6 Benefits of Shopping Addiction that You Need to Know Now

1. Ambition and motivation to achieve may decrease

Shopping can indeed provide a momentary feeling of happiness. When buying new items, the brain releases chemicals such as dopamine which are related to the reward system (reward system).

The problem is, if this sensation is continuously used as the main source of happiness, a person can become more interested in pursuing instant gratification rather than long-term achievements. Learning new skills takes time. Building a business requires patience. Practicing sports requires consistency.

On the other hand, purchasing an item only takes a few minutes. As a result, motivation to pursue goals that require a process can decrease if the brain continues to get used to chasing quick gratification.

Independent women should build a sense of pride through achievements, skills and contributions to others, not just through the things they own.

2. Difficult to concentrate because you are easily distracted

Compulsive shopping doesn’t always stop when the transaction is complete. Many people spend hours looking at catalogs, comparing prices, opening shopping apps, or following promotions that are not actually related to their needs.

As a result, attention becomes easily divided. Study time is disrupted. Work is delayed. In fact, time with family can decrease because your mind is constantly focused on the next item you want to buy.

The ability to focus is an important asset in studying, exercising, working and developing skills. The more often one’s attention is diverted by consumerist impulses, the more difficult it is for a person to maintain concentration on larger goals.

3. Self-Confidence Becomes Fragile

Some people begin to measure their self-worth based on the things they own. When they wear new clothes or buy the latest products, they feel more confident.

However, this kind of confidence usually doesn’t last long. When newer or more expensive products appear, the feeling of dissatisfaction returns.

Psychology distinguishes between healthy self-esteem, which comes from self-acceptance, achievement, and competence, and self-esteem that relies too much on external judgment. If self-confidence only depends on goods, a person will more easily feel inferior when they are unable to follow trends.
In contrast, self-confidence built through skill, experience, and integrity tends to be more stable.

4. Having Unrealistic Expectations of Your Partner

Healthy relationships are built on mutual respect, mutual support, and shared responsibility. If someone views their partner only as a source of money to fulfill a consumer lifestyle, the relationship is at risk of becoming unbalanced.

Expectations like “your partner should always fulfill all your shopping desires” are not a healthy basis for building a relationship. Both women and men have the same right to develop, learn, manage finances and pursue their life goals.

Partners are not just providers of financial needs, but partners who help each other face various life challenges. Respecting your partner means also respecting your partner’s effort, time and maturity.

5. Precious Time Is Wasted

In life, lost money can still be recovered. However, the time that has passed cannot be returned.

Shopping is necessary when buying necessities. However, if most of your free time is spent looking at promotions, opening an online shop aimlessly, or chasing discounts that you don’t really need, the opportunity to do something more meaningful is reduced.

This time can actually be used to read books, learn foreign languages, exercise, develop a business, take courses, write, or help other people. All of these activities provide far greater benefits in the long term than the instant gratification of buying items that are not actually needed.

6. Your mentality becomes more fragile because you depend on shopping for medicine or supplements

Maintaining health is a good action. Medicines and supplements also have their respective roles if used according to the indications and recommendations of health workers.

However, problems arise if someone becomes very worried about their body’s condition, which is actually mild, and then continues to buy various health products without a clear basis.

Supplements are not a substitute for a nutritious diet.
Supplements are also not a substitute for exercise, adequate sleep, or proper medical examinations when necessary. Anxiety about health should be dealt with with correct information, consultation with health workers if necessary, and the implementation of a healthy lifestyle as a whole.

Building a healthy body cannot be done just by buying products. A healthy body is built through daily habits.

CLOSURE

As part of Superwoman Series #143, this thread reminds us that shopping addiction is not just a matter of spending money.

The impact can spread to various aspects of life. Motivation to achieve can decrease. Focus is easily distracted. Self-confidence becomes fragile if you only depend on things. Relationships with partners can be disrupted by unrealistic financial expectations. Valuable time can be wasted. In fact, anxiety about health can encourage excessive purchasing of health products without solving the root of the problem.

Strong women are not the ones who have the fullest closets. Strong women are those who are able to control their desires, use money wisely, maintain their bodies with a healthy lifestyle, build respectful relationships, and continue to develop abilities that can benefit themselves and others.

Because, in the end, financial freedom is not obtained from the ability to buy as many things as possible, but from the ability to control oneself when the temptation to buy keeps coming.

SOURCE

Y*ut*be’s account is one hundred percent male (but adapted to a female style).

Black, D. W. (2007). A review of compulsive buying disorder. World Psychiatry, 6(1)14-18.

Koran, L. M., Faber, R. J., Aboujaoude, E., Large, M. D., & Serpe, R. T. (2006). Estimated prevalence of compulsive buying behavior in the United States. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(10)1806-1812.

Müller, A., Mitchell, JE, & de Zwaan, M. (2015). Compulsive buying. The American Journal on Addictions, 24(2)132-137.

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2022). Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

World Health Organization. (2020). Healthy Diet. World Health Organization.