Compulsive buying may seem fun or enviable, however, behind this behavior there may be a disorder that severely affects people's lives, both financially and personally.

There are cases of famous compulsive buyers such as Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of US President Abraham Lincoln, who was severely criticized in her time for buying excessively in Manhattan, it is said that she was addicted to gloves and has even been considered the Imelda Marcos victorian

Imelda Marcos, former first lady of the Philippines, was well known for her stratospheric spending. When her husband's rule came to an end, she fled to Hawaii, leaving behind between 1,000 and 3,000 pairs of shoes and more than 800 handbags.

Men are not exempt, it is the case of William Randolph Hearts whose appetite to buy works of art and antiques was insatiable leading him almost to bankruptcy.

If you missed the first part of this article, read it here: Compulsive shopping in the pandemic: the origin of a potentially dangerous problem

At +Dinero we interviewed Dr. Gabriela Orozco Calderón, head of the UNAM Faculty of Psychology laboratory, to learn about the background of compulsive purchases at a time in history where isolation and the rise of electronic commerce may be the ingredients of the perfect storm for some people.

According to the specialist, both women and men are prone to this compulsive behavior:

“When we talk about compulsiveness and impulsiveness as a pathology, we can say that it occurs the same in both men and women. They tend to buy more objects that have to do with beauty (cosmetics, clothes, shoes, household items) and they buy more electrical appliances, consoles, video games, car accessories, but also clothes, shoes and music. That will depend a lot on the age, the social stereotypes and the teachings that the person has received throughout their life, ”she explains.

Types of compulsive buyers

Similarly, the specialist points out that specific patterns can be identified in the field of compulsive purchases:

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This confirms that there is a very strong link between psychiatric illnesses, depression and shopping. The emotional factor is key in personal finances and despite the fact that everyone at some point in life spends too much time with the card or gets excited buying offers, there is a point where this becomes a habit and we get out of the vicious circle by oneself becomes very difficult.

Available Options and Strategies to Help Compulsive Buyers

A compulsive buyer requires professional support from expert psychologists in addictions or cognitive-behavioral psychologists.

“They can be group or individual therapies where individual awareness can be generated and strategies can be put into practice that are capable of limiting this compulsive behavior. In extreme cases, apart from therapy, individuals may need pharmacological treatment, which can only be provided by a psychiatrist or neurologist. What is administered are drugs that act on neurochemical systems (dopamine, serotonin). In this sense, it has been seen that antidepressants and antagonist medications of certain neurotransmitters work,” said Dr. Gabriela Orozco.

Something that is also worked with these patients is the so-called hygiene of life, which consists of encouraging them to do other stimulating activities, but more positive for the person, such as daily exercise.

“In the end, the psychologist is the professional who will generate a successful program and a series of strategies that the compulsive buyer can carry out so that he does not have relapses. This is a complicated issue, but it certainly has a solution and a way to treat it, "she concluded.

If you feel that somehow the impulse to buy is gaining you, you can put into practice some preventive options that experts also suggest to stop associating purchases with leisure or success with obtaining objects as a reward:

The pandemic has put us all in a difficult emotional situation, it is normal for us to look for escape valves, but remember that today more than ever it is necessary to look for your well-being. If you feel like things are starting to get out of hand, consider the alternatives available to you.

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