Does shopping make you feel better?
Is retail therapy an attempt to replace something missing from our lives?
I know my shopping habits get grossly out of control when I’m dissatisfied with things at home or work. It makes me sick to think back to the countless hours and dollars I’ve spent on purchases that ended up in my closet with the tags attached only to be sent the Salvation Army a few years later. Does anyone else have a compulsive need to shop when they are feeling down, or am I on my own here?
There’s a wonderful bulletin on the David Report about the sociological and psychological implications of consumption.
Yes, I know it’s a large article…But I promise it will be more rewarding then checking WWTDD.com for the 5th time today.
Posted in Random on April 9th, 2008 by punky
April 9th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I’m likely to go on an impulsive shopping spree when I’m feeling stressed out. It’s still ok, though, because most things I buy, in whatever condition I am, I buy with the intention to wear, and so I do, or back they go for return. I do know what you’re meaning, though, it takes on dangerous forms…
April 9th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I just sat in my class and read the article. I always wished to say I wanted to move to Costa Rica and open a cafe up. Neil and I will soon live a much simpler life somewhere wonderful and warm. I am not all about being rich but in Massachusetts you need to make a large amount of money just to get by, not my idea of a GOOD life. I have stopped the mindless shopping in the past year but as I blogged about a few weeks ago keeping up with the “jones” is a full time job I am not interested in.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Oh, definitely. I’ve even walked into stores going, “I need to buy something today!” and walked out even more frustrated when I’ve come away empty-handed because dang it, I really wanted to buy something, anything, and there was nothing I wanted.
I’m also a big online shopper, so I get the happy rush three times: buying the item, receiving a package (hooray for getting things in the mail!), and then having a shiny new thing.
And then I feel bad about it, so I’ve more or less stopped so I can save my money.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
this is serious therapy for me!!! Whenever I am disturbed about anything shopping makes me feel better.