Shopping addiction, also known as compulsive buying disorder (CBD), is a behavioral condition that goes beyond occasional retail splurges. Characterized by an overwhelming urge to shop and a pattern of purchasing that leads to emotional and financial distress, shopping addiction affects countless individuals around the world. For some, shopping may temporarily escape negative emotions or stressful situations, but the cycle often results in guilt, regret, and long-term consequences.
Shopping addiction can be particularly challenging for individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), both of which are associated with impulsivity and emotional instability. During manic episodes, individuals with bipolar disorder may engage in impulsive shopping sprees. At the same time, those with BPD may use shopping as a way to cope with feelings of emptiness, loneliness, or self-doubt. In both cases, the drive to shop is often less about acquiring goods and more about managing deep-rooted emotional challenges.
We’ll explore the complex relationship between bipolar disorder, BPD, and shopping addiction, examining the unique factors that make individuals with these conditions more vulnerable to compulsive buying. Additionally, we’ll discuss the emotional and financial toll of shopping addiction, treatment options, and strategies for managing these interconnected issues. For those struggling with this cycle, understanding the underlying dynamics of shopping addiction in the context of BD and BPD is a critical step toward healing and developing healthier coping mechanisms.
Understanding Shopping Addiction
Shopping addiction, or compulsive buying disorder (CBD), is a behavioral addiction characterized by an irresistible urge to shop, often leading to emotional, financial, and social challenges. Unlike typical shopping behavior, which is driven by necessity or occasional enjoyment, shopping addiction involves repetitive, uncontrollable purchasing that becomes a primary response to emotional distress or a way of escaping from personal challenges. For individuals with CBD, shopping offers a temporary sense of relief or satisfaction, yet the aftermath often includes guilt, regret, and escalating consequences.
People with shopping addiction may spend excessive time thinking about or planning purchases, often buying items they do not need or cannot afford. The drive to shop can be so strong that it overrides considerations of budget, future goals, or relationships. Compulsive buyers frequently report feeling a rush or emotional lift when making a purchase, followed by feelings of emptiness or anxiety once the initial high fades. This cycle of excitement followed by regret is typical of behavioral addictions, as individuals are drawn back to shopping in an attempt to regain the fleeting relief they felt.
Characteristics of Shopping Addiction
While shopping addiction is not yet recognized as a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), it shares similarities with other impulse-control and behavioral addictions, such as gambling or binge eating. Some key characteristics of shopping addiction include:
- Preoccupation with Shopping: Constantly thinking about shopping or feeling the need to shop, even without a specific reason.
- Difficulty Resisting Impulses to Buy: The inability to stop oneself from purchasing unneeded items, regardless of the impact on finances or personal well-being.
- Emotional Spending: Using shopping as a primary method to cope with negative emotions, such as sadness, anxiety, or loneliness.
- Negative Consequences: Experiencing financial strain, relationship issues, or emotional distress due to compulsive shopping habits.
- Temporary Relief Followed by Regret: Feeling temporarily better or excited after shopping, followed by guilt, shame, or regret.
Why Shopping Becomes Addictive
At its core, shopping addiction is about more than acquiring goods; it often serves as a maladaptive coping mechanism. For individuals with high levels of stress, low self-esteem, or emotional regulation challenges, the act of shopping provides a momentary distraction or boost. However, because the relief is temporary, individuals quickly find themselves returning to shopping to manage their feelings again, creating a repetitive cycle. The brain’s reward system also plays a role, as dopamine—the “feel-good” neurotransmitter—is released during shopping, reinforcing the behavior.
Compulsive Buying and Mental Health
Shopping addiction rarely exists in isolation. Many individuals with CBD also have underlying mental health conditions, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. Research has shown that compulsive buying is often associated with conditions characterized by impulsivity and emotional dysregulation, such as bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. In these cases, shopping addiction may be both a symptom and a coping mechanism used to alleviate symptoms of the primary condition, yet ultimately exacerbating feelings of distress and loss of control.
Understanding the unique characteristics and psychological mechanisms behind shopping addiction is essential to addressing it effectively. For individuals with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, recognizing the specific ways in which these conditions interact with shopping addiction can be the first step toward breaking the cycle and seeking treatment that addresses both the addiction and the underlying mental health challenges.
