Compulsive shopping addiction as bad as drug abuse


Omniomania, compulsive shopping, commonly referred to as shopping addiction, is presumably the most innocent type of addiction, but experts warn that compulsive shopping may cause more harm than we imagine and can be as bad as drug or alcohol problems. According to BBC Turkish, Claire Clarke, a referral consultant for London-based charity Action on Addiction, said that some may dismiss shopping addiction but it is a serious mental health issue and can lead to people being in serious debt, isolating loved ones and ruining their lives. Stressing that the implications of omniomania are not the same as with other types of addiction, Claire recommends addicts to seek professional advice. The charity is now collaborating with luxury website veryfirstto.com to draw attention to shopping addiction. The website says researchers think that people develop shopping addictions because they essentially get addicted to how their brain feels while shopping. As they shop, their brain releases endorphins and dopamine, and over time, these feelings become addictive.