A recent online article refers to the latest triggers for compulsive spending, coupon sites that offer easy accessibility such as Groupon. These sites offer deals at a discount that draw shoppers in. The anonymity online shopping gives shoppers leads to increased spending as well.

The cause of compulsive spending can vary but experts say shopping is one way to mask bad feelings and memories. This then can turn a normal, enjoyable activity into a preoccupation and lead to damaging consequences.

Compulsive spending and buying may soon be considered as definite disorders of their own. Usually, like gambling, it’s treated as a disorder of impulse control and is considered to cause the same euphoria and heart-pounding feelings. One expert in Illinois, said in the past year, Proctor’s 800 numbers have increased by up to 50 percent relating to spending and shopping.

Compulsive spending is difficult to break free from without outside assistance. The normal protocol for treatment of compulsive spending has been outpatient therapy and 12-step programs but sometimes may even include hospitalization.

Society has yet to recognize this problem as an addiction but it is a real and increasingly common struggle.

#1 Pornography addiction stems from having a marriage partner with little interest in sex.

The reality, say experts, is that pornography addiction is most often a result of a long-time problem with intimacy or other problems on a deep emotional level. For these reasons, a spouse cannot actually “spur” on a pornography addiction, nor can a spouse create a solution by changing their sexual behaviors with their partner.

#2 Pornography addiction can be stopped whenever the user desires.

Pornography addiction has been compared to heroin, cocaine, or other drug addictions for its powerful release of dopamine in the brain. In fact, studies of the brain have shown that the reward-based releases that occur from viewing pornography can create a reaction that is similar to chemical dependency. Adrenaline and serotonin levels have also been shown to increase when a person uses pornography, and many people with porn addiction must work through extremely strong cravings.

Similar to alcohol or drugs, pornography becomes a tool for escape from anxiety or stress, and the person quickly finds himself unable to stop viewing the material. As the addiction progresses, a person may experience chronic deprivation of dopamine and must seek pornography to feel “ok” again.

People struggling with pornography addiction may also believe that the disease doesn’t affect loved ones or other areas of their lives. However, the consequences of pornography addiction often include neglect of spouse or children; poor performance and distraction at work; or financial ruin if a career is lost or the person escalates the behavior into paid sexual services. Powerful feelings of anger, guilt, shame, or depression can destroy the emotional health of a person’s spouse. For these reasons, many experts believe that overcoming pornography addiction is most successful when a couple commits to therapy together.

#3 Pornography addiction develops in people who have diminished morals or character deficiencies.

A growing body of research surrounding pornography addiction and sexually compulsive behavior has shed light on the biological responses pornography can trigger. Studies based upon brain imagery while pornography is viewed are providing more information about how multiple physical systems are activated by the material, with distinct gender differences noted.

#4 Pornography addiction will heighten or enhance sexual relationships.

Research suggests the contrary, with studies and surveys indicating that many people with pornography addictions note declining sexual satisfaction and the persistent feeling of wanting “more” from partners. Experiences like sexual detachment and erectile problems have also been noted across a gamut of ages, including young adult pornography users.

Like the battle against drug and alcohol addictions, there are professional treatment and recovery centers for pornography addictions. Web filters, accountability partners, group and individual therapy, and family counseling can be part of an overall recovery strategy for escaping the consuming power of pornography addictions, believed to affect millions of people worldwide.

Compulsive spenders can find themselves struggling to make ends meet – much like problem gamblers – as they spend too much of their financial resources supporting a habit. Such individuals will buy things they don’t need, adding to a mountain of unsecured debt. They are often found searching out payday loan establishments and struggling with bad credit.

For those with an addiction to shopping, their urges can be just as overpowering as the individual dealing with a sex or Internet addiction. They often want to stop the behavior, but feel they are ill-equipped to do so on their own. Compulsive shoppers often find that they are dealing with a much larger problem than just an inability to save money – they also continually fail to achieve solvency.

Debtors Anonymous was founded on the principle of helping those individuals with the disease of “debting” become solvent. The organization first began in 1968 by a group of individuals who were members of Alcoholics Anonymous. This group of individuals had become sober, but each individual found that they were struggling financially.

The group originally called themselves Penny Pinchers. When an inability to become solvent was identified as the root of the problem, the name Debtors Anonymous was selected. The group then adopted the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous to deal with their “disease” and stop adding to their unsecured debt.

To accomplish their goals, each member was encouraged to keep specific records of the amount of money they earned, spent and owe to creditors. Members could attend meetings on a weekly basis and were encouraged to take part in pressure relief meetings. Such meetings invited a newer member of the organization to meet with two senior members to review finances in detail.

While Debtors Anonymous is tailored after the very successful Alcoholics Anonymous, an addiction to shopping is still not the same thing as an addiction to alcohol. The organization claims success stories, yet does not publish success rates. And, while the process is proven to be effective, the truly successful will decide they want to overcome their habit before they ever walk in the door.

One truth with any addiction is that the individual suffering truly finds relief when they feed the addiction. The compulsive shopper will seek shopping opportunities in order to satisfy an urge. When he or she does so to the point of financial trouble or failure, a change must be made to preserve survival. It may take hitting rock bottom before the individual decides to make a change. Once this happens, Debtors Anonymous could be a positive place to land.

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.

