Tag: Shopping

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Understanding Process Addiction: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment

When we think of addiction, we usually think of drugs or alcohol. But did you know you can also become addicted to certain behaviors? 

Process addiction, also known as behavioral addiction, is an addiction to behaviors like eating, shopping, or sex that can result in an unhealthy relationship with activities that are otherwise a normal part of life. We explore the various types of process addiction, their signs and symptoms, and effective treatment options.

What Is Process Addiction? 

Process addiction, also known as behavioral addiction, involves compulsively engaging in certain behaviors despite their negative consequences. Not all behavioral addictions are yet in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses (DSM-5), the professional manual on mental health disorders. But the American Psychiatric Association (APA) does include behaviors—not just substances—in its definition of addiction:1 

A state of psychological and/or physical dependence on the use of drugs or other substances, such as alcohol, or on activities or behaviors. The term…can be applied to non-substance-related behavioral addictions, such as sex, exercise, and gambling.

Unlike substance addiction, where the dependency is on drugs or alcohol, process addiction centers on actions that cause intense feelings of pleasure or relief, creating an overwhelming urge to repeat them. These behaviors, which might include gambling, shopping, or internet-based activities, can consume people to the point of disrupting their daily lives. The cycle of addiction is driven by the same brain changes that are involved in substance addiction, and it’s equally important to address process addiction with the same seriousness and care.

Types of Process Addiction

Gambling Addiction 

Gambling addiction is a strong, uncontrollable need to keep gambling, even when it’s causing severe problems. This can include anything from playing the lottery and betting on sports to hitting the casinos or gambling online. The excitement of possibly winning2 can push people to gamble more money than they can afford, leading to mounting debt and stress. Even though they know the risks, the urge to keep gambling grows stronger, making it feel virtually impossible to stop.

Shopping Addiction

Shopping addiction, sometimes called compulsive buying disorder, is an overwhelming need to shop and spend money. This addiction also causes significant financial and emotional stress. While it’s not a central focus in the recovery space, it is widespread: shopping addiction affects around 5.8% of people in the U.S.3 

People with this addiction get a temporary emotional boost when they make a purchase—but it’s often followed by guilt or regret. Shopping becomes a way to deal with feelings or fill a void, but it only creates bigger problems.

The fact that most shopping now takes place online adds another layer to this problem: 

“Shopping enabled via the Internet now introduces new features to the shopping experience that translates to positive benefits for the shopper,” say authors of a study on online shopping addiction.4 “Evidence now suggests that this new shopping experience may lead to problematic online shopping behaviour.” 

Internet Addiction

The term “internet addiction” refers to an addiction to behaviors that are performed online as opposed to the internet itself. As one meta-study states, “exactly what it is on the Internet that they are addicted to still remains unclear.”5  

This addiction is more about being hooked on certain online behaviors,6 like social media, gaming, or endless web browsing—and it affects between 1.5-8.2% of people in Europe and the U.S. 

Being unable to control the time you spend online can cause you to neglect your responsibilities, become socially isolated, and start to develop mental health issues like anxiety or depression. While turning to the virtual world to escape real-life problems is increasingly common, spending too much time online usually worsens these issues, creating a tough cycle to break.

Food Addiction

Food addiction happens when someone can’t control their eating habits, even when they know it’s harmful to their health. It’s often tied to emotional eating, where food becomes a way to cope with depression, anxiety, or stress. People with this addiction tend to crave high-calorie or sugary foods, which can lead to weight gain, self-esteem issues, and other problems with mental and physical health. 

Eating disorders are multifaceted and complex, and eating disorders and food addiction are not necessarily the same thing. However, understanding that behavioral addictions can sometimes include eating can help us better understand and treat disordered eating. According to current research on eating addiction,7 

Food addiction is considered an important link for a better understanding of psychiatric and medical problems triggered by dysfunctions of eating behaviors, e.g., obesity, metabolic syndrome, binge eating disorder, or bulimia nervosa.

Some foods have a higher addictive potential than others. The same study finds that “High-sodium foods, artificially flavored foods, rich carbohydrate- and saturated fats-containing foods are triggers for the activation of the same neural pathways, therefore they act similarly to any drug of abuse.”

While it may not be clearly defined, researchers agree that food addiction functions in much the same way that substance addictions do: “Food addiction is considered a disorder based on functional negative consequences, associated distress and potential risks to both psychological well-being and physical health.”8 

Sex Addiction

Sex addiction, sometimes called hypersexual disorder, is when someone’s sexual behavior becomes compulsive, negatively impacting their relationships and daily life. These behaviors often stem from deeper emotional or psychological issues.

