Shopping Addiction in Ireland: Signs, Causes, Online Shopping Triggers, Buy Now Pay Later and Treatment

Shopping addiction can quietly affect your finances, mental health, sleep, confidence, work and relationships. Claire Russell provides confidential shopping addiction Counselling, Psychotherapy, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy, Rapid Transformational Therapy and Registered Nutritionist Services where relevant, ONLINE throughout Ireland and internationally, and in person in Adare, Newcastle West, Limerick, Abbeyfeale, Charleville, Kanturk, Midleton, Youghal, Cork, Dublin, Lismore and Dungarvan.

You may promise yourself that this will be the last purchase. Then a discount code appears. A parcel-tracking notification arrives. You feel stressed, rejected, bored, lonely or exhausted, and browsing offers an immediate change in how you feel.

The relief is real.

It simply does not last.

Shopping addiction is not defined by enjoying clothes, skincare, technology, homeware, hobbies, collectibles or gifts. The central concern is reduced control. Shopping or buying continues despite debt, secrecy, guilt, unused possessions, relationship conflict or repeated attempts to stop.

Written and clinically reviewed by Claire Russell, MSc, BSc, DipNT
Registered Nutritionist, Counsellor and Psychotherapist, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapy practitioner, with more than 20 years of clinical experience across Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Last clinically reviewed: August 2026
Next planned review: August 2027, or sooner if significant research or Irish financial guidance changes.

Summary

Shopping addiction, often called compulsive shopping, compulsive spending or compulsive buying-shopping disorder, involves persistent preoccupation, urges and purchasing that become difficult to control and cause financial, emotional, occupational or relationship harm.

A major meta-analysis estimated that approximately 4.9 per cent of adults in representative population studies experienced clinically significant compulsive buying behaviour. The estimate varied considerably according to the population and assessment method used. [1]

Compulsive shopping may occur alongside anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma-related difficulties, body-image distress, eating disorders, sugar or food addiction, hoarding, sleep disruption, relationship conflict and other substance or behavioural addictions. These connections do not mean that one condition inevitably causes another. They show why a full clinical assessment should look beyond spending alone. [14–23]

Structured psychological therapy, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy, currently has the strongest direct research evidence. However, studies remain relatively small, and treatment may also need to address debt, online triggers, ADHD, trauma-related difficulties, eating patterns, sleep, hormones, relationships and other addictive behaviours. [6–9]

Concerned About Your Shopping or Spending?

A confidential consultation may be appropriate when shopping is affecting your finances, emotional wellbeing, sleep, work, confidence, family life or relationships.

Claire Russell provides:

Counselling and Psychotherapy
Addiction Counselling
Clinical Hypnotherapy
Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy
Rapid Transformational Therapy, RTT
Couples Counselling and Marriage Counselling
Registered Nutritionist Services where relevant

Appointments are available ONLINE throughout Ireland and internationally, and in person across several Irish locations.

Book a confidential consultation

Call or text: 087 616 6638

You do not need to provide private clinical or financial details in your first message. You can simply write:

Hello Claire, I would like to arrange a confidential consultation about compulsive shopping. Please let me know your next available appointment.

Quick Answers About Shopping Addiction

What is shopping addiction?

Shopping addiction is a recurring pattern of preoccupation, urges and buying that becomes difficult to control and continues despite financial, emotional, occupational or relationship harm. Researchers commonly use the term compulsive buying-shopping disorder.

What are the main warning signs?

Common warning signs include shopping to alter how you feel, hiding purchases, buying items that remain unused, spending beyond your means, repeatedly breaking your own limits and experiencing guilt, anxiety or disappointment afterwards.

What treatment has the strongest evidence?

Structured psychological therapy, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy, currently has the strongest direct research evidence. Treatment may also need to address debt, ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma-related difficulties, body image, relationship trust and other addictive behaviours. [6–8]

When is urgent medical assessment important?

Prompt medical assessment is important when sudden excessive spending occurs alongside greatly reduced sleep, unusually high energy, rapid speech, racing thoughts, severe agitation, psychotic symptoms, suicidal thoughts or a recent medication change.

1. What Is Shopping Addiction?

Shopping addiction is the everyday term for a persistent and difficult-to-control pattern of shopping or buying.

Researchers increasingly use the term compulsive buying-shopping disorder, abbreviated to CBSD.

Proposed clinical criteria focus on:

Persistent preoccupation with shopping or buying
Strong urges, cravings or impulses
Reduced control over purchasing
Buying more frequently or for longer than intended
Using shopping to change an emotional state
Purchasing items that are not needed or remain unused
Continuing despite financial, emotional or relationship consequences
Repeated unsuccessful attempts to reduce or stop
Significant distress or interference with everyday life

An international Delphi study involving experts from 35 countries found broad agreement that impaired control, preoccupation, emotional regulation through shopping, excessive purchasing, continuation despite consequences and significant impairment are central features. [2,3]

Research published in 2026 provided further support for recognising pathological buying-shopping as a distinct clinical syndrome. Classification continues to evolve, and researchers are examining whether it is best understood as a behavioural addiction, an impulse control disorder or a condition with overlapping compulsive features. [4,5]

Is shopping addiction an official diagnosis?

Compulsive buying-shopping disorder is not currently a separate standalone diagnosis in the principal international diagnostic systems.

