Blogpost #1: Are you a shopaholic?

How often do you go to the mall? Everyone of us go to the mall to shop or to buy something what we want, but are you a normal shopper? or a shopaholic? Do you know what shopaholic is? Shopaholic is someone who likes to shop so much that they typically spend far more than they should. Though he or she has no idea if he or she has enough money to purchase that item but he or she will continue to buy what they want.

I had this kind of experience that really catch my attention to choose this topic. I don't know if I consider myself as a shopaholic or not. For me, It is my way in escaping stress and shopping is my passion. I love to buy new stuffs. Sometimes I get mad at my mom  whenever she don't buy whatever I want. Without hesitation, I never talked her so that she will buy it as a peace offering.Weird right? but having those stuffs makes me feel great. Shopping is the only thing that makes me feel better when I'm not okay. Sometimes, I found myself crying because I don't have enough money to buy new dress, I'll make a way to buy this. Instead of buying foods whenever I'm hungry, I'll saved so that I can buy now the dress but I go home with lots of paper bags. New pair of shoes, dress and clothes then lately I realized that I don't need that new stuffs but having that makes me feel happy. I asked myself. "AM I A SHOPAHOLIC?" Why I keep on doing these things? But only one question really bothers me, "Why do people keeps on shopping even though he or she don't have enough money to buy?" I starter to search an article about my question.

I've come up reading this article entitled "What Is Shopping Addiction?" by Elizabeth Hartney  "Oniomania, compulsive shopping, or what's more commonly referred to as shopping addiction, is perhaps the most socially reinforced of the behavioral addictions.We are surrounded by advertising, telling us that buying will make us happy. We are encouraged by politicians to spend as a way of boosting the economy. And we all want to have what those around us have –- consumerism has become a measure of our social worth." 

According to the article, Oniomania is technical term for compulsive desire to shop, more commonly referred to as shopping addiction.It is their way in coping with stress to the point where they continue to shop excessively even when it is clearly having a negative impact on other areas of their life. As with other addictions, finances and relationship are damaged yet the shopping addicts feels unable to stop or even control their spending.

It's a nice  to know all about these things because I was able to share it with others and inform them what shopping addiction is. For more information, I suggest you to read this article,  " Compulsive Shopping- The Closeted Addiction " by Marcia G. Yerman. It is all about a girl who is certified shopaholic.

I think there are lot of things behind this topic. It's not just all about bad effects of shopping addiction, I know that this is an addiction that is very hard to overcome. There's always a reason why people keeps on buying whatever they want.I'm sure that my researchers will be beneficial not only to adults but also to students like me.