'Addicted' to shopping, went to the doctor and found out he had a mental illness

For the past year, the 35-year-old woman in Hanoi has changed her personality. Every day, she orders many things, sometimes dozens of items, but she can't remember what she bought. Especially when she feels uninterested in life, she starts shopping again, enjoying the feeling of spending money, but after each time she receives the goods, she feels regretful.

Recently, instead of receiving the goods herself, she ordered them to be “shipped” to the address of the company where her husband worked and asked him to receive them for her. The wife shopped beyond her financial means, and the husband often had to pay off the debt on her behalf. When prevented, the woman became irritated and lost her temper, leading to conflict between the two.

Doctor Thu visits a patient at the hospital. (Illustration: BSCC)

According to Dr. Tran Thi Hong Thu, Deputy Director of Mai Huong Daytime Psychiatric Hospital, after examining and excluding other symptoms, the woman was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Each time she was manic, she was happy and enjoyed shopping, and loved life. After that, she felt depressed, sad, negative, and depressed.

Shopping addiction is not uncommon. Many people are addicted to online and offline shopping, causing significant financial losses and affecting their work.

Shopping addiction can start as a hobby to relieve stress, gradually leading to a state of intoxication. Some people buy a lot, even though they do not need it and exceed their spending ability. Many people buy now and pay later, paying in installments, and fall into debt.

For normal shopaholics, doctors help them change their behavior and restructure their finances. In cases of emotional disorders and depression, doctors intervene with specialized methods.

Patients with bipolar disorder often show signs of excessive joy with any object or phenomenon that happens around them. They show a happy face and a joyful attitude. Patients often sing, read poetry, act passionately and continuously, causing noise and annoyance to those around them.

Some cases talk a lot, talk loudly, chat about all kinds of topics, use joking language, play with words. If the patient is angry, the conversation can turn into a slanderous, dramatic direction. The patient cannot concentrate on a certain task if there is external stimulation. Therefore, they often interfere with everything around them, make noise, talk too loudly or move furniture in the room.

Untreated bipolar disorder can cause significant psychosocial consequences for the patient and affect personal, professional, and family life. Patients have a 2-3 times higher divorce rate and 2 times higher occupational impairment than those without the disorder, and their quality of life is significantly reduced.

When shopping disorder affects life, activities, and family, the patient should go to a mental health specialist for examination and treatment advice.

Nhu Loan

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/nghien-mua-sam-di-kham-moi-biet-bi-tam-than-ar907098.html