Understanding the Causes of and Treatments for Compulsive Buying Disorder
Do you find yourself battling uncontrollable urges? We tend to think of things like excessive drinking, smoking, eating, gambling, using drugs, and the like. Well, I do not suffer from urges in these habits. Instead, I’m what you would call a Shopaholic, which is usually applied with humor. It dates back to the 1940s, when it emerged as a combination of shop and -aholic. The word shop comes from the Old English term sceoppa (“stall, booth”) and is related to the Middle Dutch schoppe (“stall”). The combining form -aholic is based on alcoholic and denotes “a person who has an addiction to or obsession with some object or activity.”
Excessive buying of clothes, often referred to as compulsive buying disorder (CBD), oniomania, or shopping addiction, is characterized by a repetitive, irresistible, and uncontrollable urge to purchase garments and accessories, despite negative personal, social, or financial consequences. It is a behavioral addiction that focuses more on the act of purchasing to manage emotions rather than the utility of the clothing itself.
According to the self-help online resource, Very Well Mind, “Excessive buying of clothes, often referred to as compulsive buying disorder (CBD), oniomania, or shopping addiction, is characterized by a repetitive, irresistible, and uncontrollable urge to purchase garments and accessories, despite negative personal, social, or financial consequences. It is a behavioral addiction that focuses more on the act of purchasing to manage emotions rather than the utility of the clothing itself.”
Does Shopaholic-ism Belong in the DSM?
“The fact that compulsive shopping is not listed in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5), makes the condition difficult to diagnose.
Proposed diagnostic criteria for this condition include:
- Intrusive thoughts and urges for shopping and buying
- Loss of control over shopping/buying
- Excessive purchasing without intending to use items
- Buying things to regulate internal states
- Negative consequences caused by excessive shopping/buying
- Emotional symptoms when buying/spending is stopped
- Being unable to stop buying/spending behaviors despite negative consequences
My Story
For some reason, the past year or so of my life has been filled with the buying of new clothes, regardless of whether I need it. I suppose it’s partly the thrill of clicking on an item, selecting which to choose, entering shipping and credit card information, and clicking “buy.” Perhaps it provides a sense of power. I can get whatever I want just with a click of the mouse. The happiness I feel gets stronger when I open the package and see my purchase in real time.
It really doesn’t matter that I have no need for the item I am buying. It’s the thrill of the purchase that is most important. For me, and probably a lot of folks who read my blogs, it’s these annoying pop-up ads that stoke the flames of incessant buying. I haven’t learned yet to turn my attention away from them and do something else to take my mind off what I have just seen.
I took an inventory of clothing that I have purchased in 2025. It comes to 20 pairs of jeans, 15 pullover shirs, 15 Henley shirts, 13 sweaters, 30 tee shirts…well, you get the idea. I’m always on the look out for a new style. Awhile back, I saw mock turtle-neck shirts and sweaters. I really liked the fact that it went further up my neck than a regular tee shirt, and that they are available in short sleeve and long sleeve. Now, all that has to happen is for the manufacturers to figure out how to make the collar stay up so that it doesn’t lose its form and fold over on my neck.
What Can We Do?
I was somewhat surprised that Owen Kelly, Ph.D., who wrote the “DEADS” Technique (SMART Recovery) article, says that: “to be considered compulsive buying disorder, the compulsive shopping behaviors must not be associated with another mental health condition, such as periods of hypomania or mania with bipolar disorder.” I never thought of it in that way. It seems to say that if I suffer from these mental health problems, then I can’t have hypomania, mania or bipolar disease. Otherwise, those diseases would be the underlying cause of shopaholic behavior. It’s something to think about—at least for me.
Here is some of the advice that I found online. I hope it is helpful for you.
“Many people who compulsively shop do so as a coping mechanism to mask difficult emotions like stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem. But shopping only provides temporary relief from their struggles. Their inability to control their shopping eventually commonly leaves them with an overwhelming sense of guilt and shame.”
Controlling urges is best achieved by not fighting them directly, but rather by accepting their presence while refusing to act on them, a technique known as urge surfing. Urges are often intense but temporary—rarely lasting longer than 30 minutes if not “fed” by rumination or attention.
Effective, evidence-based methods to manage and control urges include:
- The “DEADS” Technique (SMART Recovery)
- Delay: Put off reacting or giving in for 5-10 minutes. The intense emotion often fades.
- Escape: Remove yourself from the situation, location, or environment that triggers the urge.
- Avoid: Steer clear of people, places, or situations that you know trigger your urges.
- Distract: Focus your attention on something else entirely—a hobby, work, or physical movement.
- Substitute: Replace the unhealthy habit with a healthy, or at least neutral, action (e.g., eating a piece of fruit instead of smoking).
- Mindful “Urge Surfing”
Instead of suppressing a thought, which often increases it, try to “surf” the urge.
- Acknowledge and Accept: Recognize the urge as a temporary, physical sensation (e.g., chest tightness, craving) rather than a command to act.
- Visualize the Wave: Picture the urge as a wave that rises, peaks, and eventually subsides. Ride the wave by focusing on your breath rather than the craving.
- Grounding: Use your five senses to ground yourself in the present moment, such as describing your surroundings or playing a memory game.
- Cognitive Behavioral Techniques (CBT)
- Relabel: Label the urge for what it is—a “dysfunctional thought” or a “false message” from your brain, rather than an urgent, necessary need.
- Reattribute: Recognize that the urge is just a result of brain conditioning, not a reflection of what you actually need.
- Refocus: Actively engage in a pleasurable, healthy activity to create new, positive neural pathways.
- Behavioral & Lifestyle Changes
- Identify Triggers: Keep a journal to track when and why urges occur (e.g., stress, boredom, specific settings).
- Reduce Vulnerability: Manage your environment to minimize temptation (e.g., not buying trigger foods) and ensure you are rested, eating well, and exercising to reduce emotional fragility.
- Seek Support: Utilize accountability partners, support groups, or therapy to help maintain commitment.
- When to Seek Professional Help
If urges are frequent, uncontrollable, or dangerous, they may be linked to underlying conditions like ADHD, PTSD, or Borderline Personality Disorder. Professional help, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), or medication, can provide tailored strategies.”
Conclusion
There is so much more to say about the excessive urges many of us feel. I hope this blog helps someone in some way. If you would like me to write more blogs on the topic, send me an email at: profdocsteve@gmail.com.
Blog posted on February 10, 2026 by Steven Mintz. Ph.D., professor emeritus from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Check out Steve’s website at: https://www.stevenmintzethics.com/. Read Steve’s “Ethics Sage” blog at: https://ethicssage.com/ and “Workplace Ethics Advice at: https://workplaceethicsadvice.com/.