopping addiction. Surrounding yourself with a community of people who have shared the same or similar experiences can be extremely beneficial. Such groups often allow you to stay anonymous and offer support for people who consider themselves shopping addicts or shopaholics.

Like most problems in life, it can help to talk to others who know exactly what you’re dealing with because they’ve been there, too. If you’re acompulsive shopper, you can gain a new perspective on your addiction through support group work.

At a GlanceIf you’ve noticed signs of a shopping addiction, you might consider joining a support group for shopaholics. These groups are available in-person and online, where you can often get anonymous encouragement and tips for coping with your compulsive shopping. Such groups can also provide insights into why you might shop to excess and help you recognize when you might need to speak to a mental health professional.

At a Glance

If you’ve noticed signs of a shopping addiction, you might consider joining a support group for shopaholics. These groups are available in-person and online, where you can often get anonymous encouragement and tips for coping with your compulsive shopping. Such groups can also provide insights into why you might shop to excess and help you recognize when you might need to speak to a mental health professional.

Everyone overspends now and again, but research suggests that between 3.3% and 16.9% of people engage in compulsive buying. It also tends to be most prevalent among women and online shoppers.

The disorder typically begins in the late teens or early adulthood. It often co-occurs with other mental health conditions such as mood and anxiety disorders,substance use disorders, eating disorders, other impulse control disorders, and personality disorders.

If the majority of these characteristics apply, you or your loved one may have a compulsive buying disorder.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a shopping addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

The Best Online Therapy for Anxiety, Tried and Tested

A self-help group for shopping addiction can help people gain insight into their addiction. Joining a group can also help you:

Joining a support group has many benefits such as helping you identify your triggers and developing coping techniques to manage feelings of distress. You’ll also find a community of supportive, understanding people and information about available treatments.

Online Therapy Reviews

It can be helpful to look at the variety of self-help groups that are available for people grappling with compulsive buying disorder, as well as for their families and friends. Whether you prefer to join an online support group or supplement the support you get at in-person meetings with online meetings, you’ll be able to find one that’s right for you.

Debtors Anonymous

Debtors Anonymouswas first started in 1968 when a group of recovering members from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) began discussing their financial problems. According to its website, the group’s purpose is threefold: “to stop incurring unsecured debt, to share our experience with the newcomer, and to reach out to other debtors.”

Today, the group has more than 500 registered meetings in more than 15 countries worldwide, where you can share your struggles and help others who are overcoming overspending.

Spenders Anonymous

Spenders Anonymousis a 12-step group based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous; however, there is no organizational affiliation between the two groups.

Spenders Anonymous strives to help people stop spending compulsively, take responsibility for their money, and spread the message of recovery to other compulsive spenders.

The only requirement for membership is a “desire to stop spending time, money, energy, and our very selves beyond all reason,” according to its website.

Stopping Overshopping

Services include a self-help program, private coaching, and group coaching. The program utilizes a variety of tools including coaching sessions with trained therapists, journals, videos, audio recordings, and an app to help people control buying behavior when an urge strikes.

Shopping Addiction Support Group

Shopping Addiction Support Groupis an online support group with over 35,000 members. You can post about whatever you’re dealing with and receive support and advice from people who have experience with compulsive shopping. To get started with the group, you will need to submit a request to join after creating a user account.

If your compulsive spending creates distress, financial hardship, or difficulty functioning in your daily life, consider talking to a professional.

A mental health professional can help you learn more about the behavior and develop coping mechanisms to help you manage your urge to shop.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)is an approach that helps people identify and change the unhelpful thoughts that contribute to compulsive shopping behaviors. Antidepressants are also sometimes prescribed.

Financial counseling can also be beneficial, particularly for those who may be experiencing debt for financial problems associated with their shopping habits.

Summary

Talk therapy can help manage spending, as can self-help and support groups designed to offer resources, encouragement, and sympathy.

What This Means For YouShopping addiction can have a serious impact on your life and finances. If you think you might be struggling with compulsive spending, talk to a doctor or mental health professional. Psychotherapy, support groups, and medications can be helpful for taking control of your spending and managing your urge to shop.

