Front Page: Psychiatrists Ask — Is Shopaholism a Disease?

January 28, 2009

by LibertySugar 66

While compulsive spending continues during tough times, the psychiatric world is trying to decide whether it should be considered a disease. — New York Times
Iran says it would welcome a change in its relations with the US, if it involved a withdrawal of US troops from abroad and an apology for past crimes against Iran. — Reuters
Concerns are growing that reconstruction in Gaza will be slowed down by politics. The cost of reconstruction is estimated at $2 billion. — BBC News

Despite losses, Wells Fargo has reported that that it will not ask for more bailout money. — CNN
The poor parents of Slumdog Millionaire's child stars say that their children were exploited and underpaid. — Telegraph

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66 Comments

wackdoodle 4 years 15 weeks

wells Fargo does not need a ask for a bailout because they just randomly decided to charge me a monthly service charge for having my account. 18 years I've had this account and NEVER been assessed a monthly service charge then suddenly - "oh we forgot to steal this money from you for the last 18 years" at least that's what I understand from talking to the Wells Fargo Rep. So I opened an Electric Orange Checking account and am dumping Wells for good.

wackdoodle 4 years 15 weeks

wells Fargo does not need a ask for a bailout because they just randomly decided to charge me a monthly service charge for having my account. 18 years I've had this account and NEVER been assessed a monthly service charge then suddenly - "oh we forgot to steal this money from you for the last 18 years" at least that's what I understand from talking to the Wells Fargo Rep.So I opened an Electric Orange Checking account and am dumping Wells for good.

chatondeneige 4 years 15 weeks

I agree with pioneers completely. It's a societal problem - having more junk implies to others that you're more successful. People need to have personal responsibility, though, and that's what it boils down to.

Jazz Z 4 years 15 weeks

Well said pioneers. I agree that is part of my friend's problem ~ that he equates spending with happiness and success.

pioneers 4 years 15 weeks

Shopping too much is just like consuming anything too much, but I think it's more widespread because it is constantly popularized, accepted, and encouraged in every media outlet. Everything from print ads to television shows condone and promote hyperconsumption. In advertising, objects are connected to human emotions or easy solutions to complex human problems so that people equate happiness with spending. Shopping, like emotional eating or drinking, becomes a means of filling a hole in one's life; a feeling of emptiness that won't be satisfied.I could go on and on with this topic, sorry.

pioneers 4 years 15 weeks

chatondeneige 4 years 15 weeks

Jazz, I'm not sure who you mean by *they*, but the *medical community* calls it a disorder, not a disease. A disease is characterized by something which interferes with physiological function, and mental disorders, such as OCD or "shopaholism" do not do that. Also as a sidenote, "[randomword]aholic" like "chocoholic" and "potoholic" irritate the hell out of me! the "ahol" in alcoholic comes from the word alcOHOL, so if if you're a chocoholic you're addicted to chocohol, etc.

chatondeneige 4 years 15 weeks

Jazz, I'm not sure who you mean by *they*, but the *medical community* calls it a disorder, not a disease. A disease is characterized by something which interferes with physiological function, and mental disorders, such as OCD or "shopaholism" do not do that.Also as a sidenote, "[randomword]aholic" like "chocoholic" and "potoholic" irritate the hell out of me! the "ahol" in alcoholic comes from the word alcOHOL, so if if you're a chocoholic you're addicted to chocohol, etc.

Jazz Z 4 years 15 weeks

PinkNC ~ the difference is that after Christmas most of us can stop spending our whole paychecks on Christmas. The young man I know recently lost his house and filed bankruptcy, but after that he made $30k on a construction job and even though his work is only seasonal, he went out bought all new furniture, skiing passes for his whole family for the whole year, every day he would buy something new, new flat screet TV, xbox, games, new gun he always wanted, cruise, clothes, up to $1,000 a week until it was all gone. He didn't save for taxes nor did he save for the winter, and now he is trying to figure out how to pay for food. I don't know about you, but it sounds like an alcoholic to me if not an obsessive gambler.

