I have two bags by my feet filled with clothes I’ll probably never get to wear… some I will. But I went in the store for a phone charger and a shirt for a blind date next Friday. I spent 180$ at Ross.
I’m a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and narcotics anonymous and have 2years 3 months clean and sober…
I just realized my shopping addiction is real.
I keep calling it therapy.
I think I have a problem.
Not only do I have no closet space nor dresser space. I buy these banging ass clothes to wear to the club or some shit while I’m sober… I don’t go to the club… so where the fuck do I think I’m going I don’t know. Maybe I should give this a try.
I’m guessing there’s no welcome chip or key chain here… but hello I’m Heather and I’m a shopaholic
welcome to the community. In my life i learned that often addicts move from one addiction to the next. I know i have moved through several in my life and working to watch things closely and make sure to try and keep it under control at all times.
Hello, Heather. I’m a shopaholic, too! I think of it more as “shopertainment” then therapy. That’s because I’m in therapy and it’s a whole different experience. But I simply love to shop. I have 3 closets that are bursting and a full-size clothes rack in our guest room that is also bursting with clothes. I do wear a lot of them, but I have some things with the price tags still attached. I’m a woman “of a certain age” and have been shopping like this all my life. I’ve gone in and out of debt a few times, getting into trouble by charging my purchases. About 5 months ago I joined Debtor’s Anonymous - a 12 step program for - among others - overshoppers (that’s how they got into debt). It’s helped me quite a bit. I put together a spending plan which I do my best to stick to every month. It does allow for a certain amount of shopping, but also savings and paying off debt. I’m also trying to shop much more mindfully - thinking about when I’ll wear my purchases and estimating how much use I’ll get out of them. In my earlier days I loved to go clubbing. I had some great dresses and shoes for that. Not anymore. I do dress up for nights out and also some volunteer work that I do (I’m retired now). I can recommend a really good book for you: “To Buy or Not To Buy”, by April Bensen. She was a pioneer in the field of overshopping. The book has lots of exercises that help you figure out why you’re overshopping and what you can do to replace that time with things that feed your soul. It’s a very good read. I have learned a lot from it. I suggest - since you’re already a 12 stepper - that you try Debtor’s Anonymous. You don’t have to be in debt to join, and you’ll meet many current and former overshoppers there. The literature is very good (pick up a copy of “A Currency of Hope” on their website or on Amazon). Try a Zoom meeting of DA. You don’t have to share - just listen in and see if you can relate. Congratulations on your AA and NA sobriety! That’s huge! You can become financially sober as well. Give it a try. You know the tools and the steps. Keep posting here to let us know how you’re doing. Best of luck!