Sex addiction is listed in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) under impulse control disorders as compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD).9

There’s still debate among some behavioral scientists, however, about whether it can be classified as an addiction at all. “It’s not consistent with an addiction model,” says psychologist Jeffrey Parsons, PhD. “Sexual compulsivity is something that clearly exists, but it has a lot of variation and variability in how it presents itself.”10

Regardless of how it’s officially defined, compulsive sexual behavior seriously impacts a lot of people. Members of Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (S.L.A.A.) say, “We find a common denominator in our obsessive/compulsive patterns,”11 which they describe as: 

  • Lacking healthy boundaries around sexual involvement and emotional attachment 
  • Staying in destructive relationships out of fear of loneliness or abandonment 
  • Confusing “love with neediness, physical and sexual attraction, pity and/or the need to rescue or be rescued”
  • Using sex to cope with difficult emotions like stress, guilt, or shame

To better understand the challenges of process addiction, let’s explore its signs and symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Process Addiction 

Behavioral addictions cause very similar changes in the brain, and therefore present similarly, to substance addictions. Signs of process addiction include obsession, compulsive behavior, neglecting your responsibilities, and social withdrawal. 

Obsessive Preoccupation

When someone has a process addiction, they often become obsessed with the behavior to the point where it takes over their thoughts. They might constantly think about it, plan when they’ll do it next, and find it hard to focus on anything else. This obsession can cause them to increasingly engage in the behavior, even when they don’t want to or know it’s causing harm.

Compulsive Behaviors 

A key sign of process addiction is the uncontrollable urge to repeat certain behaviors even when you know they’re not good for you. People struggling with compulsive behaviors feel driven to do them again and again, chasing whatever positive feelings they provide. These behaviors become more frequent and intense over time.

Neglect of Responsibilities

People with process addictions may neglect their responsibilities at home, work, school, or in their relationships as the compulsive behavior takes priority. Once-important tasks might be put off or ignored, causing missed deadlines, a decline in performance, or even job loss. 

Withdrawal From Social Activities

Process addiction can result in social withdrawal as you become absorbed in your addictive behavior. You might avoid social gatherings, withdraw from family and friends, or lose interest in the things you used to love doing. This isolation only heightens feelings of loneliness and depression, further entrenching the addictive behavior as a coping strategy.

Root Causes of Process Addiction

Compulsive behavior addictions, like alcohol and drug addictions, can be influenced by several factors. According to addiction researchers,

Genetic predisposition, psychological and environmental risk factors, the timing of exposure to the substance, the type of substance used, and the frequency of use influence the individual’s susceptibility to addiction.12

Mental Health Issues

Process addictions often stem from underlying mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or trauma. If you don’t have other coping strategies in place, these issues can prompt you to turn to behaviors that momentarily make you feel good—like gambling, shopping, or overeating—as a way to distract yourself from emotional pain. But while this might offer temporary relief, it only worsens mental health issues over time. 

Environmental Factors

A number of environmental factors can influence your likelihood of developing a process addiction:13  

  • Childhood abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual)
  • Access to drugs and alcohol
  • Social dynamics with your peer group 
  • Substance abuse in your family 
  • Your parents’ views on, and rules around, drugs and alcohol 
  • Religion and culture 

For example, growing up in a household where addictive behaviors are common or dealing with chronic stress can increase the risk of forming a process addiction. Understanding and learning to manage these environmental triggers can help you overcome process addiction—or even prevent it in the first place.

Genetic Predisposition

Genetics can make some people more likely to develop process addictions. If addiction runs in the family—whether it’s to substances or behaviors—it may increase your likelihood of following a similar path. Genetics can also affect how the brain responds to rewarding behaviors, making certain people more prone to compulsive habits. 

Pinpointing the exact genes that influence addiction14 has been difficult, however, as addiction is complex and doesn’t follow a clear pattern. “Because addiction is a heterogeneous and complex disorder15 without a clear Mendelian pattern, identification of specific genes has proved challenging,” say addiction researchers. While genetics alone don’t cause addiction, they are an important factor to consider.

Impact of Process Addiction on Daily Life

Emotional Consequences

Process addiction can deeply affect your emotional health as it causes persistent guilt, shame, and anxiety. The rush of excitement during a certain addictive behavior is often followed by intense regret. This emotional rollercoaster causes mood swings and can even cause long-term mental health conditions like depression. Over time, this ongoing cycle can erode your self-esteem as you start to feel stuck in negative patterns.

Relationship Strain

Process addiction takes a toll on your relationships. People may become dishonest or distant as they prioritize their addiction over their loved ones. This leads to conflicts, broken trust, and emotional distance with partners, friends, or family. 

Gambling addiction is known to be especially hard on relationships because of the way it strains finances. “Pathological gambling is a relevant condition that negatively affects the family system of gamblers,” say authors of a study on pathological gambling and romantic relationships.16 The same study found that “partners of pathological gamblers reported a worse quality of couple relationship on all dimensions investigated: they reported higher levels of conflict and lower levels of companionship, help, security, and closeness,” and that “both pathological gamblers and their partners reported a more insecure romantic attachment.”

Rebuilding these connections is an essential part of recovery. 

Financial Troubles

Some process addictions, like gambling or shopping, can cause serious financial problems. Spending and betting can quickly get out of control, and the resulting financial stress often worsens the addiction as people use more of the same behavior to try to escape their problems. 

Work or Academic Performance Issues

Process addiction can cause a drop in your performance at work or in school. As the addictive behavior consumes more time and energy, other responsibilities start to fall by the wayside. Missing deadlines, trouble focusing, and decreased productivity can lead to bad grades or job loss. 