Comorbidity: Bipolar Disorder, BPD, and Shopping Addiction
Compulsive shopping, also known as shopping addiction, often co-occurs with other mental health conditions, notably bipolar disorder (BD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). While both BD and BPD present unique characteristics, they share several overlapping symptoms, such as impulsivity and emotional dysregulation, that may predispose individuals to shopping addiction. Understanding how these conditions intersect with compulsive shopping can provide insights into why certain individuals struggle with this particular behavioral addiction.
Bipolar Disorder and Shopping Addiction
In individuals with bipolar disorder, episodes of shopping addiction frequently occur during manic or hypomanic phases. These phases are characterized by elevated mood, impulsivity, and heightened energy levels, which often lead to risky behaviors, including compulsive shopping. When someone with BD is in a manic state, they may feel euphoric, overly confident, or even invincible, which can lead them to make impulsive purchases without regard for consequences. They may also experience grandiosity, believing they can afford purchases beyond their means or that these purchases are somehow justified or necessary.
In hypomania, a less intense form of mania, individuals may still exhibit impulsive behaviors but with slightly more restraint. Nevertheless, hypomanic episodes can contribute to excessive spending, particularly since these episodes can last for days or weeks, compounding the financial and emotional toll. For individuals with BD, the aftermath of a manic or hypomanic spending spree often brings feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety as they confront the reality of their actions. This cycle of manic shopping and post-manic remorse can lead to significant distress and impact financial stability, relationships, and self-esteem.
Borderline Personality Disorder and Shopping Addiction
For individuals with borderline personality disorder, shopping addiction often emerges as a coping mechanism for intense emotions, feelings of emptiness, and self-image struggles. BPD is characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in mood, self-identity, and relationships. People with BPD frequently experience strong emotional reactions, which can feel overwhelming and difficult to manage. Compulsive shopping becomes a means to self-soothe, a temporary escape from painful emotions, or a way to construct or reinforce an identity through possessions.
Individuals with BPD may experience what’s known as “contingent self-esteem,” where their self-worth depends on external validation and material belongings. Compulsive shopping provides a fleeting boost to self-esteem, but this relief is often short-lived, leading to a cycle of shopping, regret, and intensified feelings of emptiness. Furthermore, because BPD is associated with impulsivity, individuals may struggle to resist the urge to shop when distressed despite the negative consequences they anticipate. Over time, the emotional highs and lows associated with compulsive shopping mirror the intense and unstable mood swings characteristic of BPD.
Shared Risk Factors for Shopping Addiction in Bipolar Disorder and BPD
Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder share several traits that contribute to an increased risk of shopping addiction. A central shared factor is impulsivity, which often leads to poor decision-making and an inability to delay gratification. For individuals with BD or BPD, impulsivity manifests in immediate, intense urges to shop, often in response to internal emotional triggers. This impulsivity can override rational decision-making, making it difficult for individuals to consider the long-term consequences of their actions.
Emotional dysregulation is another significant factor. Both BD and BPD involve challenges with managing emotions, often resulting in heightened emotional responses to everyday stressors. Shopping becomes an outlet for these individuals to regulate or escape from overwhelming emotions. For some, buying something new can temporarily alleviate feelings of loneliness, sadness, or frustration. However, these purchases provide only short-lived relief, and the underlying emotions remain unresolved, perpetuating the cycle of compulsive shopping.
Low self-esteem and identity struggles also play a role in shopping addiction for individuals with BPD and, to some extent, those with BD. Many people with BPD have a fragile sense of self and may turn to shopping to create a certain image or feel more secure in their identity. This need for external validation through possessions makes them vulnerable to compulsive shopping, as each purchase is perceived as a potential solution to their inner turmoil. In individuals with BD, self-esteem fluctuations can mirror the mood cycles, with manic or hypomanic phases often correlating with higher self-esteem, which drives risk-taking behaviors like overspending. Conversely, depressive phases may lead to self-criticism and financial regret, further complicating their relationship with shopping.
Why Shopping Addiction Happens in BD and BPD
The root causes of shopping addiction in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) can often be traced to core traits of impulsivity, emotional regulation challenges, and identity concerns. For those with BD or BPD, shopping may not simply be about acquiring items but about managing underlying emotional and psychological needs that the disorders intensify. Here’s a closer look at the key factors contributing to shopping addiction within these conditions.
Impulsivity and Emotional Regulation Challenges
Both bipolar disorder and BPD are associated with heightened impulsivity, which can significantly impact behavior in everyday life. For individuals with BD, impulsivity often emerges most strongly during manic or hypomanic episodes. These phases are marked by rapid, intense mood shifts that create a sense of urgency and decreased inhibition. During these periods, shopping can become a means of acting on impulsive urges, often without regard for the long-term financial and emotional consequences. The sense of urgency and heightened energy makes it difficult for individuals to assess the impact of their actions, leading them to make unplanned purchases, sometimes in large amounts or for high-cost items.
