Dr LeCrone
05-31-2006, 12:11 PM
How many of the following situations apply to you?
You frequently purchase items that are not really needed.
Purchase items that you "might need" someday.
Experience a strong urge to shop sales whenever possible.
Frequently exceed credit limit or stay "maxed out" on credit card limit.
Experience a temporary emotional high after spending a lot, and then later lapse into feelings of anxiety, guilt or depression.
Shop alone much of the time in order to conceal the amount you spent.
Keep purchases a secret, especially from those you think might disapprove.
Purchase duplicates of things you already have.
Shop to relive boredom, anxiety, depression or stress.
Start out to purchase one or two items and end up with a full basket.
If these situations apply, you may be a compulsive spender. Compulsive spending is similar to other problems were excessive repetition of certain behaviors may produce a temporary sense of relief or escape from pain. These include substance abuse, gambling, or overspending, all of which can become an addiction.
Not everyone who spends too much has a problem, but those who do so in order to overcome feelings of discomfort may need help. Problems of compulsive spending touch both the rich and poor, men and women, young and old.
Compulsive spending for some may have developed as part of the larger problem where material things were given by one's parents attempting to mask their own shortcomings, relieve guilt or smoother over some sort of psychological trauma, such as death or divorce. As a result, the child may have developed an unhealthy association between the relief of psychological pain and material things.
In other cases, the objects of overspending may relate to underlying feelings of inadequacy. Individuals spending excessively on clothing may be attempting to "cover up" unhappiness in their lives. Others may compulsively buy clothes, jewelry, or expensive automobiles in order to create an illusion, a facade, a picture of what they hope others will believe them to be.
Jokes and fun are often directed at compulsive spenders, but for those with this serious problem, humor is inappropriate. Relationships may become impaired, financial difficulties may arise, and lives seriously disrupted as a result of compulsive overspending. As in other forms of compulsive behavior, the sufferer may be helped through professional counseling. Both behavioral and other forms of treatment can assist in the changes necessary to gain control of this problem.
Some individuals may benefit from:
Cessation of credit card use.
Never shopping alone.
Making a list and sticking to it.
Avoiding shopping when under stress.
Evaluating purchases in terms of necessity rather than desire.
Going window shopping to build resistance to impulse buying.
Developing and learning to live on a budget.
Seeking healthy outlets for tension and frustration.
Seeking professional counseling, if necessary.
In today's tougher economic times, spending wisely and with a plan is often helpful in improving one's overall quality of life.
Copyright c 1992 Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D.
You frequently purchase items that are not really needed.
Purchase items that you "might need" someday.
Experience a strong urge to shop sales whenever possible.
Frequently exceed credit limit or stay "maxed out" on credit card limit.
Experience a temporary emotional high after spending a lot, and then later lapse into feelings of anxiety, guilt or depression.
Shop alone much of the time in order to conceal the amount you spent.
Keep purchases a secret, especially from those you think might disapprove.
Purchase duplicates of things you already have.
Shop to relive boredom, anxiety, depression or stress.
Start out to purchase one or two items and end up with a full basket.
If these situations apply, you may be a compulsive spender. Compulsive spending is similar to other problems were excessive repetition of certain behaviors may produce a temporary sense of relief or escape from pain. These include substance abuse, gambling, or overspending, all of which can become an addiction.
Not everyone who spends too much has a problem, but those who do so in order to overcome feelings of discomfort may need help. Problems of compulsive spending touch both the rich and poor, men and women, young and old.
Compulsive spending for some may have developed as part of the larger problem where material things were given by one's parents attempting to mask their own shortcomings, relieve guilt or smoother over some sort of psychological trauma, such as death or divorce. As a result, the child may have developed an unhealthy association between the relief of psychological pain and material things.
In other cases, the objects of overspending may relate to underlying feelings of inadequacy. Individuals spending excessively on clothing may be attempting to "cover up" unhappiness in their lives. Others may compulsively buy clothes, jewelry, or expensive automobiles in order to create an illusion, a facade, a picture of what they hope others will believe them to be.
Jokes and fun are often directed at compulsive spenders, but for those with this serious problem, humor is inappropriate. Relationships may become impaired, financial difficulties may arise, and lives seriously disrupted as a result of compulsive overspending. As in other forms of compulsive behavior, the sufferer may be helped through professional counseling. Both behavioral and other forms of treatment can assist in the changes necessary to gain control of this problem.
Some individuals may benefit from:
Cessation of credit card use.
Never shopping alone.
Making a list and sticking to it.
Avoiding shopping when under stress.
Evaluating purchases in terms of necessity rather than desire.
Going window shopping to build resistance to impulse buying.
Developing and learning to live on a budget.
Seeking healthy outlets for tension and frustration.
Seeking professional counseling, if necessary.
In today's tougher economic times, spending wisely and with a plan is often helpful in improving one's overall quality of life.
Copyright c 1992 Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D.