Treatment Options for Process Addiction

Evidence-Based Therapies

Several evidence-based therapies are proven effective for treating behavioral addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used treatments for process addictions,17 helping people identify and challenge the thought patterns that fuel their compulsive behaviors. Another well-supported option is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which encourages people to accept their thoughts and emotions rather than avoid them, and teaches healthy coping mechanisms.

Evidence-based therapies are delivered in group or individual formats. A combination of these is often the most effective way to achieve long-term recovery from process addiction.

Innovative Approaches 

While the mechanisms of behavioral addiction are very similar to substance use disorders, process addictions pose a unique set of challenges. That’s why specialized programs are often more effective. According to one study on treatment for process addictions,18

Research suggests similarities between natural and drug reward processing, but clinical evidence supports the utilization of treatment modalities for these behavioral conditions that can sometimes differ from traditional drug treatment.

Thankfully, a wide array of innovative treatment approaches are gaining popularity in addressing process addiction. Mindfulness-based therapy, for example, focuses on helping people become more aware of their thoughts and behaviors, allowing them to put some helpful space between their urges and reactions. Tech-based interventions like apps and online programs offer accessible, personalized support for people in ongoing recovery.

Rehab Programs 

Rehab programs designed for process addiction offer effective, comprehensive care, whether you’re staying in an inpatient facility or attending outpatient sessions. Inpatient programs give you a structured environment where you can focus entirely on recovery, while outpatient options provide flexibility so you can balance treatment with work, school, or family life. Both types of programs usually combine therapy, education, and life skills training to help you build the tools you need for life in recovery.

Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders 

Many people struggling with process addiction also deal with mental health issues like depression or anxiety. These challenges often fuel addictive behaviors, making recovery even more complicated. That’s why it’s so important to treat both the addiction and any underlying mental health conditions at the same time. Thoroughly addressing both issues lets you recover—and reduce the risk of relapse—more effectively.

Comprehensive Care Matters

Integrated Treatment Strategies

An integrated approach to treating process addictions addresses not just the symptoms, but the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of addiction. A combination of therapies is often most effective—research shows that a “multimodal, bio-psychosocial approach of treatment including individual, group, family or conjoint therapy, use of medication when necessary and adjunct treatments such as self-help groups will be the most cohesive and effective way for behavioral addictions.”19 

Long-Term Support and Aftercare 

Recovery from process addiction doesn’t end with rehab—you need long-term support to stay on track. Aftercare programs help prevent relapse and reinforce the progress you’ve made by offering regular therapy sessions, support groups, and access to resources that keep you focused on recovery. Ongoing support ensures you continue making healthy choices and staying motivated toward long-term recovery.

Building a Support Network

Having a solid support network is critical to maintaining your recovery. Whether it’s friends, family, or people you meet in support groups, leaning on others when you need to makes the journey less isolating. These relationships provide the encouragement, understanding, and accountability you need to stay on track when challenges come up. 

Reclaiming Your Life from Process Addiction

Recognizing process addiction is the first step toward taking back control of your life. But recovery isn’t just about stopping an addictive behavior—it’s about addressing its root causes, rebuilding your self-esteem, and creating a balanced, healthy life that doesn’t include addiction. While the journey may be challenging, the right process addiction treatment and support puts lasting recovery within reach. Explore addiction treatment centers to find a program that meets your needs, and contact them directly today.

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How to Stop Shopping Addiction

What may start as harmless shopping can turn dangerous when it becomes compulsive spending. If your shopping feels out of control and you’re spending excessive amounts on clothes, gadgets, makeup, or other items, shopping addiction can be just as damaging as drug addiction.

By understanding shopping addiction and its treatment you can learn how to manage your purchasing decisions and well-being.

Understanding Shopping Addiction

Shopping addiction, also called compulsive buying disorder, involves excessive buying behavior that leads to distress or impairment1. An individual with compulsive buying disorder is unable to control their thoughts and actions around spending, and feels relieved after a purchase. 

Shopping addiction often co-occurs with other behavioral health conditions involving impulse control, particularly mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and eating disorders. Compulsive shopping tends to run in families, especially those with mood and substance use disorders.

When spending becomes compulsive, other life facets suffer because of the energy spent on purchasing. Pre-spending anxiety can govern a person’s entire life, only to be relieved by a purchase. The individual can neglect their personal relationships, health, and employment to shop, and they can also be in serious financial trouble. 

Signs and Symptoms of Shopping Addiction

Shopping addiction usually has 4 phases: 1) Anticipation; 2) Preparation; 3) Shopping; and 4) Spending1. Phase 1 includes thoughts and urges with a specific item or spending. In the second phase, the person prepares for shopping and spending, including decisions on when and where to go, on how to dress, and which form of payment to use. Phase 3 involves the actual shopping experience, which is intensely exciting and can even lead to sexual arousal2. Finally, the item is purchased, often followed by disappointment with oneself.

As this cycle repeats, loved ones may notice shifts in behavior and mood that make the shopping addiction apparent. Spotting these signs within oneself or another can help prevent further damage.