The absence of a standalone category does not make the harm less real.

A person may still experience:

Serious debt
Anxiety about statements and repayments
Loss of trust within a relationship
Severe guilt or shame
Reduced work or study performance
Sleep disruption
Clutter and unused possessions
Repeated failed attempts to stop
Dependence on shopping to manage difficult emotions

Shopping addiction is not defined only by how much you spend

A person with a high income may conceal the financial effects for years. Someone with a modest income may encounter difficulty paying rent, a mortgage, food, childcare or utility bills much sooner.

The amount spent matters, but so do:

Loss of control
Time spent browsing, planning and tracking deliveries
Emotional dependence on purchasing
Secrecy
Repeated consequences
Accumulation of unused possessions
Interference with work, parenting or study
The effect on shared finances and relationships

2. How Common Is Compulsive Shopping?

A 2016 meta-analysis combining studies from several countries estimated a pooled prevalence of 4.9 per cent in representative adult samples. [1]

Rates were higher in some university, shopping-centre and other non-representative samples. The authors cautioned that estimates varied because studies used different screening measures, definitions and populations.

Population examined	Estimated pooled prevalence
Representative adult samples	4.9 per cent
University student samples	8.3 per cent
Other non-representative adult samples	12.3 per cent
Shopping-specific samples	16.2 per cent

These figures do not provide an Irish prevalence estimate, and they cannot determine whether an individual has shopping addiction.

A questionnaire can identify warning signs. It cannot replace a full clinical assessment.

3. Shopping Addiction, Impulse Buying and Overspending

Not every unplanned purchase is an addiction.

Pattern	What it may look like	Typical effect
Occasional impulse buying	An unplanned but affordable purchase	Little or temporary regret
Overspending	Going beyond an intended budget	Short-term financial pressure
Emotional shopping	Buying after stress, rejection or low mood	Brief relief followed by regret
Compulsive buying-shopping	Recurrent urges, reduced control and continued buying despite consequences	Distress, debt, secrecy or relationship harm
Manic or hypomanic spending	Sudden excessive spending with unusually high or irritable mood and reduced need for sleep	Rapid and potentially severe financial harm
Hoarding-related acquisition	Repeated buying combined with major difficulty discarding possessions	Clutter, unusable rooms and household conflict
Collecting	Purposeful acquisition within defined interests and limits	Usually organised and financially manageable

The important clinical question is not simply:

Did you buy something you did not need?

It is:

Is buying repeatedly overriding your intentions, values, financial security or relationships?

Manic or hypomanic spending

A sudden and marked change in spending requires prompt medical attention when it occurs alongside:

Very little sleep without feeling tired
Unusually high or irritable mood
Rapid speech
Racing thoughts
Inflated confidence
Increased risk-taking
Psychotic symptoms
A recent medication or substance-related change

Proposed CBSD criteria distinguish persistent compulsive shopping from excessive spending that occurs exclusively during manic or hypomanic episodes. [2]

4. Signs and Symptoms of Shopping Addiction

Shopping addiction may be present when several of the following patterns occur repeatedly.

Thoughts and urges

Thinking about shopping throughout the day
Mentally rehearsing purchases or deliveries
Feeling compelled to check shopping applications
Fear of missing a sale, restock or limited edition
Difficulty concentrating until a purchase is completed
Planning the next purchase immediately after buying
Feeling restless when trying not to browse
Imagining that an item will create a different identity or future

Buying behaviours

Purchasing unnecessary duplicates
Ordering several versions, sizes or colours
Buying items that remain unopened or unused
Shopping while working, studying, parenting or in bed
Opening new credit accounts to continue spending
Using one form of borrowing to repay another
Returning products and immediately purchasing replacements
Buying unaffordable gifts
Shopping late at night
Repeatedly exceeding self-imposed limits

Emotional signs

Excitement or anticipation before buying
Temporary relief during checkout
Irritability when unable to shop
Guilt, shame or disappointment afterwards
Anxiety when checking bank statements
Low mood when parcels stop arriving
Feeling briefly more attractive, successful or secure
Shopping after conflict, loneliness, rejection or boredom

Financial signs

Missed or delayed bills
Persistent credit-card balances
Several Buy Now Pay Later commitments
Using savings intended for housing, education or healthcare
Underestimating total spending
Concealing statements or deleting notifications
Borrowing from a partner, friend or relative
Using essential household money for non-essential purchases
Avoiding bank accounts because of fear

Relationship signs

Arguments about money
Lying about prices
Hiding deliveries
Removing tags or packaging before arriving home
Sending parcels to another address
A partner feeling betrayed or financially unsafe
Repeated promises to stop followed by concealed purchases
Becoming defensive when spending is discussed

Work, study and daily-life signs

Shopping during working hours
Missing deadlines because of browsing
Spending substantial time returning or reselling items
Neglecting household responsibilities
Losing sleep through late-night shopping
Avoiding social activities because of debt or shame
Accumulating possessions that affect use of the home

Recognising several signs does not automatically mean you have a clinical disorder.

An assessment can help distinguish occasional overspending from a persistent compulsive pattern. Shopping-related difficulties may also overlap with OCD intrusive thoughts and compulsions, ADHD-related impulsivity, anxiety or other addictive behaviours.