In BPD, impulsivity is a consistent trait rather than one tied to episodic moods. Individuals with BPD often experience impulsive behaviors as an immediate escape from overwhelming emotional pain, loneliness, or anxiety. Shopping provides a quick, accessible way to alleviate emotional distress. However, because the relief is temporary, the cycle of impulsive spending continues, leaving individuals feeling empty or regretful once the emotional “high” of the purchase wears off. In both BD and BPD, emotional dysregulation exacerbates the compulsive urge to shop, transforming the act into a coping mechanism for managing intense feelings that are otherwise difficult to control.
Self-Esteem and Identity Issues
A common feature in both bipolar disorder and BPD is low self-esteem, which can drive individuals to seek external validation or comfort through material possessions. For individuals with BPD, the lack of a stable self-identity means that they often turn to shopping as a way to build or reinforce their self-image. They may feel that by buying certain items, they can project an idealized version of themselves, gaining momentary boosts to their self-worth. This need for contingent self-esteem—where self-worth is dependent on external factors—makes individuals with BPD especially vulnerable to shopping addiction, as they rely on these purchases to momentarily ease their insecurities and self-doubts.
In bipolar disorder, self-esteem fluctuates with mood cycles. During manic or hypomanic episodes, individuals may feel overconfident and empowered, leading them to make purchases that align with their heightened self-image or grandiose plans. These purchases can range from expensive items to unnecessary but symbolic purchases that seem to support their elevated sense of self. However, during depressive episodes, individuals with BD may experience the opposite—extremely low self-esteem, regret, and guilt over previous spending sprees, which reinforces the cyclical pattern of shopping addiction. In both conditions, the drive to bolster or stabilize self-esteem through material possessions perpetuates compulsive buying behavior.
The Cycle of Temporary Relief and Lasting Consequences
For both individuals with BD and BPD, shopping can provide a brief sense of control, relief, or euphoria. However, this feeling is often followed by regret and guilt, especially once the financial or social consequences become clear. In bipolar disorder, the cycle typically involves manic spending sprees that feel empowering at the moment but leave the individual with substantial debt and emotional turmoil afterward. This cycle creates a pattern where the individual may shop impulsively during manic episodes and then feel deep regret or shame during depressive episodes, locking them into a loop of financial instability and emotional distress.
In BPD, the cycle is similar but rooted in emotional relief rather than mood cycles. Individuals with BPD shop to escape feelings of emptiness, anger, or sadness, experiencing temporary satisfaction. However, once the novelty fades, they’re left with the same negative emotions, sometimes intensified by guilt or self-criticism over their spending. This cycle creates a dependency on shopping as a short-lived remedy for ongoing emotional pain. Because the underlying issues of emotional regulation and identity remain unaddressed, the individual is often drawn back to shopping as a repetitive, maladaptive coping mechanism.
Seeking Emotional Escape and Self-Soothing Through Shopping
For individuals with bipolar disorder and BPD, shopping often serves as a way to escape from emotional distress or to self-soothe when faced with overwhelming feelings. In BD, shopping can act as a high-energy outlet during manic episodes, allowing individuals to express their elevated moods and channel their energy into something tangible. During these episodes, they may feel like they “need” to shop to satisfy their heightened excitement, thrill-seeking, or grandiose plans. Unfortunately, the relief they seek is fleeting, and the aftermath brings lasting challenges that deepen the sense of regret or depression when the mania subsides.
In BPD, self-soothing is a crucial part of the compulsive shopping cycle. People with BPD experience heightened sensitivity to emotional triggers and often feel intense emotional responses, such as anger, loneliness, or worthlessness. Shopping offers a quick way to shift their focus from these painful feelings, creating a temporary sense of control and distraction. However, because the underlying emotional struggles are unresolved, the relief is short-lived, leading to repeated episodes of shopping whenever these intense feelings arise. Over time, shopping becomes a habit that reinforces the cycle of avoidance and emotional suppression rather than true emotional healing.
Symptoms of Shopping Addiction in Bipolar Disorder and BPD
Shopping addiction, or compulsive buying disorder (CBD), manifests in ways that extend beyond occasional overspending or impulsive purchases. For individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), the symptoms of shopping addiction often intertwine with the unique challenges of these mental health conditions. Recognizing these symptoms is crucial for understanding the impact of shopping addiction and seeking appropriate treatment.
