A Job Loss Triggered My Shopping Addiction

Summary

The author developed a shopping addiction as a coping mechanism after losing their job, eventually overcoming it by going cold turkey and securing new employment.

Abstract

The article details the author's struggle with shopping addiction following a job loss. Initially, the thrill of purchasing new items provided a temporary escape from the stress of unemployment. The author describes the compulsive nature of their buying, which led to financial strain and the risk of losing their home. Recognizing the severity of the situation, they cut out non-essential spending and focused on job hunting, which resulted in a job offer within a month. Reflecting on the experience, the author acknowledges their fortunate circumstances, such as youth and a supportive family, and contemplates the potential for relapse during future stressful events. They suggest seeking help from friends, family, or professionals to manage such addictions.

Opinions

Shopping addiction can be a maladaptive response to the stress of job loss.
The author believes in the importance of personal control over spending habits.
Necessity-driven lifestyle changes, like going cold turkey on spending, can be effective in overcoming addiction.
The author values independence and the ability to support oneself without relying on family.
There is an acknowledgment of privilege in being highly educated and marketable, which likely contributed to a swift return to employment.
The author emphasizes the role of social support and therapy in managing addictive behaviors.
There is a concern about the potential for relapse during times of stress and the need for preventive strategies.

The lesson I had to learn and the fear that I could relapse

The packages started arriving every day and it was mostly from Amazon. I remember feeling rather embarrassed. I made sure to avoid the delivery man so he just ended up knocking on my door and then leaving the packages at the foot of the door. Once he had driven away, I would grab the packages and rush inside to tear them open.

I felt a thrill every time I held the new items in my hand. I bought anything and everything — shoes, books, handbags, clothing, and even toys. I spent my mornings with a mug of coffee in one hand and my phone in the other hand so that I could browse Amazon and all the other wonderful shopping sites that made me feel so happy.

However, things were not what they seemed because I had just lost my job and I had become a shopping addict.

Job loss was the trigger

People react in different ways to a job loss. Some become very depressed and stuck, while others use the time to job-search, update their skills, and save their funds wisely. My reaction was different because I became a shopping addict.

I had always loved to shop. Nothing gave me more of a high than pulling out my credit card or cash to purchase something new. While shopping was a happy experience for me, I never allowed it to get out of control. I knew when to stop and I never felt that I needed to continuously purchase something in a cycle of consumption. However, when I lost my job all of that control that I displayed previously fell by the wayside.

Instead of saving any remaining funds I had in my bank account, I did the opposite and went berserk with my money. I started displaying the symptoms of an addict. An addiction is characterized by these common symptoms:

Obsession, compulsion, loss of control and continued use in the face of negative consequences

Shopping became a way for me to cope with the stress of job loss. I was temporarily happy when I bought something and I needed to keep feeding that frenzied feeling.

Going cold turkey was the solution for me

In my case, there was only so much shopping I could do before I realized that I would have to end up choosing between having a roof over my head or the next new pair of shoes. The tide had turned and I was in danger of not being able to pay the rent. My savings account was dwindling down to the single digits. I had borrowed all the money I could from family and I was in danger of losing everything. Although I had a safety net of a permanent home and family, I valued my freedom too much to consider moving back in with my parents.

I went cold turkey out of necessity. I cut out all my non-essential spending, started applying for jobs seriously, and within a month I had a job offer in my hand. More importantly, I no longer felt the addictive pull of spending once I got back on track.

When I look back at these events, I realize that I had luck on my side. I was lucky that I was young, highly educated, and marketable in my career. I was also lucky that I was able to receive a job offer within a month. Could I have survived if I were older, had a family to support, and was no longer considered to be an ideal candidate in the job market? Somehow, I don’t think it would have been as easy.

The lesson learned

All of this happened a couple of years ago. I am older now and hopefully wiser. I still love shopping but I haven’t felt the need to spend my money with the same frenzy of addiction. Every now and then, I wonder what would happen if there were another stressful event to arise in my life. Would I resort back to my addictive shopping behavior? What can I do to prevent this from reoccurring?

There are many resources and tips online to help manage a shopping addiction. The easiest tip would have been to hire a therapist to help. However, there are also some more manageable options available. I think the most important step would have been to open up to close friends and family and ask them for help. I can think of no better way than this. A shopping addiction doesn’t need to get out of hand.

Job loss is hard and it can trigger the most passionate of emotions in people. Mine was a shopping addiction which I was finally able to control only because I had no other options left. I dread to think what would have happened if I had an endless source of funds. Would I have shopped till I dropped dead?

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