Is This Service Right for Me?

A consultation may be helpful if you:

Repeatedly purchase items you do not need
Shop to escape distress, sadness, anger or boredom
Hide purchases, accounts or debts
Experience guilt but continue buying
Lose sleep through online shopping
Use credit to maintain spending
Have tried several times to stop
Experience arguments or loss of trust
Buy in response to body-image distress
Experience ADHD-related impulsivity or disorganisation
Move between shopping and other addictive behaviours
Feel frightened by the extent of the pattern

You do not need to meet every point. The amount spent is only one part of the assessment.

Ask Claire whether this service may be appropriate

5. The Shopping Addiction Cycle

Compulsive shopping is often maintained by a repeating emotional and behavioural loop.

1. Trigger

A trigger may include:

Stress
Loneliness
Rejection
Boredom
Exhaustion
Relationship conflict
Body dissatisfaction
Payday
Social-media content
A promotional email
A parcel-tracking notification
An approaching event
A difficult memory

2. Preoccupation

You begin browsing, comparing, reading reviews, building a basket or imagining ownership.

3. Anticipation

Urgency and excitement increase.

Common thoughts include:

“I deserve this.”
“It may sell out.”
“This will make me feel better.”
“I can deal with the payment later.”
“I am saving money because it is discounted.”
“This will help me become more organised.”
“This is the last one.”

4. Purchase

Checkout creates a short period of relief, reward, control, stimulation or escape.

5. Aftermath

Guilt, anxiety, disappointment, financial worry or secrecy may follow.

6. Renewed emotional discomfort

The stress created by the purchase becomes another trigger for browsing.

The shopping addiction cycle

Trigger

↓

Emotional discomfort

↓

Browsing and anticipation

↓

Purchase

↓

Brief relief

↓

Guilt, debt anxiety or secrecy

↓

Further emotional discomfort

↓

Renewed urge to shop

Experimental research has found stronger craving responses to shopping-related cues among people with problematic buying patterns. Shopping cues may also interfere with decision-making when craving and symptom severity are high. [10–13]

The product may not be the true reward. Searching, anticipating and imagining change can become more compelling than owning the item.

Similar cycles may occur in emotional eating, sugar addiction, alcohol use, gambling, vaping or excessive digital behaviour.

In my clinical work, I often find that the parcel is not the real reward. The strongest emotional shift may happen while browsing, imagining or waiting for it to arrive.

I do not assess shopping addiction by the amount spent alone. We also look at secrecy, loss of control, emotional triggers, relationship consequences and whether essential needs are being affected.

Related resources include:

6. Why Does Shopping Become Compulsive?

There is rarely one cause.

Shopping addiction usually develops through an interaction between emotions, thoughts, reward learning, stress, opportunity, personal history, relationships and the design of shopping environments.

Emotional regulation

Emotional regulation means recognising, tolerating and responding to emotions without immediately escaping or acting on them.

Shopping may temporarily reduce:

Anxiety
Sadness
Anger
Rejection
Loneliness
Boredom
Emotional numbness
Feelings of inadequacy
Work-related pressure
Relationship distress

When this relief is repeated, the mind learns that browsing and purchasing can rapidly alter an internal state.

The relief may be temporary, but it can still strengthen the behaviour.

Cue reactivity and craving

A cue is something that has become associated with shopping.

Examples include:

A notification sound
A retailer’s logo
Payday
A countdown timer
A restock message
An influencer’s product link
A parcel-tracking update
A particular shopping centre
A difficult day at work
An argument with a partner

The Interaction of Person, Affect, Cognition and Execution model, known as the I-PACE model, proposes that behavioural addictions can develop through interactions between personal vulnerabilities, emotional responses, learned expectations, cue reactivity, craving and executive functions such as inhibitory control and decision-making. [10]

Inhibitory control is the ability to pause or stop an action when it conflicts with a longer-term goal.

This does not mean shopping addiction can be reduced to one brain chemical. It is more complex than a simple dopamine explanation.

Identity and the hoped-for future self

Buying may become linked with beliefs such as:

“I will feel confident when I own this.”
“I need to look successful.”
“A new wardrobe will change how people see me.”
“This purchase proves I am doing well.”
“Buying gifts is how I show love.”
“I need the equipment before I can begin.”
“This will help me become the person I should be.”

The item may represent a hoped-for identity rather than a practical need.

When it does not create the expected transformation, another purchase may appear to offer the missing answer.

Stress and exhaustion

A 2024 scoping review found consistently higher perceived stress among people with problematic buying-shopping behaviour than among comparison groups. The authors emphasised that more longitudinal and experimental research is needed before causal conclusions can be drawn. [14]

Shopping may become more difficult to resist when you are:

Sleep deprived
Emotionally depleted
Overworked
Caring for others
Experiencing chronic pain
Coping with grief, separation or betrayal
Eating irregularly
Using alcohol or stimulants
Shopping late at night

Related resources include:

Scarcity and urgency

Messages such as “only two left”, “sale ends tonight” and “limited edition” create perceived urgency.

The purchase begins to feel like preventing a loss rather than choosing to spend.

A useful question is:

Would I still want this item if it were available at the same price next month?

7. Online Shopping, Social Media and Buy Now Pay Later

Online shopping removes many natural pauses that once existed between wanting and buying.