1. Preoccupation with Shopping
Individuals with shopping addiction often experience a persistent, intrusive focus on shopping and spending. This can include excessive time spent thinking about shopping, researching products, or planning purchases. For those with BPD, this preoccupation may stem from using shopping to fill emotional voids or create a sense of identity. In BD, preoccupation often intensifies during manic or hypomanic phases, as shopping becomes a way to channel heightened energy or euphoria.
2. Emotional Triggers and Impulsive Behavior
For individuals with BPD and BD, shopping addiction is often driven by emotional triggers. Those with BPD may use shopping as a way to escape feelings of emptiness, sadness, or anger. The act of purchasing provides temporary relief but is followed by regret or guilt, reinforcing a destructive cycle. In BD, impulsive shopping frequently occurs during manic or hypomanic episodes, when reduced inhibitions and an inflated sense of confidence lead to reckless or excessive spending.
3. Loss of Control Over Spending
A hallmark of shopping addiction is the inability to resist the urge to shop, even when it leads to negative consequences. This loss of control may manifest in buying items that are unnecessary or unaffordable, often without a clear plan or purpose. For individuals with BD, this behavior aligns with manic impulsivity, while those with BPD may feel an overwhelming need to shop as a coping mechanism for emotional distress.
4. Financial and Relational Consequences
Compulsive shopping often leads to financial difficulties, such as accumulating debt, maxing out credit cards, or failing to meet essential expenses. These financial challenges can create significant stress and strain personal relationships. Friends or family members may express frustration or concern over the individual’s spending habits, adding further tension to relationships. For individuals with BPD, this relational strain can exacerbate feelings of rejection or abandonment, intensifying the cycle of shopping addiction.
5. Emotional Relief Followed by Guilt
Shopping addiction is marked by a pattern of emotional highs and lows. The act of shopping often provides a temporary sense of excitement, satisfaction, or relief. However, once the emotional “high” wears off, individuals are frequently left with feelings of guilt, regret, or shame. This emotional crash is especially challenging for those with BPD, who already struggle with emotional regulation, and for individuals with BD, who may experience depressive lows following a manic shopping spree.
6. Physical and Emotional Clutter
Compulsive shoppers often accumulate items they don’t need or use, leading to physical clutter in their homes or personal spaces. This clutter can become a source of stress or anxiety, particularly for individuals with BPD, who may already feel overwhelmed by their emotions. For those with BD, this clutter can serve as a stark reminder of impulsive behaviors during manic episodes, compounding feelings of guilt or shame.
By identifying these symptoms, individuals with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder—and their loved ones—can begin to understand the unique ways shopping addiction manifests in their lives. Recognizing the emotional and behavioral patterns that drive compulsive shopping is the first step toward seeking effective treatment and regaining control.
Treatment Options for Shopping Addiction with BD and BPD
Effectively addressing shopping addiction in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) requires a comprehensive treatment plan that targets both the behavioral addiction and the underlying mental health conditions. Since shopping addiction often serves as a maladaptive coping mechanism, treatment should focus on building healthier strategies for emotional regulation, managing impulsivity, and restoring balance in daily life. Below are the primary treatment approaches for shopping addiction when it co-occurs with BD and BPD.
Psychotherapy
Therapy plays a central role in addressing the root causes of shopping addiction, as well as the emotional and psychological challenges of BD and BPD.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps individuals identify and challenge the thought patterns that drive compulsive shopping. By understanding the triggers—such as stress, boredom, or feelings of inadequacy—patients can develop alternative, healthier responses. CBT also focuses on improving decision-making skills and fostering financial mindfulness to curb impulsive purchases.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT is particularly effective for individuals with BPD, as it emphasizes emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Through DBT, individuals learn to manage intense emotions without resorting to maladaptive behaviors like shopping addiction. Core DBT techniques, such as mindfulness and self-soothing strategies, help reduce the urge to shop during emotional crises.
- Emotion-Focused Therapy: This approach helps individuals explore the emotional roots of their shopping addiction, including feelings of emptiness, rejection, or low self-worth. By addressing these underlying emotions, patients can break the cycle of using shopping as a coping mechanism.
Medication Management
For individuals with BD and BPD, managing co-occurring mental health symptoms can significantly reduce the likelihood of compulsive shopping episodes.
