Oniomania, also called compulsive consumerism, is a very common psychological disorder that reveals deficiencies and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. People who buy many things, which are often unnecessary, may suffer from more serious emotional problems and should seek some form of treatment.
This problem affects women more than men and tends to appear around 18 years of age. If left untreated, it can cause financial problems and bring big losses. Usually, these people go out to buy things when they feel alone or disappointed about something. The good satisfaction of buying something new soon disappears and then you have to buy something else, making it a vicious cycle.
The most suitable treatment for consumerism is psychotherapy, which will look for the root of the problem and then the person will gradually stop buying things on impulse.
Symptoms of Oniomania
The main symptom of oniomania is the impulse purchase and, most of the time, superfluous goods. In addition, other symptoms that may indicate this disorder are:
- Buying repeated items; Hide purchases from family and friends; Lying in relation to purchases; Resorting to bank or family loans for purchases; Financial uncontrolling; Shopping with the aim of dealing with anguish, sadness and worry; Feeling of guilt after purchases, but that doesn't stop you from buying again.
Many people who are compulsive consumers buy in an attempt to have a sense of pleasure and well-being and, therefore, consider shopping as a remedy for sadness and frustration. Because of this, oniomania can often go unnoticed, only being noticed when the person has huge financial problems.
How to treat
The treatment of oniomania is done through therapy sessions, in which the psychologist seeks to understand and make the person understand the reason why he consumes excessively. In addition, the professional seeks strategies during sessions that encourage a change in the person's behavior.
Group therapy also usually works and has good results, because during the dynamic people who share the same disorder are able to expose their insecurities, anxieties and sensations that shopping can bring, which can make the process of accepting the disorder easier and resolution of oniomania.
In some situations, it may be recommended that the person also see a psychiatrist, especially if it is identified that in addition to compulsive consumerism, there is depression or anxiety, for example. Thus, the psychiatrist can indicate the use of antidepressant drugs or mood stabilizers.