You no longer need to:

Travel to a shop
Wait for opening hours
Handle cash
Enter card details manually
Speak to another person
Carry the purchase home
See every purchase together
Discuss the decision with anyone

Saved payment details, personalised advertising, rapid checkout, free-delivery thresholds, countdown clocks and repeated retargeting can shorten the gap between urge and action.

Why online shopping may be harder to control

The online environment provides:

Constant access
Almost unlimited products
Rapid novelty
Personalised recommendations
Immediate price comparisons
Private purchasing
Easy access to credit
Repeated delivery anticipation
One-click payments
Algorithm-driven reminders
Social comparison
Influencer-led recommendations

Research suggests that craving and shopping-related expectations may interact with reduced decision-making control in problematic online buying. [10–13]

Social media and social commerce

Social commerce means purchasing directly through, or as a result of, social-media content.

Potential triggers include:

Influencer recommendations
Product demonstrations
Before-and-after content
Unboxing videos
Affiliate discount codes
Live shopping
Limited releases
Repeated beauty or fashion comparison
Advertising based on previous browsing

Unfollowing one retailer may not be enough. The wider content stream may continue to introduce products, appearance ideals and aspirational lifestyles.

Buy Now Pay Later is borrowing

Buy Now Pay Later, abbreviated to BNPL, is a form of credit. It is not simply another payment button.

When you use BNPL, you enter a credit agreement with the provider. The complete cost remains owed even when the first instalment appears small. [26]

A €240 purchase may feel like a €60 decision when divided into four payments. The remaining €180 is still a financial commitment.

Important Irish Buy Now Pay Later evidence

A 2025 Central Bank of Ireland research paper examined BNPL behaviour using a nationally representative sample of 3,001 adults aged 18 to 65 in Ireland who had previously shopped online. [27]

In the simulated shopping experiment:

Irish research finding	Result
Additional average spending when BNPL was used rather than a debit card	4.39 per cent
Increased likelihood of purchasing an additional discretionary product after earlier BNPL use	22.2 per cent
Increase in current debit-card spending when future BNPL access was expected	3.1 per cent
Effect of concise risk information	Improved understanding, without a significant reduction in spending or use

The authors examined mental accounting, which describes how people mentally divide money into separate categories. Deferred payment may make the remaining balance feel larger than it really is.

Irish research finding
Buy Now Pay Later does not simply postpone payment. It may alter how available money is perceived, making further spending feel more affordable than it is.

The study was experimental and simulated. Its findings should not be treated as a prediction of how every person will behave.

Separate Central Bank research has found that Irish BNPL use is disproportionately concentrated among people showing indicators of financial vulnerability. One-third of those who had used BNPL during the previous year reported using more than one provider at the same time. [28]

Ireland’s Consumer Protection Code 2025 took effect on 24 March 2026 and introduced modernised protections reflecting the increasing use of digital financial services. [29]

A Buy Now Pay Later reality check

Before using BNPL, write down:

The complete purchase price
Every repayment amount
Every repayment date
Existing BNPL commitments
Possible interest, late charges or other fees
The account from which payment will be taken
Which essential expense could be affected
Whether you would still buy the item if full payment were required today

8. Shopping Addiction, ADHD, Autism and Neurodivergence

ADHD or autism does not automatically cause shopping addiction.

However, some neurodivergent people may experience factors that make impulsive or repetitive buying more difficult to manage.

ADHD-related factors

These may include:

Impulsivity
Difficulty delaying gratification
Time blindness
Hyperfocus on a product or hobby
Novelty seeking
Emotional intensity
Difficulty tracking several repayment dates
Forgetting subscriptions
Organisational overload
Decision fatigue
Acting before checking available funds

Research comparing adults with and without ADHD has found higher levels of impulsive buying and greater difficulty delaying gratification in ADHD groups. Other studies have identified difficulties with spontaneous financial decision-making, bill awareness, saving and long-term financial planning. [17–19]

An ADHD-sensitive plan may therefore need more than a conventional budget.

It may include:

Automated essential payments
Simplified accounts
Visual repayment calendars
Fewer shopping applications
Removing stored payment details
External purchase delays
Reduced access during vulnerable periods
ADHD assessment where appropriate
Work on emotional impulsivity and rejection sensitivity
Consideration of sleep, fatigue and sensory overload

Related resources include:

Autism and shopping

Autistic interests, collecting or preference for particular products should not automatically be pathologised.

Assessment may be helpful when buying is:

Creating financial harm
Difficult to interrupt
Driven by distress or sensory overload
Affecting basic needs
Producing severe clutter
Connected with pressure to mask or fit in
Repeated despite a clear intention to stop

A careful assessment distinguishes a meaningful interest from loss-of-control buying.

9. Trauma, Anxiety, Depression and Other Addictions

Compulsive shopping is often an attempted solution before it becomes another source of distress.

Trauma-related difficulties

Experiences of deprivation, neglect, unpredictability, humiliation, betrayal, abuse or chronic insecurity may influence how a person later relates to possessions, money, safety and self-worth.

