A study fn 122 patients jas found that online shopping addiction is a particular form of buying-shopping disorder (BSD), and can be the source of other mental health illnesses, such as anxiety and depression.
The study, published by comprehensive psychiatry , shows that the condition affects 1 in 20 people.
Patients suffering from the condition also face other consequences, such as debt and relationship problems.
The spread of apps, online stores, and home deliveries with shops open 24/7 and prices are often lower than high street’s ones means more young people are now affected by the disorder.
Although BSD is an officially recognised condition, it does not encompass the full scale of online shopping addiction.
Dr Astrid Müller, a psychotherapist at Hannover Medical School in Germany, told the Daily Mail: "It really is time to recognize BSD as a separate mental health condition and to accumulate further knowledge about BSD on the Internet."
Psychology Today has compiled a list of ten signs of BSD:
- I feel like I can’t stop online shopping even if I wanted to and/or have tried to stop without being able to.
- Online shopping has hurt my relationships, work, or financial situation.
- My partner, family members, or friends are concerned about my online shopping. I end up in arguments with them over it.
- I think about online shopping all the time.
- I get grumpy or upset if I can't shop online.
- Online shopping is the only thing that helps me relax or feel better.
- I hide things that I buy because I’m afraid other people will think it’s unreasonable or a waste of money.
- I often feel guilty after I go online shopping.
- I spend less time doing other things that I enjoy because of online shopping.
- I often buy things that I don’t need or much more than I planned, even when I can’t afford it.
Another tool to assess a possible shopping addiction is the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale .
If you think you could be addicted to online shopping, contact the NHS addiction services to get help.