Behavioral Signs

You may notice a change in someone’s behaviors as compulsive buying disorder takes hold. Signs include

  • Frequent shopping sprees
  • Impulse buying 
  • Financial struggles due to excessive spending
  • Hiding purchases
  • Chasing sales and deals
  • Accumulating unused items
  • Often returning items (due to buyers remorse)

Emotional Symptoms

A person with compulsive buying disorder will cycle through different emotions1 as they move through the 4 phases.

  • Anticipatory signs of compulsive purchases include
    • Depression 
    • Anxiety  
    • Boredom  
    • Self-critical thoughts 
    • Anger 
  • Immediate consequential emotions after spending include
    • Euphoria 
    • Relief from negative feelings
  • Emotions following the purchase after the initial euphoria fades include
    • Guilt
    • Shame
    • Low self-esteem
    • Emotional numbness

Financial Consequences

A shopping addiction can cause severe financial consequences that impact both the individual and their loved ones. The person often collects debt from maxed-out credit cards and personal loans, which is accompanied by additional fees, higher interest rates, and a damaged credit score. 

As the addiction progresses, they may be unable to pay essential bills, such as rent, utilities, groceries, or medical expenses, leading to unpaid invoices and the potential loss of services or even housing. In extreme cases, compulsive buying disorder can result in personal bankruptcy, as the person is unable to repay their debts and meet financial obligations.

Causes of Shopping Addiction

Compulsive buying disorder is a multi-pronged condition caused by various factors. Understanding the developmental, neurobiological, and cultural influences of shopping addiction can guide treatment efforts.

Psychological Factors

The Diamond Rehab in Thailand details the prevalence of co-occurring conditions that can precede and worsen compulsive spending behaviors3, forming a complex and chaotic concoction. These conditions often involve impulse control and emotional regulation, specifically obsessive compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and other avoidant personality disorders. 

Impulsive spending acts as a coping mechanism to manage negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and low self-esteem, using shopping to solve the negative feelings temporarily. Shopping addiction can be both a product of and the cause for mental health concerns, necessitating personalized treatment when unraveling these conditions.

Environmental Influences

In a world consumed and fueled by media, people are taught that material possessions equate to happiness, success, and social status. Advertisements are designed to create desire, often exploiting emotional triggers to encourage impulsive purchases. This is especially true nowadays, with social platforms using targeted ads based on internet history.

For example, if you search for winter jackets on Google, you may encounter ads for trench coats on your social media platforms.

Consumerism is deeply ingrained in many cultures, with immense pressure to keep up with fashion, technology, and lifestyle societal norms. Social media amplifies this pressure by showcasing small, curated portions of people’s lives, often filled with luxury items and experiences, leading to anxiety and a desire to conform to these perceived standards4.

The internet also provides easy access to spending with online shopping. The convenience of being able to shop anytime, anywhere, has removed many of the barriers that previously limited impulsive purchases. Individuals may feel less inhibited and guilty for spending money as they have fewer in-person interactions, like handing money to a cashier, creating a false illusion of security behind a screen.

Biological Factors

Neurobiological theories credit compulsive buying disorder to abnormal neurotransmission1, particularly in the serotonergic, dopaminergic, or opioid systems. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, reward, and reinforcement5, is a key player in “reward dependence.” Dopamine is released when spending, creating a sense of euphoria. This reinforcement can lead to repeated behaviors in an attempt to experience that pleasurable feeling again, contributing to the cycle of addiction.

Irregular serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter responsible for emotional regulation and impulse control, are connected with various impulse control disorders, including compulsive shopping. Low levels of serotonin disrupt the ability to manage urges, leading to compulsive shopping behaviors as a way to temporarily alleviate negative emotions.

There is also evidence that individuals with a family history of addictive behaviors, such as substance use or gambling addiction, may be more genetically predisposed to developing other types of compulsive behaviors, including shopping addiction6.

Strategies to Overcome Shopping Addiction: Professional Treatment Options

Navigating compulsive buying disorder recovery requires a comprehensive approach that often demands outside professional help. Building an extensive toolkit of skills to manage negative feelings and impulses tied to shopping behaviors can empower you to save and spend your money confidently. 

Therapy and Counseling

Individual, group, and family therapy each offer a unique approach to help manage compulsive behaviors. Individual counseling, often through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), creates a personalized setting where you and your therapist collaborate to identify the specific emotional and psychological issues driving the addiction. You can learn tailored coping mechanisms and practice using them when in stressful or triggering situations. 

Group therapy provides a supportive environment to share experiences and challenges with others facing similar issues. A group setting can help you feel less isolated and gain insight from peers’ experiences. You’ll practice accountability, build connections, and develop healthier social interactions, which can be a crucial part of the recovery process.

Family therapy is another important option, especially when shopping addiction negatively affects relationships and family dynamics. Your family unit can improve communication, address underlying family conflicts, and learn more on how to support you in recovery. Loved ones can learn how to set healthy boundaries and avoid enabling compulsive shopping behaviors.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Shopping Addiction

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective forms of therapy to navigate compulsive buying disorder7. CBT helps individuals identify and address the underlying thoughts, beliefs, and emotions that trigger compulsive shopping. By recognizing these patterns, you can learn healthier thought processes, coping mechanisms, and strategies to manage impulses. 