A 2024 study involving 189 adults found associations between childhood trauma and impulsive spending, with impulsivity and emotional dysregulation helping to explain the relationship. Because the study was cross-sectional, it cannot prove that childhood experiences caused later spending. [15]

Another study found that emotional dysregulation, anxiety and depression helped explain associations between adverse childhood experiences and compulsive buying-shopping problems. [16]

For some people, purchases may symbolically represent:

Safety after deprivation
Control after powerlessness
Recognition after feeling unseen
Belonging after rejection
Compensation after years of self-denial
A new identity following betrayal
Proof that life is improving

Not every shopping difficulty originates in childhood. Treatment should not force one explanation onto every person.

Related resources include:

Anxiety

Shopping may temporarily distract from:

Worry
Rumination
Social anxiety
Work pressure
Relationship uncertainty
Fear about ageing
Health anxiety
Feelings of inadequacy

The purchase provides a task, a decision and a brief sense of control.

Depression

Browsing and anticipating a delivery may create a temporary interruption to:

Low mood
Loss of interest
Emotional numbness
Loneliness
Low self-worth
Lack of structure

The lift may be followed by disappointment when the parcel does not create the hoped-for emotional change.

Other addictions

Some people move between rapid-reward behaviours, including:

Alcohol
Cocaine or other drugs
Gambling
Smoking or vaping
Sugar or food-related compulsions
Pornography
Compulsive sexual behaviour
Gaming
Excessive digital use
Shopping

Stopping one behaviour does not always resolve the emotional trigger, craving pattern or avoidance maintaining it.

Related resources include:

10. Eating Disorders, Sugar Addiction, Food Addiction and Body Image

Shopping can become closely connected with appearance, food, weight and identity.

A person may repeatedly purchase clothes, beauty products, supplements, diet products or exercise equipment for:

The body they hope to have
A planned weight-loss transformation
Concealing parts of the body
Reassurance following social comparison
A temporary confidence boost
A hoped-for social identity
An approaching event
A different stage of life

For some people, buying clothes for a future body becomes part of a cycle involving body dissatisfaction, restrictive eating, binge eating, repeated dieting and disappointment.

Shopping addiction and eating disorders

A 2025 systematic review identified clinically important connections between compulsive buying-shopping disorder, body-image concerns and disordered eating. The authors also highlighted substantial gaps in the quality and diversity of the available research. [20]

A separate systematic review and meta-analysis estimated that pathological or compulsive buying occurred in approximately 19 per cent of eating-disorder samples. Estimates varied across studies and should not be applied to every person with an eating disorder. [21]

Assessment may consider whether purchasing is connected with:

Binge Eating Disorder
Emotional eating
Bulimia nervosa
Restrictive eating
Avoidant or restrictive food intake
Orthorexic patterns
Chaotic eating
Body dissatisfaction
Fear of weight gain
Appearance-based self-worth

Related resources include:

Sugar addiction, food addiction and compulsive reward-seeking

Some people move between buying, emotional eating, sugar cravings and other immediate-reward behaviours.

The specific behaviour may change while the underlying process remains connected with:

Stress relief
Emotional escape
Boredom
Stimulation
Reward
Shame
Restriction followed by loss of control
Difficulty tolerating uncomfortable emotions

Claire’s Sugar Addiction and Food Addiction resource explores cravings, eating patterns, energy, blood-glucose regulation and the psychological aspects of food-related compulsions.

The Emotional Eating resource examines how stress, grief, anxiety, trauma-related difficulties and self-worth can become connected with food.

The clinical goal is not to transfer rigid control from shopping to eating. It is to understand the emotional and behavioural process shared by both patterns.

11. Sleep, Hormones, Gut Health and Physical Wellbeing

Physical symptoms do not directly cause shopping addiction.

They can, however, reduce the emotional and cognitive capacity available for deliberate decision-making.

Perimenopause and menopause

Perimenopause and menopause do not directly cause shopping addiction.

However, changes involving sleep, anxiety, concentration, body image, confidence and energy may make emotion-driven purchasing more difficult to manage for some women.

Shopping may increase in response to:

Changing body shape
Reduced confidence
Sleep deprivation
Low mood
Caring pressure
A desire to regain identity
Increased social comparison

Read about fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, poor sleep and overlapping perimenopausal symptoms

Sleep and fatigue

Shopping late at night may become especially difficult to resist when:

You are exhausted
There are fewer interruptions
Purchases can remain private
Emotional discomfort feels stronger
Checkout is immediately available
You want something to anticipate

Explore the insomnia and poor-sleep resource

Gut-brain and digestive symptoms

Digestive symptoms do not cause shopping addiction.

Persistent bloating, reflux, IBS, constipation, diarrhoea, pain or food-related discomfort can nevertheless affect:

Body image
Confidence
Sleep
Mood
Social activity
Eating patterns
Daily stress

The gut-brain axis is the two-way communication system connecting digestive processes with the brain, stress response and behaviour.

Readers experiencing digestive symptoms may find these resources helpful:

Registered Nutritionist Services

Registered Nutritionist Services may be relevant when shopping difficulties occur alongside:

Emotional eating
Binge Eating Disorder
Food addiction
Sugar addiction
Restrictive eating
Weight cycling
Body-image concerns
ADHD
Poor sleep
Fatigue
Perimenopausal symptoms
Gut-brain or digestive symptoms
High caffeine or alcohol intake
Irregular meals

Nutrition does not replace psychological treatment for compulsive shopping or an eating disorder.