What This Means For You

Shopping addiction can have a serious impact on your life and finances. If you think you might be struggling with compulsive spending, talk to a doctor or mental health professional. Psychotherapy, support groups, and medications can be helpful for taking control of your spending and managing your urge to shop.

The Best Online Group Therapy, Tried and Tested

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Adamczyk G.Compulsive and compensative buying among online shoppers: An empirical study. Sudzina F, ed.PLoS ONE. 2021;16(6):e0252563. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252563Filomensky TZ, Tavares H.Compulsive buying disorder. In: el-Guebaly N, Carrà G, Galanter M, Baldacchino AM, eds.Textbook of Addiction Treatment. Springer International Publishing; 2021:979-994. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-36391-8_69Müller A, Mitchell JE, de Zwaan M.Compulsive buying.Am J Addict. 2015;24(2):132-137. doi:10.1111/ajad.12111Rayland A, Andrews J.From social network to peer support network: Opportunities to explore mechanisms of online peer support for mental health.JMIR Ment Health. 2023;10:e41855. doi:10.2196/41855Vasiliu O.Therapeutic management of buying/shopping disorder: A systematic literature review and evidence-based recommendations.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:1047280. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1047280American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Adamczyk G.Compulsive and compensative buying among online shoppers: An empirical study. Sudzina F, ed.PLoS ONE. 2021;16(6):e0252563. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252563Filomensky TZ, Tavares H.Compulsive buying disorder. In: el-Guebaly N, Carrà G, Galanter M, Baldacchino AM, eds.Textbook of Addiction Treatment. Springer International Publishing; 2021:979-994. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-36391-8_69Müller A, Mitchell JE, de Zwaan M.Compulsive buying.Am J Addict. 2015;24(2):132-137. doi:10.1111/ajad.12111Rayland A, Andrews J.From social network to peer support network: Opportunities to explore mechanisms of online peer support for mental health.JMIR Ment Health. 2023;10:e41855. doi:10.2196/41855Vasiliu O.Therapeutic management of buying/shopping disorder: A systematic literature review and evidence-based recommendations.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:1047280. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1047280American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.

Adamczyk G.Compulsive and compensative buying among online shoppers: An empirical study. Sudzina F, ed.PLoS ONE. 2021;16(6):e0252563. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252563Filomensky TZ, Tavares H.Compulsive buying disorder. In: el-Guebaly N, Carrà G, Galanter M, Baldacchino AM, eds.Textbook of Addiction Treatment. Springer International Publishing; 2021:979-994. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-36391-8_69Müller A, Mitchell JE, de Zwaan M.Compulsive buying.Am J Addict. 2015;24(2):132-137. doi:10.1111/ajad.12111Rayland A, Andrews J.From social network to peer support network: Opportunities to explore mechanisms of online peer support for mental health.JMIR Ment Health. 2023;10:e41855. doi:10.2196/41855Vasiliu O.Therapeutic management of buying/shopping disorder: A systematic literature review and evidence-based recommendations.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:1047280. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1047280American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.

Adamczyk G.Compulsive and compensative buying among online shoppers: An empirical study. Sudzina F, ed.PLoS ONE. 2021;16(6):e0252563. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252563

Filomensky TZ, Tavares H.Compulsive buying disorder. In: el-Guebaly N, Carrà G, Galanter M, Baldacchino AM, eds.Textbook of Addiction Treatment. Springer International Publishing; 2021:979-994. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-36391-8_69

Müller A, Mitchell JE, de Zwaan M.Compulsive buying.Am J Addict. 2015;24(2):132-137. doi:10.1111/ajad.12111

Rayland A, Andrews J.From social network to peer support network: Opportunities to explore mechanisms of online peer support for mental health.JMIR Ment Health. 2023;10:e41855. doi:10.2196/41855

Vasiliu O.Therapeutic management of buying/shopping disorder: A systematic literature review and evidence-based recommendations.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:1047280. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1047280

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?

At a Glance#

Debtors Anonymous#

Spenders Anonymous#

Stopping Overshopping#

Shopping Addiction Support Group#

Summary#

What This Means For You#

Get Help Now#