CBT helps individuals recognize the triggers and irrational thoughts that lead to their compulsive shopping behavior, such as stress or low self-esteem, as well as external factors like social pressure. You can learn to critically examine these thoughts and replace them with more rational, balanced perspectives. For example, you might learn to question whether buying an item will improve your mood or help you gain social approval, leading to a more realistic assessment of your needs. 

Medication

Sometimes, medication is necessary to manage the impulsive urges as well as the co-occurring mental health conditions like OCD and anxiety. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, and Sertraline can treat compulsive buying disorder1 due to the similarities in neurotransmission and behaviors with other compulsive disorders. 

A comprehensive evaluation can guide medication usage for shopping addiction. Your professional care team can help you navigate your needs to find the appropriate medication and dosage. 

Financial Counseling

In many cases, financial counseling helps individuals regain control over their monetary struggles, especially if the person is in debt or battling legal issues. The proper counselor or mentor can help you manage finances, develop better money management skills, and repair the financial damage caused by compulsive spending. You may benefit from creating a debt repayment plan, learning budgeting skills, and developing a healthier relationship with money. 

Financial counseling skills can serve as a strong foundation for lifelong budgeting methods. You and your counselor may set savings goals for major life events, such as buying a home, funding education, or preparing for retirement. Developing realistic savings plans and making investment decisions can help you align your long-term financial goals.

Support Groups 

Joining support groups like Spenders Anonymous provides a sense of community, understanding, and accountability in your recovery. They offer a safe space to share experiences, learn from others, and receive ongoing support.

Developing Healthy Shopping Habits

Overcoming shopping addiction requires a combination of self-awareness, discipline, and practical strategies. Recovery stories are built on everyday habits that support a sustainable, healthy mindset.

Creating a Budget

Adopt a strict budget that you and your financial counselor create for discretionary spending, limiting the amount of money available for shopping. By tracking your spending and sticking to this budget, you can prevent impulsive purchases and stay within your means. Apps and websites like YNAB and Goodbudget keep users on track with time-tested budgeting methods, as well.

You may motivate yourself to adhere to your budget by giving yourself a small reward, such as going for ice cream if you do not overspend each week. A day of recovery is a day worth being celebrated! The effort to choose your health and well-being every day is a great feat, so continue to reflect and pride yourself on your hard work.

Mindful Shopping

When shopping for necessities, ask yourself whether you truly need the item, how it aligns with your values, and what the long-term consequences of the purchase will be. Mindfulness can help you stay grounded and make more intentional decisions.

Consider using cash instead of credit cards to make purchases, as this can help you directly feel the impact of spending. You could remove saved payment information from online shopping accounts, making it less convenient to make impulsive purchases, too.

You can also practice delayed gratification. By implementing a “cooling-off” period—waiting 24+ hours before making a purchase—you give yourself time to evaluate whether the item is truly necessary, which can help reduce impulsive buying.

Lifestyle Changes

Occasionally deleting social media apps can offer solace from advertisements and convincing influencers who tell you to try the newest product. You can also try unsubscribing from marketing emails or limiting time spent on shopping sites with website controls to reduce the urge to shop.

Real dopamine from healthy activities is the best kind of dopamine. Rediscover and reignite your passions by reading, painting, taking walks, and volunteering to keep you occupied and fulfilled.

Preventing Relapse

Relapse prevention planning aims to recognize and address warning signals before they escalate to the physical stage—compulsive spending. It takes a cognitive behavioral approach to preventing relapse and provides appropriate skills for what to do if a relapse does occur. It blends education, coping strategy development, trigger identification, building support networks, and lifestyle changes.

Identifying Triggers

You and your care team can begin to build your relapse prevention plan by reflecting on 3 key recovery components: 

  1. Reflect on your recovery history. In treatment, what worked and what didn’t work? If you’ve relapsed before, what led to it? What were your triggers before you got treatment? Learn from mistakes of the past to make a realistic relapse prevention plan.
  2. Write down personal, relationship, and employment goals to highlight situations you want to be in and people you want to be around. 
  3. Identify your triggers—all the people, places, and things that could cause stress. Developing coping strategies for each trigger can empower you to live life without fear.

One of the most essential parts of a relapse prevention plan is building skills to navigate uncomfortable feelings and situations. You may practice coping techniques such as breathing exercises, regulating emotions through journaling, and saying “no” to situations that do not serve your recovery. This can help you walk into any situation with confidence. 

Ongoing Support

Attending outpatient care or talk therapy sessions can help you navigate foreign situations and continue skill-building. During individual therapy sessions, you’ll likely engage in various therapeutic methods like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). 

What Real People are Doing

A user on Reddit shares their practical and realistic lifestyle changes that helped them overcome shopping addiction8, serving as an inspiring example for others facing similar struggles. They walk through the importance of decluttering, adopting mindful shopping practices, and creating a monthly budget to track their spending. 

By focusing on delayed gratification and shifting their mindset from impulsive buying to intentional purchasing, they successfully broke free from compulsive shopping. Their experience highlights how small, sustainable changes in daily habits and financial awareness can make a significant impact on their physical, mental, and financial well-being.

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What Is Cross-Addiction?

What does cross-addiction mean? In short, it means that you have multiple addictions. But there’s a lot more to it than that.