It may form part of a broader plan when eating patterns, blood-glucose fluctuations, sleep, energy, digestion, hormonal concerns or body image are increasing emotional vulnerability.

Explore Registered Nutritionist Services in Ireland and ONLINE

12. Relationships, Secrecy and Financial Trust

Shopping addiction often becomes a relationship problem before either partner understands it as a compulsive pattern.

A partner may feel

Betrayed by hidden debt
Frightened about housing or bills
Angry about repeated dishonesty
Pressured to rescue the finances
Excluded from joint decisions
Unsure whether financial information can be trusted
Anxious about the future of the relationship

The person shopping may feel

Ashamed
Monitored
Treated like a child
Afraid of losing the relationship
Determined to repair everything alone
Unable to explain why it happened again
Defensive because disclosure feels unbearable

Understanding is not the same as excusing

Recognising that shopping has an emotional or compulsive function does not remove responsibility for:

Honest disclosure
Financial safety
Agreed boundaries
Repayment
Protecting essential household expenses
Rebuilding trust through consistent action

Simply transferring all financial control to a partner may create temporary containment, but it does not necessarily address the emotional drivers, urges, ADHD symptoms, trauma-related difficulties or resentment maintaining the pattern.

Couples Counselling and Marriage Counselling

Couples work may help partners establish:

Full financial disclosure
Access to accurate shared information
Protection of essential expenditure
Mutually agreed spending limits
A plan for responding to urges
Boundaries around further borrowing
A process for rebuilding trust
A response plan if another concealed purchase occurs

Financial transparency should be consensual and proportionate. It should not become humiliation, punishment or coercive financial control.

Related resources include:

Recent composite Irish example: Hidden Debt in a Relationship

Details have been changed and combined. No single individual is represented to protect the privacy of our clients.

A spouse discovered several credit-card and Buy Now Pay Later balances after years of apparently manageable spending.

The person buying had hidden parcels, understated prices and used a separate account. Their partner experienced the discovery as a serious betrayal.

The clinical work could not focus only on stopping purchases. It also needed to address:

Anxiety and shame
Full financial disclosure
Relationship safety
Emotional triggers
The urge to escape conflict through shopping
Clear boundaries
Gradual rebuilding of trust

Individual Psychotherapy and Couples Counselling were considered alongside independent debt advice.

13. Shopping Addiction in Teenagers

Teenagers can develop problematic shopping patterns, particularly when purchasing is integrated into social media, gaming and identity formation.

Possible warning signs include:

Repeated secret purchases
Using a parent’s card without permission
Persistent pressure to buy trend-led products
Distress when unable to obtain an item
Lying about where money went
Repeated in-application purchases
Buying to reduce bullying or social exclusion
Accumulating unused beauty, fashion or gaming products
Severe body comparison
Sleep loss through late-night browsing

What parents should consider

The immediate purchase is only one part of the picture.

Ask what was happening beforehand:

Was the teenager excluded or bullied?
Did they feel unattractive or inadequate?
Were they anxious or low?
Was ADHD-related impulsivity relevant?
Was the purchase connected with an intense interest?
Were they trying to fit into a peer group?
Were they using shopping to manage sadness or distress?

Punishment alone may increase secrecy without resolving the reason the behaviour developed.

Appropriate boundaries may include:

Removing stored payment cards
Turning off in-application purchases
Reviewing subscriptions together
Agreeing spending limits
Protecting sleep
Discussing advertising and influencer marketing
Seeking psychological assessment when distress is significant

Parents and carers may also find these resources useful:

Social media and a Teenager

Details have been changed and combined. No single young person is represented to protect the privacy of our clients.

A teenager repeatedly purchased beauty products and clothing after viewing influencer content.

The initial concern appeared to be poor money management. Further assessment identified bullying, body dissatisfaction, anxiety about fitting in and ADHD-related impulsivity.

The work therefore included more than spending limits. It addressed confidence, social comparison, emotional regulation, online triggers, sleep and communication with a parent.

14. What Claire Assesses When Someone Seeks Help

An initial assessment looks beyond the amount spent.

Seven areas are particularly important.

1. Control and preoccupation

How much time is spent browsing?
Are purchases planned or difficult to resist?
How often are items returned or resold?
Have there been repeated attempts to stop?
Does shopping interfere with work, study, parenting or sleep?

2. The emotional purpose of shopping

Does shopping provide relief from anxiety, loneliness or anger?
Does it create stimulation when you feel numb or exhausted?
Is buying used after conflict, rejection, grief or betrayal?
What do you expect the purchase to change?

3. Financial safety

Are rent, mortgage, food or utilities affected?
Are there credit-card, overdraft, loan or BNPL commitments?
Is one form of borrowing being used to repay another?
Are joint finances or savings at risk?
Is independent debt advice needed?

4. Mental health and neurodivergence

Assessment may consider:

ADHD
Autism spectrum needs
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma-related difficulties
Bipolar-spectrum symptoms
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
Hoarding
Chronic stress
Other addictive behaviours

5. Body image, food and identity

Are purchases connected with weight or appearance?
Is there emotional eating, binge eating or restrictive eating?
Are hormonal symptoms relevant?
Are you buying for a hoped-for future identity?
Does appearance feel central to acceptance or safety?

