Recognize the signs of shopping addiction

Shopping addiction and depression

Speaking at a media conference on mental health and internet addiction organized by the Institute of Mental Health (Bach Mai Hospital) this afternoon, July 24, in Hanoi, Master of Psychology Dang Thi Hai Yen (Institute of Mental Health) said that shopping addiction can be found in women, usually middle-aged women.

Overshoppers need psychological support

Shopaholics have symptoms such as: increased shopping needs but often related to spending beyond their ability to pay or using credit cards leading to debt, exceeding spending ability.

Shopping addiction is common in people with unstable psychology, related to depression, anxiety. Usually, shopping addiction behaviors are only treated by psychological intervention, outpatients, not hospitalized.

To intervene, psychologists can communicate, motivate, help them pay off debts, restructure cognition and change behavior.

For example, when shopping, the individual will put the item in the shopping cart and wait for more time to consider and decide to buy (maybe after 7 days) to make sure to only buy when really needed; when buying an item, they need to throw away a corresponding unused item, instead of buying immediately, even borrowing to buy like before. Or like many young people today, swipe their credit card to buy, spend first, pay later.

Interventions are needed when patients increase their spending without being aware of their debts.

"However, before focusing on adjusting consumer and shopping behavior, it is necessary to focus on solving other diseases first. For example, the person may have depression or anxiety. These diseases need to be treated first, and consumer behavior will be treated later," said Ms. Hai Yen.

5 groups of internet addicts

Speaking at the seminar, Dr. Bui Nguyen Bao Ngoc (Department of Addiction Treatment, Institute of Mental Health) shared that internet addiction is becoming more and more common.

Internet addiction is classified as a behavioral addiction, divided into 5 groups. The first is cybersex addiction. The second is cybersex addiction. This occurs in people who are too involved in online relationships or may have virtual affairs. Online relationships become more important than real-life relationships, which can lead to marital discord and family instability.

The third is pure compulsion (online gambling, shopping or stock trading… can lead to significant financial losses, as well as disruption of relationships and work).

Fourth is information overload (which creates a new type of compulsive behavior involving excessive web surfing and data searching). These individuals spend a disproportionate amount of time searching for, collecting, and organizing information.

Fifth is gaming addiction. Gaming addicts spend most of their time playing games, which leads to poor academic performance and reduced work efficiency. They experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop playing games...

Doctor Nguyen Thanh Long (Department of Addiction Treatment, Institute of Mental Health) added that internet addiction can occur at any age. In particular, game addiction is common in young people aged 13-17, then progresses over time and becomes more severe if not treated.

Online gambling addiction can occur in young and middle-aged men. Women can also experience online shopping addiction.

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