Usually, people with cross-addiction switch out one behavior for another. Sometimes, it’s even called “addiction transfer.” For example, imagine you go to rehab for alcohol addiction, and successfully avoid drinking after the program. But once you return home, you develop a new addiction to cocaine. If something like this happens to you, you might need additional treatment.

Cross-addiction is a unique experience, and recovery can be complex. When you’re ready to plan your recovery, you can start by learning more about what it means to be cross-addicted.

How Does Cross-Addiction Happen?

Researchers are still studying the risk factors for cross-addiction.1 We need more information to fully understand its causes. But data suggests that genetics and stress can make you more vulnerable. Experts also believe that cross-addiction follows 1 of 2 patterns:

  1. Substituting a past addiction with similar behavior (e.g., quitting gambling and developing a sex addiction)
  2. Switching between addictions based on their availability, with equally severe symptoms for each one (e.g., recovering from daily heroin use and starting to do cocaine every day)

There are a few reasons this could happen during recovery. For one thing, any kind of addiction hijacks your reward system.2 It can get to the point where addictive behaviors are the only thing that makes you feel a sense of achievement. So developing a new addiction might make you briefly feel that reward again. But we need more data to know how big a role the reward system plays in this process.

How Common Is Cross-Addiction?

Because there are so many possible types of cross-addiction, it’s hard to collect broad data about this condition. But a few specific combinations are especially common:

Some experts compare cross-addiction to relapse.6 While not identical, these issues can have a similar effect on your journey. And data shows that 40-60% of people relapse at least once during recovery.7 

Common Cross-Addiction Examples

Cross-addiction can occur with any type of addiction, including substance abuse and compulsive behaviors. Learning about some common cross-addictions can help you protect against them in recovery.

Gambling

Gambling addiction is a behavioral issue. Unlike drug or alcohol addictions, it rarely includes physical symptoms. But it can still get very serious. Compulsive gambling interferes with your financial security, career, and relationships. One study found that gambling addiction often co-occurs with video game addiction.8 

Sex Addiction

In moderation, sex can be an important part of your life. But when you start prioritizing sex over all else—including committed relationships, work, sleep, and your physical health—you might have a sex addiction. 

While sex addiction isn’t in the DSM-5, it is diagnosed in ICD-11 as compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD).9 This falls under the category of behavioral addiction, or impulse control issues. Data also shows that people with sex addiction often have additional behavioral issues. In one study, nearly 40% of people with sex addiction also had a work addiction.10

Compulsive Shopping

Shopping addiction, also called compulsive buying disorder, is another behavioral addiction. Compulsive shopping increases your risk of drug addiction,11 eating disorders, and depression. Up to 1 in 20 people may have a shopping addiction. 

Prescription Medication

Data shows that people with health problems are more likely to abuse prescription drugs.12 This may be an issue of access. If you already have opioid medication in your home, for instance, it’s far easier to abuse. And what’s more, experiencing chronic pain increases your risk of cross-addiction.13 People with chronic pain may have easier access to prescription medication, especially opioids. 

Data shows that opioids, marijuana, and alcohol all have similar effects on the brain.14 Addiction to any of these substances can make you vulnerable to abusing the other two. 

How to Avoid Cross-Addiction?

Certain coping strategies can help you avoid cross-addiction before it becomes a problem. 

Self-Awareness

Until your triggers become intuitive, you can use tools to track your feelings and behaviors. For example, some mood tracker apps let you associate emotions with activities. If you notice that the mood “anxious” usually appears just before an activity like shopping or gambling, you can bring that information to your care team. This self-awareness can help you make changes before developing a new addiction.

Educate Yourself on Cross-Addiction

Learning more about any condition can help you stay safe. If there’s a specific substance or behavior you’re concerned about, start there. Once you understand the risk factors for a type of addiction, you can get the support you need before it becomes a problem. 

Group Support

A wealth of data shows that social support is essential during addiction treatment.15 That means something a little different for everyone. You might have a close relationship with friends and family, attend support groups, or live in a sober living environment. In any setting, strong relationships can help you stay grounded throughout your recovery.

Speak With a Professional

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for cross-addiction. The right provider can help you navigate the complexities of treatment, offering advice tailored to your needs. With personalized support, you can stay on track to reach your unique goals for recovery.

How to Treat Cross-Addiction

There are nearly infinite types of cross-addiction. You could become cross-addicted to cocaine and gambling, marijuana and alcohol, or sex and video gaming. As a result, there are countless ways to heal from this condition. However, a few treatments stand out:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)16 is one of the most popular and effective treatments for any kind of addiction. In this behavioral therapy, you’ll learn to identify triggers and respond to them in new ways. Your therapist will also teach you practical coping skills for real-world situations. 
  • Contingency management (CM)17 is a treatment that offers patients tangible rewards. For example, if you pass a drug test, you might receive cash or movie tickets. Data shows that CM is highly effective for people with multiple simultaneous addictions. We still need more information about its impact on cross-addiction, specifically. 
  • Relapse prevention (RP) and mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP)18 teach coping skills and build clients’ self-confidence. Evidence suggests that these treatments protect you against abusing any substance, even ones you haven’t used before.

