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Reading

Shopping (Compras)

HOW CAN I MANAGE COMPULSIVE
SHOPPING and SPENDING?

by Ruth C. Engs, RN, EdD

What is compulsive shopping and spending?
People who "shop 'till they drop" and run their credit cards up to the limit often have a shopping addiction. They believe that if they shop they will feel better. Compulsive shopping and spending generally makes a person feel worse. It is similar to other addictive behaviors and has some of the same characteristics as as problem drinking (alcoholism), gambling and overeating addictions.

Compulsive shopping or spending can be a seasonal balm for the depression, anxiety and loneliness during the December holiday season. It also can occur when a person feels depressed, lonely and angry. Shopping and spending will not assure more love, bolster self-esteem, or heal the hurts, regrets, stress, and the problems of daily living. It generally makes these feelings worse because of the increased financial debt the person has obtained from compulsive shopping.

How can you tell if you are a compulsive shopper?
Shopoholics, when they are feeling "out of sorts, shop for a " pick-me-up." They go out and buy, to get a high, or get a "rush" just like a drug or alcohol addict. Shopping addiction tends to affect more women than men. They often buy things they do not need. Holiday seasons can trigger shopping binges among those who are not compulsive the rest of the year. Many shopping addicts go on binges all year long and may be compulsive about buying certain items, such as shoes, kitchen items or clothing; some will buy anything.

Women with this compulsive disorder often have racks of clothes and possessions with the price tags still attached which have never been used. They will go to a shopping mall with the intention of buying one or two items and come home with bags and bags of purchases. In some cases shopololics have an emotional "black out" and do not remember even buying the articles. If their family or friends begin to complain about their purchases, they will often hide the things they buy. They are often in denial about the problem. Because they can not pay their bills their credit rating suffers, they have collection agencies attempting to get what is owed, may have legal, social and relationship  problems. They sometimes attempt to hide their problem by taking on an extra job to pay for bills.

How do you cure this condition?
It is recommended that shopoholic seek professional counseling or a self-help group to deal with his or her problem.  Addictive behaviors tend to congregate, so if you have an eating disorder, a problem with drugs or alcohol, or gambling, you may be a candidate for shopping addiction. Many communities have credit counseling centers that will also help with shopoholism.

From http://www.indiana.edu/~engs/hints/shop.html 

Practice
Guess the meanings of these expressions based on their context.

"Window shop only after stores have closed.  If you do look during the day, leave your wallet at home."

"Window shop" means . . .

 a) Look at items in store windows.

 b) Look for and purchase windows for your home.

 c) Shop for a new wallet.

 

"In some cases shopololics have an emotional black out and do not remember even buying the articles."

"Black out" means . . .

 a) Period of time when people don't have emotions.

 b) Lack of memory of an event.

 c) Purchase of black articles of clothing.

 

"Shopoholics, when they are feeling out of sorts, shop for a pick-me-up."

"Out of sorts" means not healthy or normal.

"Pick-me-up" means . . .

 a) a beautiful article of clothing

 b) an improvement in emotional state, health, or other condition

 c) a medicine

 

True or False
Select "True" or "False" based on the information from the reading.

According to the article, which of the following things can people who are compulsive shoppers do to try to control their addiction? (Select three)

 a) Use cash or checks instead of credit cards.

 b) Never go shopping again.

 c) Limit their purchases to items on their shopping list.

 d) Get counseling.

 e) Open a savings account in a local bank.