# Have you ever had a shopping addiction? **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [August 30, 2026, 3:17pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488 "2026-08-30T15:17:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2Waynez](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/2waynez/32/176_2.png) [@2Waynez](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/2Waynez)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 3:17pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/1 "2026-08-30T15:17:55Z")
Shopping addiction, also known as compulsive buying disorder or oniomania, is a behavioral condition where an overwhelming urge to buy items provides temporary emotional relief, despite negative financial and personal consequences. [[1](https://www.verywellmind.com/shopping-addiction-4157288), [2](https://navicoresolutions.org/resources/blog/breaking-the-cycle-how-to-recognize-and-overcome-a-shopping-addiction)] **The Brain and the “Hunt”** - **The wanting system:** The brain chemical **dopamine** (a neurotransmitter or body messenger) drives anticipation and the thrill of the search rather than actual satisfaction. [[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRRg6cPw_bU&t=191)] - **The crash:** Browsing and adding items to a cart creates a high level of excitement, but dopamine levels drop rapidly after the purchase is complete, often leading to emptiness or regret. [[1](https://navicoresolutions.org/resources/blog/breaking-the-cycle-how-to-recognize-and-overcome-a-shopping-addiction), [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRRg6cPw_bU&t=191)] - **Not about the stuff:** The addiction focuses on the act of buying itself rather than the utility of the item acquired. [[1](https://sierravistahospital.com/blog/shopping-addiction-signs-types-causes/), [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJGRuesifM0)] **Emotional and Psychological Triggers** - **Escapism:** People use shopping to numb negative feelings like anxiety, depression, boredom, loneliness, or anger. - **Low self-esteem:** Materialistic habits and purchases are often used as a flawed way to seek social status, approval, or a better self-image. - **Control and accomplishment:** Buying items can falsely mimic a sense of personal achievement or control during stressful life periods. [[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v88w844yhXA), [2](https://www.verywellmind.com/shopping-addiction-4157288), [3](https://myacare.com/blog/beyond-retail-delving-into-the-psychology-of-shopping-addiction)] **The Cycle of Addiction** - **Preoccupation:** An irresistible, recurring urge to browse or buy. - **Tension relief:** A brief euphoric rush or high experienced during the transaction. - **Guilt and shame:** Negative emotions and financial stress that follow the purchase. - **Repetition:** Turning back to shopping to soothe the guilt of the previous spending spree ---
**Author:** ![Vaiana](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/vaiana/32/1879_2.png) [@Vaiana](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Vaiana)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/2 "2026-08-30T15:35:08Z")
No,never I buy some things to please me, but always in moderation and I look at my budget ---
**Author:** ![Fisherman1992](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/fisherman1992/32/8077_2.png) [@Fisherman1992](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Fisherman1992)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/3 "2026-08-30T15:40:07Z")
Idk i guess for some it happens for some I like shopping for t shirts and coffee mugs but i wouldnt call myself “addicted” I was addicted to food tho kinda still am tbh ---
**Author:** ![Schizbro](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/schizbro/32/16560_2.png) [@Schizbro](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Schizbro)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/4 "2026-08-30T15:49:37Z")
No, but my mom did tho. Mainly clothes… she would constantly buy stuff and there would be garbage bags of donation clothes to be picked up on our front porch regularly. Seemed to only be episodic and not recurrent. She seems to be ok about spending now. ---
**Author:** ![Mars](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/mars/32/4869_2.png) [@Mars](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Mars)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 3:50pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/5 "2026-08-30T15:50:07Z")
I’m addicted to ordering food. Meds making you crave stuff badly doesn’t help either. I’m guilty of buying the $20 burrito. ---
**Author:** ![labratmat](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/labratmat/32/16_2.png) [@labratmat](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/labratmat)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/6 "2026-08-30T15:52:36Z")
isnt’ abilify known for this in some cases? ---
**Author:** ![DarkStar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/darkstar/32/17376_2.png) [@DarkStar](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/DarkStar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/7 "2026-08-30T16:02:39Z")
I’m on abilify and I’m OC spending ---
**Author:** ![Mars](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/mars/32/4869_2.png) [@Mars](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Mars)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/8 "2026-08-30T16:19:07Z")
Yeah I’m on Abilify that prob doesnt help either ---
**Author:** ![DarkStar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/darkstar/32/17376_2.png) [@DarkStar](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/DarkStar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/9 "2026-08-30T16:28:17Z")
Bro …what kind of burrito 🌯 is $20lol steak? ---
**Author:** ![Mars](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/mars/32/4869_2.png) [@Mars](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Mars)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/10 "2026-08-30T16:28:53Z")
Yeah with the delivery fee and tip from Chipotle a burrito is like 20 bucks ---
**Author:** ![DarkStar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/darkstar/32/17376_2.png) [@DarkStar](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/DarkStar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/11 "2026-08-30T16:30:44Z")
Hey man .. not to detail the thread but does abilify effect your OCD at all? ---
**Author:** ![Mars](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/mars/32/4869_2.png) [@Mars](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Mars)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 4:31pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/12 "2026-08-30T16:31:13Z")
I don’t think so. I’m on a really low dose for prolactin. ---
**Author:** ![Rainstorm](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/rainstorm/32/242_2.png) [@Rainstorm](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Rainstorm)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 4:36pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/13 "2026-08-30T16:36:47Z")
Im addicted to buying food ---
**Author:** ![Ish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Ish](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Ish)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/14 "2026-08-30T16:42:32Z")
from time to time I get impulsive and spend 100s on craft supplies. ---
**Author:** ![Dika](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/dika/32/9061_2.png) [@Dika](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Dika)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 10:29am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/15 "2026-09-01T10:29:48Z")
Sometimes I’m addicted to buying cheap items from charity shops, clothes especially, and books. Then I donate back those I’m not interested in anymore. Hence my wardrobe changes almost completely from year to year, almost all second hand clothing. It’s trial and error, sometimes clothing doesn’t look as nice on me as I thought so I donate it back again. Hubby says I half worship the charity shops. Not true, but I love them! So environmentally friendly and I love bargain hunting! ---
**Author:** ![yinyang](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/yinyang/32/14062_2.png) [@yinyang](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/yinyang)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 10:41am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/16 "2026-09-01T10:41:53Z")
I believe that I shop more for items than I usually should rather than earning income that I would otherwise save in my bank account. I don’t believe we all schizophrenics living on disability benefits from the government are OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) but instead have too much time on our hands buying unnecessary products. IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Vinegar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/vinegar/32/178_2.png) [@Vinegar](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Vinegar)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 10:41am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/17 "2026-09-01T10:41:54Z")
I love shopping at thrift shops too. I am training my daughter to find what I call “a needle in a haystack” ---
**Author:** ![Jabrown1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/jabrown1/32/15923_2.png) [@Jabrown1](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Jabrown1)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/18 "2026-09-01T20:21:50Z")
I buy alot of books i must have like 100 books maybe more ---
**Author:** ![2Waynez](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/2waynez/32/176_2.png) [@2Waynez](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/2Waynez)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 10:22pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/19 "2026-09-01T22:22:11Z")
I have a hundred and some philosophy books ---
**Author:** ![SzSupportAdmin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/szsupportadmin/32/334_2.png) [@SzSupportAdmin](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/SzSupportAdmin)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488/20 "2026-09-01T23:43:14Z")
I tend to overshop at Christmas time when I have the money. Last year was the first year I have really had to show restraint because I dont have the money that I used to. [Next page](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/have-you-ever-had-a-shopping-addiction/8488.md?page=2)