Find a Treatment for Cross-Addiction

On the road to recovery, cross-addiction is a relatively common hurdle. You can get back on track in a rehab program that treats addiction.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cross-Addiction

How does cross-addiction happen?

The causes of cross-addiction are still being studied, but genetics and stress may make you more vulnerable to it. Cross-addiction occurs by substituting a past addiction with similar behavior, or by switching between substances based on availability. Addictive behaviors hijack the brain’s reward system, making the development of new addictions possible.

How common is cross-addiction?

Collecting broad data on cross-addiction is challenging due to the many possible combinations of addictive behaviors. However, some specific combinations are more common, such as alcohol addiction and prescription drug abuse. Studies suggest that approximately 1.1% of adult Americans had simultaneous alcohol and drug addictions. Cross-addiction shares similarities with relapse, and research shows that 40-60% of patients relapse during recovery.

What are some common examples of cross-addiction?

Cross-addiction can manifest in various forms, including substance abuse and compulsive behaviors. Some common examples of cross-addiction include gambling addiction, sex addiction, compulsive shopping, and addiction to prescription medication. Understanding these common cross-addictions can help individuals protect themselves during their recovery journey and seek appropriate treatment when needed.
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The Real Value of Recovery From Shopping Addiction

Has your shopping gone from casual to compulsive? Shopping is such a common way to cope, some people call it “retail therapy.” But it can get out of hand. Shopping can even become an addiction. And when that happens, you may start to rack up debts—and not just financial ones.

In rehab for shopping addiction you can reevaluate why you feel like you need to shop. You’ll learn new coping strategies, change your spending habits and get your life back on track.

Treating Shopping Addiction

In the short term, buying new things can boost your mood. But if your life revolves around shopping, it can get in the way of your other goals. While there’s no standard treatment program for shopping addiction, ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) rehabs use a variety of methods to help you manage your symptoms.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

One of the most popular shopping addiction treatments is CBT—especially group CBT. In treatment, you’ll start by identifying why you shop. Then, you’ll learn new financial planning strategies. Patients also practice tolerating difficult feelings. For example, your therapist might help you accept the desire to shop without acting on it. Studies show that CBT is the most effective treatment for shopping addiction. ((Hague, Ben, et al. “Treatments for Compulsive Buying: A Systematic Review of the Quality, Effectiveness and Progression of the Outcome Evidence.” Journal of Behavioral Addictions, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 379–94. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.5.2016.064. Accessed 31 Jan. 2023.))

Pharmacological Treatments

Some medications can help you manage compulsive buying. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) For example, studies show that antidepressants can support your recovery. Typically, this treatment works best as a long-term solution, instead of a stopgap during rehab. And no medication is right for everyone. Talk to your treatment team about your physical health and your recovery goals to learn more about various options.

12-Step Groups

Groups like Debtors Anonymous and Spenders Anonymous take a 12-Step approach to shopping addiction recovery. Modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, these groups connect you with a community of people on a similar journey. Peers gather to support each other, discuss spending habits, and share coping strategies. These free meetings take place worldwide, and even remotely.

Family and Couples Therapy

Because compulsive buying can cause relationship issues, some shopping addiction programs involve family in your treatment. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) Family and couples therapy provides a space for everyone involved to share their feelings about compulsive shopping. This can improve your relationships in a number of ways. For one thing, it can help your loved ones understand what you’re going through. That makes it easier for them to support your continued recovery. Family therapy can also facilitate communication, helping you repair mutual trust.

Understanding Shopping Addiction

Shopping addiction, also called compulsive buying disorder, is a behavioral addiction that includes impulsive and excessive purchasing. ((Granero, Roser, et al. “Compulsive Buying Behavior: Clinical Comparison with Other Behavioral Addictions.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 7, June 2016, p. 914. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00914.)) And, like any addiction, you keep buying things despite negative social, financial, and legal consequences. Shopping becomes more than a way to acquire products you need. You might also use it to boost your self-esteem, cope with stress, and get social approval. Over time, it can become your primary coping mechanism.

Symptoms of Shopping Addiction

Shopping addiction is more than just enjoying buying new things.There are a few ways compulsive buying ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) stands out from other types of shopping:

  • Preoccupation with shopping
  • Boredom or depression before shopping
  • Guilt or shame after purchasing something
  • Pre-purchase tension that’s only relieved by buying the item you’re fixated on
  • Devoting an excessive amount of time, energy, and money to shopping
  • Shopping in private to avoid being questioned about your behavior
  • Prioritizing the quantity of items you purchase rather than their quality or usefulness

If you have this addiction, you can actually build up a tolerance to shopping. ((Barrett, Claer. ‘The Dopamine Is so High’: The Psychology of Shopping Addiction. 29 Nov. 2022, https://www.ft.com/content/5b4d2fd6-5510-4b0c-aeba-402211d97510.)) Over time, you might have to shop more often or spend more money to feel satisfied. In severe cases, going without shopping can even cause withdrawal symptoms. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.))