6. Relationships and secrecy

Has spending caused repeated arguments?
Has concealed debt created betrayal?
Is a partner financially frightened?
Is financial control or coercion present?
Would individual or couples work be appropriate?

7. Other addictive patterns

Assessment may explore whether shopping occurs alongside:

Alcohol
Cocaine or other drugs
Gambling
Smoking or vaping
Food or sugar-related compulsions
Pornography
Excessive digital use
Other repetitive reward-seeking behaviours

Late Night Online Shopping

Details have been changed and combined. No single individual is represented to protect the privacy of our clients

A woman in her late thirties from County Limerick sought help after her partner discovered several BNPL accounts and a concealed credit-card balance.

Most purchases occurred between 11 pm and 2 am.

She initially described the problem as poor discipline. Assessment identified a more complex pattern involving:

Longstanding anxiety
ADHD traits
Body dissatisfaction
Perimenopausal sleep disruption
Irregular daytime eating
Work related stress
Beliefs linking appearance with success

The work focused on interrupting late-night access, identifying triggers, improving financial disclosure, addressing shame, strengthening sleep and eating routines, and examining beliefs attached to appearance and achievement.

The aim was not simply to ban shopping.

It was to restore choice, financial safety and trust.

15. Where Should I Start?

Your current situation	Recommended first action
Repeated shopping urges without serious debt	Psychological assessment and practical spending safeguards
Rent, mortgage, utilities or food are affected	Contact MABS and arrange a therapeutic assessment
Hidden debt has damaged a relationship	Individual assessment and Couples or Marriage Counselling where appropriate
Lifelong impulsivity and organisation difficulties are present	Consider ADHD assessment alongside shopping-addiction treatment
Shopping is closely connected with body image or eating difficulties	Psychological and Registered Nutritionist assessment
Severe clutter prevents normal use of rooms	Assessment for hoarding-related difficulties
Spending increased suddenly with very little sleep and unusual energy	Prompt GP or psychiatric assessment
A medication change preceded sudden behavioural changes	Contact the prescribing clinician
Alcohol, cocaine, drugs or gambling are also involved	Integrated addiction assessment
Suicidal thoughts or immediate danger are present	Call 112 or 999 or attend the nearest emergency department

16. Treatment for Shopping Addiction in Ireland

Treatment should reflect why the behaviour developed, what maintains it now and which consequences require immediate attention.

Counselling and Psychotherapy

Counselling and Psychotherapy may help you examine:

Emotional triggers
Automatic thoughts
Shame and secrecy
Self-worth
Identity
Trauma-related patterns
Relationship difficulties
Avoidance
Relapse patterns
Other addictive behaviours

The purpose is not to criticise your purchases.

It is to understand what happens in the minutes, hours and days before buying, and what the behaviour is trying to change.

Explore Psychotherapy and Counselling Services

Cognitive behavioural approaches

Cognitive behavioural therapy CBT examines how thoughts, emotions and behaviours interact.

Current systematic reviews identify structured cognitive behavioural therapy, particularly group-based CBT, as the psychological intervention with the strongest direct research evidence for reducing compulsive buying-shopping symptoms. [6–8]

Treatment components may include:

Identifying triggers
Challenging urgency-based thoughts
Delaying purchases
Reducing cue exposure
Building financial structure
Planning alternative responses
Reviewing the actual consequences of buying
Preparing for sales and other high-risk situations
Developing relapse-prevention plans

The evidence remains limited by small samples, varying definitions and relatively few controlled trials. Treatment should not be presented as guaranteed.

Clinical Hypnotherapy and Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy

Clinical Hypnotherapy may be used as an adjunct within a broader clinical plan to work with:

Automatic urge patterns
Emotional triggers
Stress responses
Repetitive internal imagery
Confidence
Sleep
Habit rehearsal
Values-based decision-making

Direct research specifically examining hypnotherapy for compulsive buying shopping disorder is currently limited.

It should not replace:

Financial safeguards
Evidence based psychological therapy
Debt advice
GP or psychiatric assessment where needed

Claire integrates Clinical Hypnotherapy and Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy according to the individual assessment rather than treating shopping addiction as an isolated habit.

Related resources include:

Rapid Transformational Therapy

Rapid Transformational Therapy, known as RTT, may be used to explore persistent beliefs and emotional associations connected with spending.

These may include:

“I am not enough unless I look successful.”
“I must buy gifts to be loved.”
“I deserve this because life has been difficult.”
“I cannot tolerate this feeling.”
“Owning this will make me confident.”
“I have to act now or I will lose the opportunity.”

RTT should form part of an appropriate clinical plan. Debt, bipolar symptoms, eating disorders, ADHD, trauma-related difficulties or other addictions may require additional assessment and intervention.

Registered Nutritionist Services

Registered Nutritionist Services may be considered when shopping difficulties overlap with:

Emotional eating
Binge eating
Food or sugar addiction
Weight cycling
Body-image concerns
ADHD
Poor sleep
Fatigue
Perimenopause
Digestive symptoms
Alcohol use
Irregular meals

This work does not treat shopping addiction through food.

It addresses physical and behavioural factors that may increase emotional vulnerability or complicate the wider clinical picture.

