Addiction Addictive Behaviors Shopping Self-Help Groups for Shopping Addiction By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial process Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Reviewed by Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW on May 28, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin instagram Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, the author of the bestselling book "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," and the host of The Verywell Mind Podcast. Learn about our Review Board Amy Morin, LCSW on May 28, 2020 Print Looking for a self-help group for shopping addiction? Surrounding yourself with a community of people who have shared the same or similar experiences can be extremely helpful. Like most problems in life, it can help to talk to others who know exactly what you’re dealing with because they’ve been there, too. If you're a compulsive shopper, through support group work, you can gain a new perspective on your addiction. Signs of Shopping Addiction Everyone overspends now and again, but around six percent of the U.S. population is thought to have a true shopping addiction. The disorder typically begins in the late teens or early adulthood. It often co-occurs with other disorders, including mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, other impulse control disorders, and personality disorders. If you’re wondering whether you or a loved one’s shopping is out-of-hand, start by determining if these characteristics apply. Buy things you don’t need even though you can't afford them Engage in binge shopping Experience a strong urge to buy Feel disappointment, stress, and guilt after shopping Hide purchases for fear others will think what you’ve bought is irrational Respond to direct mail offers Spend all or part of any money you have Use “retail therapy” to deal with stress If the majority of these characteristics apply, you or your loved one may have a compulsive buying disorder. If you or a loved one are struggling with a shopping addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Reasons to Try a Self-Help Group A self-help group for shopping addiction can help people gain insight into their addiction. Here's an overview of some of the other benefits of joining a group. Identify and sidestep emotional triggers Develop a network of nonjudgemental people Avoid feeling isolated or helpless Talk openly about your experiences and feelings Relieve stress, anxiety, and depression Gain a better understand addiction as a disease Find resources for treatment Here, we take a look at the variety of self-help groups for people grappling with compulsive buying disorder, as well as for their families and friends. Whether you prefer to join an online support group or supplement the support you get at in-person meetings with online meetings, find one that's right for you. 1 Debtors Anonymous David Sacks / Getty Images Debtors Anonymous was first started in 1968 when a group of recovering members from Alcoholics Anonymous began discussing their financial problems. Today, the group has more than 500 registered meetings in more than 15 countries worldwide, where you can share your struggles and help others who are overcoming overspending. According to its website, "its purpose is threefold: to stop incurring unsecured debt, to share our experience with the newcomer, and to reach out to other debtors." 2 Spenders Anonymous Spenders Anonymous is a 12-step group based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous; however, there is no organizational affiliation between the two groups. Spenders Anonymous strives to help shopping addicts stop spending compulsively, take responsibility for their money, and spread the message of recovery to other compulsive spenders. The only requirement for membership is "a desire to stop spending time, money, energy and our very selves beyond all reason," according to its website. 3 Online Resources There are many online support groups and resources designed for compulsive shoppers, including Stopping Overshopping. Founded by April Lane Benson, Ph.D., a nationally known psychologist who specializes in the treatment of compulsive buying disorder, the website provides online resources for self-help. Shopping Addiction Support Group is an online support group with nearly 30,000 members where you can post about whatever you're dealing with and get sympathy and advice. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Aboujaoude E. Compulsive buying disorder: a review and update. Curr Pharm Des. 2014;20(25):4021-5. doi:10.2174/13816128113199990618 Additional Reading Spenders Anonymous. Updated January 2014. Müller A, Mitchell JE, de Zwaan M. Compulsive Buying. The American Journal on Addictions. March 2015;24(2):132–137. doi:10.1111/ajad.12111 Speak to a Therapist for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.