Do you repetitively shop for unneeded items? Do you shop impulsively and ring up huge credit card bills that you can’t afford? Do you get an incredible rush from shopping that you find yourself craving? Then you may be a sufferer of compulsive shopping disorder. While many people joke about “shopping till you drop” and “I can’t resist a sale,” the compulsive shopper really does have an addiction. This a true disorder thought to effect as much as 8% of the U.S. population. 90% of those affected are women.

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CSD (Compulsive Shopping Disorder) is one of the obsessive-compulsive disorders much like compulsive gambling and binge eating. In fact, people with other addictive behaviors may also suffer with CSD. People with CSD may also suffer from anxiety and depression. They often shop in hopes it will reduce their tension or low mood, and not only does this fail to work, but they tend to feel worse due to the consequences of over shopping.

Many of these people have credit card debts they cannot possibly handle, legal problems including bankruptcy, destroyed marriages and ruined friendships as a result of lying about their compulsive spending. They often shop for the same object over and over again; objects that they do not even use. They may even have emotional “blackouts” where they cannot remember buying the things they did buy.

In July 2005, of The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry published a study from Stanford by Dr. Lorrin Koran. It looked at the use of Celexa (a serotonin reuptake inhibitor) for compulsive-shopping disorder. In this initial study it appeared that celexa was effective in reducing the symptoms of CSD. The celexa also reduced the patients anxiety and depression.

If you think you have a problem with shopping, there are ways to curb your “addiction” and it's important for both you and your family that you do so.

1. Shop only in a store. Shopping by catalogue, internet and TV shopping channels are ways to shop huge volumes in a short time. It is far too tempting for a shopaholic. Make these other methods completely off limits.
2. Stick to a list. Before you go shopping, at all make a list of what you need and buy ONLY what is on the list.
3. Use only cash or a check. Credit cards lead to less control and lots of debt. Only keep a credit card for true emergencies. For all purchases, only allow yourself to use cash or checks.
4. Group therapy. Just like for other addictions there are groups for people who share this problem and often being with others and hearing their harrowing stories is a help.
5. Medication and psychotherapy. If you truly have compulsive-shopping disorder you will likely not be able to control it on your own. Get a professional evaluation and consider treatment with therapy (to look at the underlying mood problem which may be fueling the addiction) and with medication which appears in this latest research to be effective.

"Are You a Compulsive Shopper?"
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More from Gail:

• Are You a Compulsive Liar?

The term hypochondriasis is derived from the old medical term hypochondrium which means “below the ribs” because most people with this condition have abdominal complaints. When we think of a hypochondriac we tend to think of Woody Allen and characters he's played that are constantly in fear of having some terrible medical illness which, of course, never really exists.

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Hypochondriasis is a person’s inaccurate interpretation of real physical sensations that have no actual medical cause. The preoccupation with having a serious disease causes a lot of distress and compromises a person’s ability to function in important areas of their life. About five percent of people have this condition. It affects men and women equally and it most often develops in a person’s 20s. It often comes along with depression and/or anxiety. Despite tests a doctor may give demonstrating that the person is well physically, she or he is convinced otherwise. Over time, the person may become convinced she has developed a new disease.

There are several theories as to the cause of hypochondriasis:

1. A lower pain threshold which leads to a misinterpretation of any normal pain experienced.
2. A wish to be sick so as to escape insurmountable stresses and be excused from difficult responsibilities.
3. A defense against feelings of guilt and a belief of being a bad person. The pain becomes a "deserved" punishment for past real or imagined wrongdoings.
4. A variation on symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Hypochondriasis often arises after a traumatic event like the death or serious illness of a loved one. This usually goes away with time. Children can also experience hypochondriasis; it usually goes away during the late teenage years.

Most hypochondriacs do not want to understand the psychological reason for their problem because they firmly believe the cause is physical, not psychological. A regular check up is helpful. This assures the patient that she is fine physically and gives her attention from the doctor which hypochondriacs often seek.

On the other hand, doing unnecessary tests or procedures is not a good idea and will only increase the concern that something is wrong. Attention to stress in the person's life and identifying any relationship problems with loved ones can be helpful — these are often the underlying source of the problem. However positive reinforcement to the person for playing the “sick role” is a very bad idea — it will only lock in the belief that they really do have an illness.

Group therapy is often helpful. Feedback from others going through the same thing provides a social support that reduces anxiety and tends to make the person less afraid of illness.

While it’s tough to live with a hypochondriac, it isn’t helpful to ignore them or tell them they don’t feel anything, because they do. The pain they feel is real. Reacting to their stress without buying into the illness is the best road to take. And, of course, encourage them to seek psychological treatment.

Have you or someone you know ever had hypochondriasis? What has been your experience with this? Share your thoughts below.

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