- Mood Stabilizers: Mood stabilizers, such as lithium or lamotrigine, can help individuals with BD maintain emotional balance and prevent the manic or hypomanic episodes that often trigger impulsive spending.
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): SSRIs are commonly prescribed to treat depression and anxiety, which can drive compulsive shopping. They may also help individuals with BPD manage emotional dysregulation.
- Antipsychotics: For severe mood swings or impulsivity in BD and BPD, antipsychotics may be part of the treatment plan to stabilize emotional and behavioral responses.
Medication should always be prescribed and monitored by a qualified psychiatrist, especially when treating complex conditions like BD and BPD alongside behavioral addictions.
Financial Counseling and Behavioral Strategies
Addressing the financial consequences of shopping addiction is an essential component of recovery. Financial counseling can help individuals create budgets, manage debt, and develop strategies to regain control over their finances. Behavioral strategies include:
- Limiting access to credit cards or online shopping platforms
- Setting spending limits and tracking expenses
- Using cash-only systems to avoid overspending
- Shopping with an accountability partner to discourage impulsive purchases
These strategies help individuals regain financial stability while reducing the opportunities for compulsive shopping.
Support Groups and Peer Support
Joining support groups, such as Debtors Anonymous or behavioral addiction groups, provides individuals with a sense of community and accountability. These groups offer a safe space to share experiences, learn from others, and gain practical advice for managing shopping addiction. For those with BPD or BD, connecting with others who share similar struggles can reduce feelings of isolation and encourage long-term recovery.
Holistic Approaches
Holistic therapies can complement traditional treatment methods by addressing the physical and emotional well-being of individuals struggling with shopping addiction.
- Mindfulness Practices: Techniques like meditation and yoga can help individuals stay present and manage impulsive urges to shop.
- Art or Music Therapy: Creative outlets can serve as alternative ways to express emotions and reduce reliance on shopping for emotional regulation.
- Exercise and Wellness Activities: Regular physical activity can improve mood, reduce stress, and help regulate impulsivity.
Tailored Outpatient Programs at Healthy Life Recovery
At Healthy Life Recovery in San Diego, specialized outpatient programs are designed to address the complex interplay of shopping addiction, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Using a combination of evidence-based therapies like CBT and DBT, as well as holistic approaches, the team at Healthy Life Recovery helps individuals build the skills they need to regain control over their lives. With a focus on personalized care, clients receive the support and tools necessary to manage their mental health conditions and behavioral addictions effectively.
Seeking Help is the First Step
While shopping addiction can feel overwhelming, recovery is possible with the right combination of therapy, medication, financial counseling, and support. For individuals with BD and BPD, addressing the root causes of compulsive shopping while managing their mental health conditions is key to breaking the cycle and building a more balanced and fulfilling life. Reach out to Healthy Life Recovery today to begin your journey to recovery.
Shopping addiction is a complex behavioral issue, especially when it intersects with mental health conditions like bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. Both BD and BPD amplify impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and struggles with self-esteem, creating a challenging cycle for those who turn to shopping as a coping mechanism. Understanding the underlying factors that drive compulsive shopping in these individuals is crucial for developing effective treatment and long-term solutions.
If you or a loved one is dealing with the challenges of shopping addiction alongside bipolar disorder or BPD, seeking professional support can make all the difference. At Healthy Life Recovery in San Diego, we specialize in outpatient treatment for behavioral addictions, including compulsive buying, as well as comprehensive care for individuals with BPD, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions. Our compassionate team is here to provide the support, tools, and strategies needed to help you regain control and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Reach out to Healthy Life Recovery today to begin your journey toward a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. Sanjai Thankachen
Dr. Sanjai Thankachen graduated from Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medicine in 2000. He completed his residency in psychiatry in 2008 at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in New York. Dr. Thankachen is currently working with Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists in an outpatient practice, as well as working at multiple in-patient psychiatric and medical units bringing his patients the most advanced healthcare treatment in psychiatry. Dr. Thankachen sees patients with an array of disorders, including depression, bipolar illness, schizophrenia, anxiety, and dementia-related problems.
Edited for Clinical Accuracy By:
Sean Leonard, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Sean Leonard is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. He received his master’s degree in adult geriatric primary care nurse practitioner from Walden University and a second postmaster specialty in psychiatry mental health nurse practitioner from Rocky Mountain University. Sean has experience working in various diverse settings, including an outpatient clinic, inpatient detox and rehab, psychiatric emergency, and dual diagnosis programs. His specialty areas include substance abuse, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, PTSD, ADHD, and OCD.