“I had a rough week, so I deserve a little treat.” “I need to shop to help stimulate the economy. I’m just doing my part—right?” If this sounds familiar, you may be one of the millions of Americans suffering from a shopping addiction. Shopping addiction, like any other addiction, is a serious issue and one that needs to be addressed and treated.

Shopping addiction, also known as compulsive spending or “shopoholism,” affects approximately 5 percent of Americans, and contrary to popular belief, it affects both men and women. But when does shopping turn from a favorite pastime into an addiction? Most of us have heard the phrase “retail therapy” and it’s safe to say that almost all of us have partaken in this activity at some point in our lives. But for the majority of Americans, shopping is a special splurge—a new outfit for work, a new electronic to wile away the day with—and that’s where it ends. However, once shopping takes on a new meaning and is something an individual must do, there’s a problem.

Shopping addiction is defined as a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive and out-of-control spending. People who are compulsive shoppers experience a “high” similar to the euphoric feelings often associated with drug and alcohol abuse when they shop. Once the “high” wanes, feelings of guilt and shame overcome an individual. In order to free themselves from this feeling, they shop again to regain the high. The cyclical nature of this addiction continues and becomes detrimental to an individual’s life, both financially and mentally.

There are numerous tell-tell signs and symptoms of a shopping addiction. First and foremost is compulsive shopping. For example, an individual goes shopping with the intention of buying one pair of shoes and returns with eight. Overspending and breaking one’s budget is another clear sign of a shopping problem. This often leads to severe financial problems and huge amounts of debt. Having secret credit cards and hiding purchases from loved ones as a way to avoid confrontation about one’s spending is another sign. Constantly returning purchases due to guilt and shame is a fourth symptom.

Impaired relationships are also a result of shopping addiction. As an addict accumulates more debt and progressively becomes more secretive toward their loved ones, relationships become strained. Experiencing clear consequences as a result of compulsive spending is the final symptom of an addict.

The reason why some individuals are more prone to develop addictive behaviors are unclear, but specific behaviors that may signal an addiction include: consistently buying items on credit rather than cash, lying about how much an item actually cost, and experiencing a rush of excitement after shopping. Shopping addicts also compulsively shop as a way to fill some form of emotional deprivation, such as anger, depression, or loneliness. By spending, they can distract themselves from the core problem they are actually battling.

Individuals suffering from a shopping addiction can seek treatment through 12-step programs, one-on-one therapy sessions with a therapist, or group therapy programs. In addition to therapy, addicts should reduce temptation by avoiding stores where they are known to frequent. Cutting up credit cards and solely using cash as a form of payment are other ways to cope with compulsive spending. Lastly, seeking help from a credit counselor can help overspenders get back on track. The most important and often most difficult step in fighting a shopping addiction is admitting that you have a problem.

Yet if you love to shop a little too much – for example, you’re mired in credit card debt, can’t go to the mall without spending money you don’t have, or shop to give yourself an incredible high – then you may be suffering from a shopping addiction known as shopoholism. As much as people may joke about being addicted to shopping, this is no laughing matter; a shopping addiction is a real psychological problem that has the power to ruin relationships and destroy lives.

So how can you tell if you are a compulsive shopper – and where can you seek help if it’s a problem?

Just like with drug addicts and alcoholics, shopping addicts get an incredible thrill from shopping, as it offers a euphoric pick-me-up. They tend to buy things that they don’t need just for the thrill of experiencing this drug-like high; in fact, many shopping addicts will have clothing items or other purchases with the tags still attached hanging in their closets. Many shopping addicts even experience a blackout period when going on a shopping binge.

Like with most addicts, real shopoholics are notorious for not only being in denial about their unhealthy addiction to spending; they’re also reluctant to deal with any subsequent financial problems. Unfortunately, many psychologists feel that this unhealthy behavior is only further spurred on by glamorized shopping sprees featured in television and movies, which only further convinces the shopping addict that their behavior is not only justified – it’s expected. In this case, addicts face an untold amount of pressure to continue with their unhealthy spending habits.

Do these scenarios sound all too familiar? If this is the case, you don’t have to hide from your addiction – instead, therapy can help you deal with the root of your destructive financial habits. Since many shopping addicts deal with co-current addictive behaviors (such as OCD, drugs, alcohol, etc.), it many be beneficial to seek professional therapy in order to prevent the chances of relapse. Additionally, there are plenty of self-help groups that can help your come to grips with your addiction.

While on the road to recovery, it’s important to let your family and friends know that you’re dealing with a powerful addiction, and they should be as supportive of you as possible – after all, shopoholism is a genuine addiction that’s only recently come to the forefront of psychological study. Let your family know that they can help you on the road to recovery by:

• Helping you to destroy all credit cards except for one, which should be used only in the case of an emergency;
• Encouraging you to window shop only during the night, when the shops are closed. If you do walk through the mall when the stores are open, have a family member or friend accompany you to make sure you don’t go on another binging spree;
• Restricting any shopping TV channels. These provide too much temptation for recovering addicts. Additionally, have a family member install a site-restricting program on your computer that prohibits you to visit retail websites.

Having an addiction to shopping is not glamorous, nor is it a laughing matter. Seek help from a therapist, counselor or a self-help group if you feel like your spending is out of control, and don’t be afraid to ask your family members and loved ones for much-needed support.