What is Oniomania?

We can express consumption frenzy with a simple definition as follows: "Unnecessary expenditures even though there is no need..."

The capitalist system is built on consumption. . Advertisements have a great impact on people in causing consumption to become an exaggerated frenzy. The intensity of shopping, even though we don't need it, is done through some advertising tricks and fancy promotions such as our life will change and we would be incomplete if we didn't buy it, is called "consumption frenzy". For example, every woman likes a diamond ring; However, if a diamond ring advertisement only uses the term "ring" and skips over it, you would appreciate that it would not attract any attention. But there is a strong message given to society here: If the advertisement conveys messages such as that every woman who is valued should have this ring, that the ring is a sign of true love and an expression of eternal loyalty, then the attention of the receiving audience will be gained.

What is the purpose of consumption?

Spiritual hunger may underlie our desire to consume. We devote ourselves to consumption to suppress this hunger and fill its place. The person thinks, "The more I shop, the more I can fill this gap." However, this satisfaction is temporary and creates a momentary feeling of relief in the person. Well, what after? Feelings such as regret about the purchase, feeling of guilt, large invoices, and disliking the product purchased are encountered.

Companies whisper the following to the society in order to make more sales and increase turnover:“The more you buy, the more you buy.” The more we have, the happier we are We will be happy.” The message that companies say is that abundance of possessions does not bring happiness. On the contrary, it drives people to dissatisfaction. As a result, we become a dissatisfied society that complains about everything along with unhappiness.

Consumer culture teaches us to forget what we have. Desires, not needs, are unlimited; People need to reach the awareness of living with people, not with things. Otherwise, a person would think he is in nothingness.

If we consider it from a psychological perspective, another name for consumption frenzy is "shopping addiction". Exaggeration of shopping or inability to control oneself while shopping, which affects one's daily life, and problems at home due to uncontrolled shopping are signals that shopping has become dangerous.

Oniomania: Shopping addiction

As can be understood from the word "addiction", shopping addiction is a serious type of addiction as well as a psychological disorder. This addiction; It shows symptoms such as the person relaxing by shopping, feeling happy, feeling powerful and superior to other people.

“Oniomania” comes from the Greek word “onios” meaning “sale” and “mania” meaning “crazy, madness”. It consists of the words ". Oniomania has many names: Pathological buying, shopping addiction, purchasing addiction, compulsive buying…

Shopping addiction falls into the category of impulse control disorders. Other impulse control disorders include: pyromania (setting fires for pleasure), trichotillomania (pulling out one's own hair for pleasure), kleptomania (irresistible urge to steal). When we look at the literature, this disorder, which is defined as "oniomania", has been discussed as "compulsive shopping" in recent years.

We can define impulse control disorder as follows: "An impulse, motive or impulse to take action that will harm the person or others." "Failure to resist the irresistible desire..." The person experiences tension or arousal before shopping, this gradually increases, shopping is done in an uncontrolled manner, Impulse control disorder is experiencing pleasure and relief from this.

Although the individual experiences a momentary feeling of relief and pleasure while shopping, when he returns home from shopping, he feels regret and guilt for spending too much money.

Why shop?

When the reasons for this are investigated, we encounter different results: Decrease in self-esteem, negative emotions experienced with anxiety, depression and obsessions, expectation of social status, fondness for fantasy, increased internet use, unplanned purchasing, compulsive hoarding, gender difference. (it has been observed that it is more common in women). (Igbal and Aslam, 2016)

Do women shop the most?

Research shows that women shop more and buy more products than men. is showing. While women invest mostly in clothes, shoes, make-up and perfume, men buy electronics, automobiles and hardware.

What effect does shopping addiction have on children?

Parents with high socio-economic status, who cannot spare enough time for their children and cannot appeal to their souls, try to compensate for this deficiency by buying gifts of high financial value for their children. Parents' behavior in this way may cause shopping addiction in children in the coming years. Parents who fulfill everything their children demand, whether they need it or not, and who do not do what they say, raise insatiable and unhappy children. Even though their intention is to make the child happy and complete the deficiency, this is not a good thing for the child and may cause damage to his/her soul.

At the end of the day, parents who fill their children's hearts, not their eyes and hands, benefit. Today's child is the adult of the future; When he grows up, he remembers not the countless expensive toys his parents bought him, but a sincere hug, the game played with him, and the time spent together. Things come and go. What remains is the feeling we are given. Among the cases we encounter in therapy, our clients do not collect an item or a gift from their childhood. , they do not forget that "feeling" that was given to them. What are those feelings? Happiness, shame, fear, anxiety, anger and sadness.

Dear parents, of course you do not want your children to be insatiable and unhappy. The most valuable gift you can give them is to make your children feel that you love them, to be involved in their games, and to listen carefully when they want to tell something. These are simple but very valuable factors.

Is it possible to treat shopping addiction?

People who are addicted to shopping think that it is an addiction/disease at first. They don't want to accept it. Because, according to them, this is not an addiction, but an action to meet the need. When they begin to experience financial difficulties day by day, acceptance begins: "Yes, there is something wrong in my life and I cannot overcome it..."

After the person accepts, the process begins. What needs to be treated is not only a psychological disorder, but also a serious type of addiction. Whatever the underlying problem of shopping addiction is, it must first be determined. It is important for the person to be aware of this (accept that it is an illness), decide to get treatment and take action to get help from a specialist. While you may benefit from individual and group therapies, family and friend support is also very important. With the support of the social environment, the treatment process goes through better.

I wish you healthy, happy and peaceful days.

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