I Was a Shopping Addict — It's a Serious Problem

The Hidden Struggle of Shopping Addiction

For many, shopping is a simple way to relax and treat oneself. However, for some individuals, it can quickly spiral into a dangerous habit that affects their mental health, finances, and relationships. This is the reality for people like Lucy, Natalie, and Alyce, who have all struggled with what experts call compulsive buying disorder or oniomania.

Lucy, a 37-year-old from West Yorkshire, describes how her life became consumed by the need to shop. She would spend up to 14 hours a day browsing through clothes, using retail therapy as an escape from the pressures of real life. At one point, she was so deep in debt that she couldn’t afford to pay her bills. Her wardrobe took over an entire room in her home, along with several suitcases and a storage unit. “Clothes acted like an armour to not feel the feelings that I did in real life,” she explains.

Her addiction started when she created a fashion Instagram account, which eventually led to weekly spending of around £700. Over time, this added up to £12,000 in debt. “It was the first thing I would think about when I woke up,” she recalls. It wasn’t until a therapist mentioned oniomania that she realized her behavior was more than just a bad habit—it was an addiction.

Understanding Compulsive Buying Disorder

Compulsive buying disorder, also known as oniomania, is characterized by an uncontrollable urge to shop, even when it leads to negative consequences. While the exact number of people affected is unknown, research suggests that approximately 5% of adults may suffer from it. A more recent study indicates that this number could have risen to 10% since the pandemic.

Despite its growing prevalence, oniomania is not widely recognized or understood. Lucy and others across the UK are calling for better awareness and support, particularly within the NHS. “The resources are currently lacking,” Lucy says. “The research and understanding of oniomania is just not there in the same way as addiction to substances.”

Natalie, a 40-year-old from Rotherham, has a “cupboard of doom” filled with over 10,000 household items. Her obsessive-compulsive tendencies drive her to buy specific numbers of items and particular colors. At the peak of her addiction, she spent up to £3,000 a month, including £1,000 on toiletries. “I cannot stop— and I do not want to stop either,” she says. “If I see something online, I need it.”

Natalie’s story highlights how social media plays a significant role in fueling these behaviors. Ads and influencer content often trigger her urges, leading her to watch perfume videos for hours each day. Although she has undergone therapy, she feels it hasn’t been enough. “Every addiction should be treated the same,” she says. “More help and therapy should be available [from the NHS] to people who want it.”

The Role of Social Media and Online Retail

Experts note that the rise of online shopping and digital advertising has made it easier for people to fall into the trap of compulsive buying. According to the IAB UK, advertisers’ spend on social media content grew by 20% last year, reaching a total of £8.87bn. This increase has contributed to a surge in online retail sales, which have more than doubled in the last decade.

Zaheen Ahmed, director of therapy at The UKAT Group, has seen a growing number of clients struggling with shopping addiction. He compares the hormonal anticipation of a purchase to the reaction of a drug user securing a hit. “Social media is impacting our lives big time and it is contributing to our urge to buy, urge to spend, urge to interact every time,” he explains.

Alyce, a 25-year-old from Bristol, shares a similar experience. She started using Buy Now Pay Later schemes at 18, which she describes as a “gateway” to other forms of credit. By the time she reached her early 20s, she had accumulated £9,000 in debt. “The more I had to open, the more excitement there was. But once I opened the parcels, the buzz would wear off and I'd be sad again,” she says.

The Need for Recognition and Support

Despite the increasing prevalence of shopping addiction, it remains a largely unrecognized condition. The NHS does not have a distinct diagnosis for it, as experts debate whether it should be classified as a behavioral addiction or linked to mood or obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Professor Ian Hamilton, a leading expert in addiction, believes that oniomania has caught psychiatry off guard. “We are still two or three years away from the disorder being more widely recognized as a formal diagnosis,” he says. He also points out that the retail sector has adopted strategies used by the gambling industry to keep consumers engaged online.

Pamela Roberts, a psychotherapist at the Priory Group, emphasizes the importance of recognizing shopping addiction as a legitimate issue. “We need to learn different coping strategies but we can only learn [them] when it's recognized as a problem,” she adds.

The NHS offers support through Talking Therapies, which provides treatment for conditions like OCD and helps individuals develop practical skills to manage their behavior. Anyone struggling with obsessive or compulsive habits is encouraged to reach out to their GP or seek therapy.

Conclusion

Shopping addiction is a growing concern that affects millions of people worldwide. While it may start as a harmless activity, it can quickly spiral into a destructive cycle of debt, guilt, and emotional distress. With the right support and recognition, individuals like Lucy, Natalie, and Alyce can begin to break free from the cycle and reclaim control of their lives.