Shopping addiction should be taken more seriously say sufferers

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Lucy, a 37-year-old woman from West Yorkshire, found herself consumed by excessive shopping, spending up to 14 hours a day searching for new clothes to escape reality. The dream-like life she imagined was shattered by the damaging effects of her shopping addiction, leading her to neglect paying bills in order to sustain her buying habits. Lucy describes the weight of clothes as a physical and emotional drowning, using clothing as a shield to avoid confronting real-life emotions.

Influenced by online figures with vast wardrobes, Lucy’s spending escalated to £700 per week, accumulating a daunting £12,000 debt. It wasn’t until an NHS Cognitive Behavioural Therapy session that she learned about oniomania, the compulsive urge to buy things, marking a pivotal “penny drop” moment in her recovery journey. Calling for better recognition and support for this condition, Lucy emphasizes the lack of resources compared to substance addiction.

Natalie, a 40-year-old from Rotherham, found her obsessive buying behavior rooted in her Obsessive Compulsive Disorder triggers. Her “cupboard of doom” contains over 10,000 items, including 300 tubes of toothpaste and 3,000 washing pods. With a monthly spending spree of up to £3,000, Natalie’s addiction causes her to feel unsettled until her surroundings are filled with material possessions. Despite therapy attempts, she struggles to halt her shopping habits and believes more comprehensive NHS support is required for individuals like her.

For Alyce from Bristol, shopping became a response to self-esteem issues, fueling a cycle of consumption through Buy Now Pay Later schemes. Her spending reached £800 monthly, accumulating £9,000 in debt before seeking therapy and overcoming her addiction. The overwhelming impact of shopping addiction pervades daily life, as Alyce highlights the struggle to break free from the allure of constant buying

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