Compulsive shopping?

[compulsiveshopping]

It’s driving me mad . I’m currently being treated for OCD and PTSD (one bouncing off the other) . I literally can’t stop shopping, or thinking about buying things . I’ve spent £300 on clothes since Christmas. I don’t need any more clothes . Got two tops this morning , first thought, ‘now I need jeans’ - why? I don’t need anything - it’s just I want the buzz I get when I get a parcel !!

It’s got me in a panic this morning as I don’t have that much money (student loan) and I’m spending it too fast .

How do I stop? I’ve a therapy appointment next week but GP was on phone this week and asked - said I’m swapping one problem for another (previously compulsive use of codeine, and binge eating) and she’s concerned it’s becoming compulsive spending .

My phone is set up so I don’t even need my bloody card, just press with my thumb . Can I block my phone from accessing shopping or something (iPhone?)

Sorry no answers but I’m exactly the same. Always have been. I’ve also had OCD in the past. I’d love to be able to stop but I just don’t seem able to.

First off, your shopping isn’t inevitable. You are choosing to do it and you can also choose not to do it.

Key to this is taking responsibility. You are in control. Have a look at some CBT YouTube videos which will help you challenge your own thinking.

Can someone else take control of your money and give you an allowance do to speak each week?

My ex sil shopped so much. She wasn't short of money but it became an obsession. The parcels would arrive and stay unopened for months!
It would be clothes. Home wares. Toiletries the lot. She used to have an entire larder of toiletries prob 40 of each item. And boxes full too. She knew she didn't need it. She couldn't help. It.

No idea the situation now but it was bad.

Counselling will help...first brutal step is to admit the problem. Second is what do you need to do to stop, I think its really important that you come up with these steps yourself but to give you some logical ones*:-

Remove your card from sites
Send back everything you possibly can
Block sites and delete newsletters
Discuss why you are doing it with counsellor and find alternatives

*these worked for me

I was like this with PND and I identify so much with the enjoyment when parcels arrive. It’s something to look forward to, isn’t it?

How did you move on from the other behaviours?

I know it's not solving the problem, but could you try buying cheaper things so you're not spending so much money? And could you try to limit yourself to say one parcel a week?

Probably not helpful but couldn't you sell stuff you don't need on Ebay or send it back. I get a buzz when people bid for my stuff on Ebay and your earning cash not spending it x

Definitely try to reverse the buzz by selling stuff. You can get excited when the money appears in your account.

@PersonaNonGarter

Definitely try to reverse the buzz by selling stuff. You can get excited when the money appears in your account.

^this is a great idea.

I've been there OP, when I was pregnant my life was so out of control, I was so skint but would borrow money and spend it on cloth nappies! I had about 100 of them before he was even born

What helped was CBT, deleting my cards off all websites and giving them to my dad, and unsubscribing to emails.

Then I got a bit hooked on selling stuff too!

Good luck.