Shopping Addiction Signs and Symptoms
Gone are the days of flicking through catalogues or tuning in to QVC for your next purchase. Today, shopping is largely an online affair. With high street shopping in decline, many have turned to the ease and flexibility of buying from the comfort of home. Yet, with this shift has come a new concern: the growing reality of shopping addiction.
What is a shopping addiction?
Shopping addiction hasn’t made its way into the list of official diagnoses yet, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real. At its core, it’s a behavioural addiction and may be described as when the act of shopping becomes less about what you buy and more about chasing that rush of relief or control.
Think about filling an online basket late at night after a stressful day. You know you don’t really need half the things in there, but pressing buy now feels like a weight lifted off your shoulders. The problem is that ‘lift’ doesn’t last long and soon the cycle starts all over again.
The tricky part is how easily it hides. Daily parcel deliveries or endless trips to the shops are obvious enough. But the quieter signs often blend into everyday life, making them harder to spot.
What are the signs of shopping addiction?
As with any behavioural addiction, the signs of shopping addiction aren’t always straightforward. This is why it’s crucial to understand the main signs in yourself or your loved ones, as early recognition can make the difference between preventing a problem from worsening and finding the right support to overcome it.
Psychological signs of shopping addiction
- Feeling intense excitement or relief when making a purchase, often followed by guilt or regret
- Persistent thoughts about shopping, even when engaged in other activities
- Using shopping as a way to cope with stress, anxiety or low mood
- Struggling to cut back despite wanting to or trying in the past
- Becoming irritable or restless when unable to shop
Behavioural signs of shopping addiction
- Frequently buying items that aren’t needed or go unused
- Hiding purchases or downplaying the amount of money spent
- Regularly overspending and running into financial difficulties
- Spending excessive amounts of time browsing or shopping online/in stores
- Neglecting responsibilities or relationships because of shopping habits
But, of course, addiction symptoms can vary from person to person. In some cases, other issues dictate how the shopping addiction presents itself, meaning there could be a whole range of signs and symptoms to look out for.
Is shopping addiction related to any other mental health conditions?
While shopping addiction is still being studied, it’s increasingly seen as something that overlaps with several mental health conditions rather than fitting neatly into one category.
The strongest links appear to be with OCD, impulse-control issues and addictive behaviours. In fact, research suggests that Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) can span across multiple diagnostic areas.
The study found that adults with CBD were more likely to report problems connected to addiction, such as drug use disorder or binge eating. They also showed higher levels of impulsivity, with many screening positively for conditions like ADHD or borderline personality disorder.
Alongside this, signs of compulsivity were stronger, including elevated scores on measures that track obsessive or compulsive traits.
Understanding how shopping addiction connects with other mental health conditions helps break the myth that it’s ‘just a bad habit’. Recognising these overlaps makes it easier to spot the signs and seek the right support.
Reach out to our expert support team 24 hours a day
Start the Shopping Rehabilitation Process Today
Finding the best addiction treatment is vital for long-term recovery success. Our friendly and compassionate team will hold your hand through the process until you learn to love yourself again.
Who’s more at risk of developing a shopping addiction?
Research on gender and shopping addiction has produced mixed results, but they’re definitely worth taking a closer look at.
Some surveys suggest that women make up the vast majority of people with Compulsive Buying Disorder, with figures ranging from 80% to 95%. The reasoning here is often tied to cultural attitudes: women may feel more comfortable admitting they enjoy shopping, while men are more likely to describe similar behaviour as “collecting.”
On the other hand, other studies show little to no difference between men and women. One survey even found nearly equal percentages of both genders meeting the criteria for compulsive buying. Despite this, public perception often leans heavily toward women, with many assuming they are the ones most at risk.
What this back and forth really highlights is the complexity of shopping addiction. Gender may influence how the behaviour is expressed or reported, but both men and women can be affected. For rehab treatment, recognising these nuances is useful. It allows professionals to avoid gender stereotypes and instead focus on the underlying psychological patterns, which can look very similar regardless of whether the client is male or female.
What are the impacts of a shopping addiction on people’s lives?
At this point, you might be thinking, “So what? If someone can afford it, who cares?”. The reality is that, in many cases, they can’t.
Debt is one of the biggest risks tied to shopping addiction. Buy Now Pay Later schemes like those on UK sites such as Very or services like Klarna at countless checkouts make it dangerously easy to overspend. Shoppers can load up their baskets, spread payments over time, and before they know it, huge APR percentages start piling on. If repayments can’t be met, credit scores take a serious hit while the debt keeps snowballing.
Another impact shows up in relationships. Shopping addiction often leads to secretive behaviour like hiding purchases, downplaying costs or lying about parcels arriving at the door. Over time, this kind of behaviour erodes trust. Partners grow suspicious, families argue more about money and what started as a private habit can spill into open conflict.
The effects are also felt internally. While a purchase may bring a moment of excitement or relief, it’s often followed by guilt, worry or regret. This back-and-forth can fuel anxiety and low mood, trapping someone in a cycle where shopping briefly numbs the pain but never solves it.
Is there treatment available for shopping addiction?
At The Providence Project, we understand how difficult it can be to break free from the cycle of compulsive shopping. Our tailored behavioural addiction treatment programmes provide a safe and supportive space where you can explore the reasons behind your behaviour and build healthier coping strategies.
With access to therapies such as CBT and family therapy throughout the treatment pathway at Providence Projects, we help you regain control over your wellbeing and relationships.
Recovery is possible, and taking that first step can change everything. If you or someone you love is struggling, reach out to The Providence Project today.
Reach out to our expert support team 24 hours a day
Start the Shopping Rehabilitation Process Today
Finding the best addiction treatment is vital for long-term recovery success. Our friendly and compassionate team will hold your hand through the process until you learn to love yourself again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a link between ADHD and shopping addiction?
Yes. Impulsivity, often associated with ADHD, can make resisting the urge to shop especially difficult. This increases the likelihood of compulsive buying patterns and highlights how ADHD and shopping addiction can sometimes overlap in harmful ways.
What makes shopping addiction dangerous?
It’s dangerous because it can blend in with everyday behaviour, making it easy to miss. By the time problems become clear, finances may already be damaged, relationships strained, and emotional wellbeing suffering in ways that feel overwhelming.
Is a shopping addiction strictly online shopping?
No. While online shopping has made the behaviour more convenient, addiction isn’t limited to screens. It can also involve repeated visits to physical stores, supermarkets or malls, where the same compulsive buying patterns appear.
(Click here to see works cited)
- Grant, Jon E. and Samuel R. Chamberlain. “Compulsive Buying Disorder: Conceptualization Based on Addictive, Impulsive and Obsessive-Compulsive Features and Comorbidity.” Psychiatry Research Communications, vol. 4, no. 4, Elsevier BV, Oct. 2024, pp. 100199–99, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psycom.2024.100199
- BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, p. 14, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1805733/
- Ünübol B, Ünsalver BÖ, Ünübol H, Sayar GH. The prevalence and psychological relation of problem shopping: data from a large-scale sample from Turkey. BMC Psychol. 2022 Jan 3;10(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s40359-021-00711-6. PMID: 34980253; PMCID: PMC8722422.