PinkNC 4 years 15 weeks

Shopping should not be considered as a disease. I mean we all turn into "shopaholics" during the Christmas season sometimes, and then we get over the exciting moment. Now even though some people shop waaaaay more than others, again, I don't think it's a disease.

PinkNC 4 years 15 weeks

genesisrocks 4 years 15 weeks

I know right? What are they going to do? Invent a pill to treat "shopaholism"

Jazz Z 4 years 15 weeks

chaton ~ I think it is pertinent to note that I said "If *they* call it...a disease" I didn't say *I* call it a disease; although, feel free to note the definition of disease in the Onelook dictionary is "an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning". I think OCD and ADD could be considered abnormal functioning and I believe they are chemical disorders.

Jazz Z 4 years 15 weeks

geebers 4 years 15 weeks

Kscincotta- I agree with you. This is why I feel torn. On the one hand I do think those kids should have had money to help THEM but when you are that poor the money is going to get spent quickly on short-term need. Not that I blame the family at all =but I do think that it is difficult for them to understand the long-term benefit of having money for their schooling. So I agree with the producers in this case but I also am questioning if they are giving these kids enough money - because they did not predict their success they really should add more to the pot as it is only fair. Did they do a percentage or a basic sum? That is what bothers me.

geebers 4 years 15 weeks

kscincotta 4 years 15 weeks

I agree that the contracts for the children in Slumdog should have included a conditional clause to throw extra aid their way if the movie was highly succesful. But when it was filmed, it didn't even have a US distributor and was going to be lucky to get out on DVD. To set the kids up for long term success through education was a smart move on the part of the producers. If the kids were paid a lump sum straight away, then I could imagine a scenario where that money would get split amongst their entire families and would be gone very quickly. As it is, the money they were paid was entirely used for medical expenses of both of their fathers (which is fine) rather than helping to lift their families out of poverty. A larger lump sum would have been just as likely to be spent.

clarabelle98 4 years 15 weeks

I think "shopoholism" or however it's spelled is more a symptom of something else, like OCD or Dissociative Identity Disorder, but I don't it by itself is anything more than a lack of willpower and common sense.

chatondeneige 4 years 15 weeks

Jazz, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder isn't a called a disease. It's a disorder. It's right there in its name!! :) Hainan57, they are the worst! They're so good! I'm just having one more... before lunch. ;)

chatondeneige 4 years 15 weeks

Jazz, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder isn't a called a disease. It's a disorder. It's right there in its name!! :)Hainan57, they are the worst! They're so good! I'm just having one more... before lunch. ;)

starangel82 4 years 15 weeks

em - with my sister, that's probably the truest statement I've heard. I feel for the poor piggies. Of course any time I hear bacon, all I can think about is that stupid commerical on TV where the dog runs around going, "IT'S BACON!".

starangel82 4 years 15 weeks

em - with my sister, that's probably the truest statement I've heard.I feel for the poor piggies. Of course any time I hear bacon, all I can think about is that stupid commerical on TV where the dog runs around going, "IT'S BACON!".

skb9850 4 years 15 weeks

"I find it irritating how everything people don't have enough self-control to stop is called a disease. There may be a few true shopaholics or sexaholics, but for the most part it seems to me that being spoiled and self-indulgent isn't a disease, but a character flaw." I definitely agree. And I can stop eating bacon any time I want too. Right after I go get a BLT for lunch.

skb9850 4 years 15 weeks

"I find it irritating how everything people don't have enough self-control to stop is called a disease. There may be a few true shopaholics or sexaholics, but for the most part it seems to me that being spoiled and self-indulgent isn't a disease, but a character flaw."I definitely agree.And I can stop eating bacon any time I want too. Right after I go get a BLT for lunch.

Jazz Z 4 years 15 weeks

I guess if they call obsessive compulsive disorder a 'disease' then it could be called a disease.

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