Learn about compulsive spending and shopping addiction, how patterns affect emotional health, and how evidence-based therapy using CBT, ACT, and IFS can support lasting change.
Exploring why compulsive spending happens, how it affects mental and emotional health, and how therapy can support lasting change
Shopping and spending are normal parts of life, but for some individuals, buying becomes a way to cope with stress, emotional pain, or unmet needs. Compulsive spending, sometimes referred to as shopping addiction or oniomania, involves repetitive, uncontrollable buying that leads to distress, financial strain, or relationship difficulties.
Compulsive shopping or spending is not a reflection of laziness or moral weakness; rather, it often develops as a learned coping strategy to manage uncomfortable emotions or to create temporary relief or excitement.
Recognizing Patterns of Compulsive Spending
Not all shopping beyond needs is problematic. Occasional indulgence, planned purchases, or impulse buys are common and generally harmless. Compulsive spending becomes concerning when it is frequent, intense, or accompanied by feelings of loss of control, guilt, or financial stress.
Patterns may include online shopping binges, hoarding items, impulsive purchases, or buying to manage anxiety, low mood, boredom, or trauma-related emotions. Recognizing these patterns without judgment is key to taking the first step toward change.
The Emotional and Psychological Impact
Compulsive spending often interacts with anxiety, low mood, trauma, and difficulties in emotion regulation. Buying can temporarily reduce stress or lift mood, but these effects are short-lived and frequently followed by regret, shame, or relational tension.
Over time, reliance on shopping as a coping mechanism can intensify emotional distress, disrupt sleep, strain finances, and make it harder to develop healthier ways to manage internal discomfort. For individuals with past trauma, compulsive spending may serve as an attempt to soothe pain or regain control, while actually reinforcing emotional patterns that need addressing.
Why Compassionate Approaches Matter
Shame or blame rarely motivates lasting change. Evidence-based therapy focuses on understanding the function compulsive spending serves and on developing skills to respond differently to emotional triggers. Compassionate approaches validate the person’s experience, reduce self-criticism, and increase the likelihood of sustainable change.
Evidence-Based Therapies for Compulsive Spending
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps individuals identify triggers, unhelpful beliefs, and spending behaviours that reinforce cycles of impulsivity and guilt. Clients learn strategies to manage urges, track finances, and challenge thoughts such as “I need this to feel better” or “I can’t resist buying.”
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasizes accepting uncomfortable feelings—like cravings, anxiety, or boredom—while taking actions aligned with personal values, such as financial stability, self-respect, or meaningful relationships.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) explores how different parts of a person may use spending to protect against emotional pain, manage stress, or soothe inner critics, fostering curiosity, compassion, and emotional healing.
Building a Healthy Relationship with Money and Emotions
Effective treatment integrates practical skill-building, emotional insight, and understanding the internal drivers of behaviour. Recovery is measured not by perfection, but by increased awareness, self-compassion, emotional flexibility, and alignment with personal values.
Whether someone struggles with occasional overspending, frequent shopping binges, or supporting a loved one, a compassionate understanding of compulsive spending opens the door to meaningful and lasting change.
If you are ready to explore evidence-based support for compulsive spending or shopping addiction, we invite you to Contact Us to learn how therapy can help.
References:
Black DW. A review of compulsive buying disorder. World Psychiatry. 2007 Feb;6(1):14-8. PMID: 17342214; PMCID: PMC1805733.
