Addicted to Shopping: One Woman’s Struggle

For years, Ginger Logan-Cannon said she didn’t know why she was a shopaholic—an addiction that racked up $280,000 in debt. But after ABC News connected her with a therapist, Logan-Cannon discovered that the source of her addiction could be linked to a violent day that occurred more than 40 years ago.

Susan Kriskey and Suzan Clarke of ABC News write that the southern California parole officer has been a shopaholic for years. She’s filed for bankruptcy twice, and her husband, Jerome Cannon, has had to build her extra closet space in their garage.

Over the years, Logan-Cannon’s habit has led her to buy things she shouldn’t buy or that she can’t afford. She’s purchased multiple pairs of boots in the same color, as well as furs and costly clothing.

She sought therapy to end her habit because of the strain it has placed on her relationship with her husband.

Six months ago, ABC News introduced her to Dr. Charles Sophy. Logan-Cannon allowed ABC News to observe her therapy, which includes office sessions and visits to stores.

On a recent visit to St. John’s, her favorite shopping destination, the psychiatrist allowed her to try on clothing but didn’t allow her to make a single purchase.

"This is killing me," she said of the shopping restriction. "It feels bad. It almost really makes me feel sick."

But the real pain, Logan-Cannon eventually discovered, was not linked to shopping at all.
The therapy has revealed that Logan-Cannon shops to bury her feelings and escape from horrible memories—especially one horrific incident.

Logan-Cannon, who is black, grew up in Berkley, California, in the 1960s. One day, she was attacked by a group of white boys who pushed her in front of a speeding bus. After she got onto the bus, one of the boys put on brass knuckles and, she said, "He just beat my face to a pulp."

She suppressed the memory of the beating for years, but Sophy said the resulting tendency to disconnect from emotion is a big part of her shopping habit.

Logan-Cannon describes shopping as "a really safe space to be." "I feel like I am really connected," she said.

Having a network of personal shoppers and friends who aren’t supportive of her efforts to control her shopping doesn’t help, Sophy said, likening them to "cocaine dealers."

"You can’t have somebody who is not happy that you left a store and had enough strength to not buy anything," he added.

Slowly but surely, Logan-Cannon is finding the strength to resist making purchases, although she described a recent shopping-free visit to Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive as "punishment."

Part of Logan-Cannon’s progress also involves getting rid of some of the things she’s obtained over the years. There is now room in her garage for a car, and she feels more in control.

Even though Sophy said she still has to work at controlling her habit, Logan-Cannon imagines a day when she will be able to walk down Rodeo Drive and not be so powerfully tempted to spend.

"I am much further than I was, and I realize how it impacted not just me but everyone around…everything that you do, what it does to your relationships," she said.

Tags: shopaholic, Shopping, therapist, treatment