The Impact of Compulsive Shopping

People with shopping addiction keep making new purchases, no matter the consequences. If you notice these effects of compulsive buying, ((ROSE, SUSAN, and ARUN DHANDAYUDHAM. “Towards an Understanding of Internet-Based Problem Shopping Behaviour: The Concept of Online Shopping Addiction and Its Proposed Predictors.” Journal of Behavioral Addictions, vol. 3, no. 2, June 2014, pp. 83–89. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.3.2014.003.)) you might consider getting treatment:

  • Excessive credit card debt
  • Hoarding
  • Relationship problems due to financial stress or keeping secrets about your spending
  • Legal problems if you start to fund your shopping in illegal ways
  • Inefficiency at work as you spend more time shopping and preparing to shop

Who Does Shopping Addiction Affect?

The most common time people begin compulsively buying is in early adulthood. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) This could be because it’s the first time young people have financial freedom and uncontrolled access to credit cards. And women are more likely to develop shopping addiction.

Up to 1 in 20 people are addicted to shopping. ((“Are you addicted to shopping? If you can’t stop, you are.” Optum Life Balance. April 2014. https://www.hrm.oa.pa.gov/workplace-support/seap/Documents/Life%20Balance%20Newsletter/2014-shopping-addiction.pdf)) And compulsive buying is becoming more prevalent, ((Wilczaki, Andrew Richard, “Understanding compulsive buying: The dimensions and management of addictive shopping” (2006).
Master’s Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 186.
http://commons.emich.edu/theses/186)) for several reasons. First, credit cards are very easy to access, even for people who already have debt. Also, some cultures consider material wealth to be a sign of a person’s value. And because so much shopping takes place online, it’s easier than ever to buy things impulsively.

The Psychology of Shopping Addiction

Shopping addiction is an impulse control spectrum disorder. ((Granero, Roser, et al. “Compulsive Buying Behavior: Clinical Comparison with Other Behavioral Addictions.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 7, June 2016, p. 914. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00914.)) People who compulsively buy typically share some personality traits, like reward-seeking. And it’s common to experience both shopping addiction and other impulse control disorders.

Shopping Addiction and Co-occurring Disorders

Studies show that many people who compulsively shop also have at least one other mental health condition. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) If that’s true for you, you can look for a rehab that treats co-occurring disorders. A few conditions are especially likely to co-occur with shopping addiction: ((Black, Donald W., et al. “Pathological Gambling and Compulsive Buying: Do They Fall within an Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum?” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, vol. 12, no. 2, June 2010, pp. 175–85. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181956/.))

Experts are still researching the relationship between these conditions. Shopping addiction may be a symptom, or it may stem from the same root cause as another diagnosis.

What Causes Shopping Addiction?

Compulsive shopping is not a moral failing. In fact, biological, psychological, and social factors can all lead to shopping addiction.

Genetic Factors

Studies indicate that there’s a genetic component to shopping addiction. (( It often appears in multiple members of the same family. If you have this condition, your relatives are also more likely to experience depression, alcohol addiction, and other mental health issues.

Social Norms

Most of the time, shopping addiction appears in Western countries. This hints at a cultural source of compulsive buying. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) In these areas, data shows 2 primary factors that motivate people to shop compulsively.

First, capitalist society makes shopping easily accessible. A huge variety of different goods are readily available. People may also have more disposable income and more leisure time to use the items they buy.

Second, much of Western culture places high value on material wealth. People judge each other—sometimes harshly—for what and how much they own. As a result, there’s a great deal of pressure to prove your worth by purchasing new things.

A History of Trauma

Surviving childhood trauma can also lead to compulsive shopping. ((Sansone, Randy A., et al. “Childhood Trauma and Compulsive Buying.” International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, vol. 17, no. 1, Feb. 2013, pp. 73–76. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.3109/13651501.2011.653379.)) Any type of trauma, like physical abuse or neglect, can make shopping addiction more likely. But certain childhood experiences—like emotional abuse and witnessing violence—are especially common among people with shopping addiction.

For some people, shopping is a way to cope ((Wilczaki, Andrew Richard, “Understanding compulsive buying: The dimensions and management of addictive shopping” (2006).
Master’s Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 186.
http://commons.emich.edu/theses/186)) with the symptoms of their trauma. Focusing on a new purchase can briefly distract you from painful memories by making you feel better in the moment. And making financial decisions—even unsustainable ones—can give you a sense of control.

Shopping as a Coping Mechanism

Even for people without childhood trauma, compulsive buying isn’t really about money. ((“Are you addicted to shopping? If you can’t stop, you are.” Optum Life Balance. April 2014. https://www.hrm.oa.pa.gov/workplace-support/seap/Documents/Life%20Balance%20Newsletter/2014-shopping-addiction.pdf)) Instead, it’s a way to control or cope with stress. That’s why people with shopping addiction are more likely to buy something after experiencing a difficult emotion, like sadness or anger. Instead of accepting that feeling, you might seek the short-term gratification of a purchase in order to avoid emotional pain.

Take Ownership of Your Recovery Journey

Shopping—even sustainable shopping—relates to the idea of value. It might seem like buying things increases your self-worth. But the math isn’t that simple.

There’s so much more to you than what you own.

To learn more about treatment methods and contact centers directly, see our searchable list of rehabs for shopping addiction.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod