‘Have regretted almost everything I bought’: Tabu admits to struggling with online shopping addiction; expert explains its impact

Rima Bhandekar, Senior Psychologist at Helpline – Mpower, Aditya Birla Education Trust, shared that while online shopping can feel very satisfying, its effects are temporary.

According to her, there are plenty of reasons for this addiction.

Avoidance: Mundane life can be boring, lonely, or stressful, while the act of going through the list, shortlisting, and buying items can be stimulating.

Newness: There are plenty of trendy options available online, and ordering and paying are so easy. Shopping can be done anytime, which could be very convenient for many people. They tend to justify that I am ‘treating’ myself better through buying, which may give them a sense of confidence.

“Savings on time-limited deals may make them impulsively buy, or search for better deals, which makes people spend more time on online shopping,” added Bhandekar.

Impact on mental health

Bhandekar revealed that in the short term, online shopping addiction can lead to feelings of excitement, temporary distraction from negative emotions, and even come with guilt of spending time and money unnecessarily.

Do you shop online too often? (Source: Freepik)

In the long run, you might experience:

– Dependence on online shopping to feel better
– Strain on finances and relationships
– Ending up disappointed, and with unnecessary things.
– Feeling lost or losing control of oneself
– Frustration, sadness, stress, anger and conflicts

How can you overcome a shopping addiction?

Bhandekar suggested the following strategies to tackle this issue:

– Identifying emotions behind addiction
– Set a time limit before you make a decision to buy non-essential items
– Set realistic financial boundaries, keeping in mind the emotional value of the items
– Stress management is essential
– Take therapist support as it could be challenging to manage addiction alone
– Raise barriers to delay shopping by using only cash, stop notifications, try offline shopping if possible, and block shopping during certain periods.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.