We’ve seen and heard this everywhere: shopping as a form of therapy. I used to believe that was some sort of a lame excuse. If you want to buy something, just do it. Don’t tell people it’s because you’re a bit under the weather and need something to cheer you up. However, once I experienced it, I realized it truly is a thing, and quite helpful if you like shopping, of course. I’m a shopaholic. I admitted it some years ago, but don’t judge me that fast. I’m not like in those movie characters that just go and empty the clothes shops and get crazy credit card debt. I’m more of a conscious shopaholic, which can be worse. Not only do I like buying clothes, but actually if I have some money and I enter any store, it’s very likely I’ll buy at least something.
My house is full of crap I really like but will probably never use. So why do I say I’m a conscious shopaholic? Simple, I never spend money I don’t have. That’s why I have never requested a credit card. I spend what I have at the time, which sometimes leaves me penniless until I get my next paycheck. But that’s another story. I like buying stuff because it feels good to be able to give myself presents. Also, as I said once, I realized the healing powers of a transaction. When I feel sad or stressed, I just take some money and go buy something nice.
According to a survey conducted by the TNS Global Agency, in the US alone, 52% of the population buys for therapeutical purposes, or what it’s also called “retail therapy.” Moreover, another study by the Journal of Psychology and Marketing, stated that 62% of people who shop have bought at least something to cheer themselves up or even as a token of celebration. The thing with this is that, in our capitalist reality, we grow to believe that acquiring stuff is a symbol of wealth and success, and thus, we’ve learned to make of everyday transactions an essential part of our lives. From that perspective it’s easy to see why buying something, no matter how insignificant it may look, can produce in us a sensation of happiness.
If you’re still skeptical about this or want to know more, these are the most common situations where you can make the most of retail therapy:
Major life change
When we’re facing a huge change in our lives, say getting married, moving, a new job, among many others, it’s common to find ourselves shopping. The reason is that it makes you feel like you’re in control of your life, regardless of how unstable or unknown the future looks like. In that way, shopping helps release the stress and anxiety of taking that big step.
Overcoming a difficult event
It’s been proven that when we’re overcoming a determined difficulty, the thing we want the most is to transform ourselves and start from scratch. Now, it’s not just changing your look or getting a new wardrobe. Okay, it might be, but the therapeutic part doesn’t revolve on that. When you’re picking stuff, you start picturing yourself in the future and how your life might be from this moment on. In that way, visualizing your new life becomes a boost to move on.
Freeing from stress
Perhaps this is the most common one. You’re super stressed about something, a relationship, school, work, you name it. So, shopping becomes an activity to ease your mind and stop thinking for a while about those issues that make you so anxious. Why this and not any other activity? Well, the thing is that our brain can be quite tricky. So no matter what else you’re doing, it’s likely that deep inside you’ll be thinking about those situations. There are many activities to clear your mind besides shopping, but this must be a multitasking activity so that you force your brain to focus on different things and forget your problems for a while.
Social Connection
What’s better than going shopping with someone else? It’s fun, you can exchange opinions, and more importantly, bond with others. It’s a fact that for centuries commerce was one of the main activities to make social connections. Think of the ancient markets and current malls. They have evolved, but continue to be centers of leisure and recreation. Many go for this kind of retail therapy because it’s less anxiety-inducing and demanding than going on a date with someone or attending a party.
Like anything in this life, we can create a dependency on substances or activities, and sadly, my friends, this is one of those that can carry too many issues in the future (massive debt, addiction, hoarding, you name it). If you’re going through some of these cases, it’s fine to try and release some stress or anxiety through retail therapy, but it’s important to bear in mind that this is not a real solution for any situation. Yes, it can ease many things, but if you feel that the situation is getting out of control, don’t hesitate in looking for real help.
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Check these out:
Reasons Why You Feel Uncomfortable With The Clothes You Buy
The Ultimate Shopping Strategy Only Stylish People Can Pull Off
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