Couples Counselling and Marriage Counselling

Couples work may be appropriate when concealed debt, repeated dishonesty or financial fear has damaged trust.

Sessions may help partners distinguish between:

Understanding and excusing
Transparency and surveillance
Boundaries and punishment
Shared responsibility and financial rescue

Medical and psychiatric assessment

A GP or psychiatrist may need to assess:

Depression
Anxiety
ADHD
Bipolar disorder
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
Severe sleep disruption
Substance use
Medication-related changes
Risk of self-harm

Medication studies for compulsive buying have produced inconsistent findings. There is no established medication that should be assumed to treat shopping addiction directly. [9]

Medication may still be appropriate for a properly diagnosed co-occurring condition.

Never begin, stop or alter prescribed medication without consulting the prescribing clinician.

Financial advice

Therapy does not replace qualified debt advice.

When repayment difficulties are serious, psychological treatment and financial advice may need to occur at the same time.

Confidential Shopping Addiction Assessment

An assessment may help clarify:

Whether the behaviour resembles clinically significant compulsive buying-shopping
What triggers and maintains the cycle
Whether ADHD, anxiety, depression or trauma-related difficulties are relevant
Whether body image, food, hormones or sleep are contributing
Whether relationship or financial safeguards are needed
Which clinical interventions may be appropriate
Whether GP, psychiatric, debt or other specialist input is advisable

Request a confidential consultation

17. Claire’s Three-Phase Clinical Approach

You do not need to decide for yourself whether you require Psychotherapy, Clinical Hypnotherapy, RTT, couples work or nutritional input.

The assessment helps determine which approach may be appropriate.

Phase 1: Regain stability and control

This may include:

Identifying immediate triggers
Reducing access to credit
Protecting essential expenses
Interrupting late-night shopping
Removing stored payment information
Improving sleep and regular eating
Coordinating debt assistance
Establishing relationship safeguards
Assessing urgent mental health concerns

Phase 2: Understand what maintains the pattern

The work explores the emotional, cognitive and behavioural purpose of shopping.

Relevant factors may include:

Anxiety
Depression
ADHD
Trauma-related difficulties
Body image
Loneliness
Rejection
Relationship conflict
Hormonal symptoms
Fatigue
Chronic stress
Other addictive behaviours

Phase 3: Build durable alternatives

The work may focus on:

Stronger emotional regulation
More deliberate decision-making
Reduced cue reactivity
Financial transparency
Relationship repair
Confidence and identity
Relapse-prevention planning
Sustainable routines
A life less dependent on purchasing for relief

18. Practical Tools to Regain Control

These steps can create immediate breathing space while the deeper pattern is assessed.

The 72-Hour Purchase Pause

Before completing a non-essential purchase, record:

What happened immediately before the urge?
What emotion am I experiencing?
What do I expect this purchase to change?
Would I want it without the discount?
Would I want it if nobody else saw it?
Do I already own something similar?
What is the complete cost?
Are there interest, fees or future repayments?
Which financial goal will be delayed?
Will I use it within the next seven days?
How did I feel after my last similar purchase?
What is the earliest date I will reconsider it?

A longer delay may be appropriate for expensive purchases.

Shopping Trigger Tracker

Trigger	Automatic thought	Emotion	Shopping action	Immediate effect	Following-day effect
Difficult day at work	“I deserve something”	Frustrated	Browsed clothes	Temporary relief	Guilt
Social-media comparison	“Everyone looks better than me”	Insecure	Bought skincare	Excitement	Disappointment
Relationship argument	“I need to escape”	Angry and hurt	Ordered homeware	Distraction	Money anxiety
Poor sleep	“I need something to anticipate”	Exhausted	Late-night browsing	Stimulation	Regret
Payday	“I have plenty available”	Excited	Used BNPL	Immediate reward	Repayment worry

Parcel Reality Check

Review the previous 30 days.

Question	Your answer
How many parcels arrived?
How many items were used?
How many remain unopened?
How many were returned?
How much was spent?
How much was borrowed?
How much is still owed?
How many hours were spent browsing or returning items?

Full Financial Inventory

List every:

Credit card
Overdraft
Personal loan
BNPL agreement
Subscription
Store account
Unpaid bill
Informal debt
Missed repayment
Debt-collection communication

Use statements rather than estimates.

The purpose is to create an accurate picture from which safe decisions can be made.

Remove Immediate Access

Consider:

Deleting shopping applications
Removing stored cards
Logging out of retailer accounts
Disabling notifications
Unsubscribing from promotional emails
Blocking shopping sites during vulnerable hours
Removing credit from digital wallets
Disabling one-click checkout
Muting influencer accounts that repeatedly trigger spending

The purpose is not punishment.

It is to rebuild a pause between urge and action.

Use a Written List Instead of a Basket

Record:

The item
Full price
Reason for wanting it
Emotion present
What you expect it to change
Whether you own an alternative
Earliest review date

Calculate the Real Cost

For every credit purchase, record:

Total price
Interest
Fees
Number of repayments
Final repayment date
Existing commitments
The financial goal being delayed

A monthly instalment is not the total cost.

Protect Essential Expenditure First

Prioritise:

Housing
Electricity and heating
Food
Medication and healthcare
Child-related expenses
Transport to work
Insurance
Tax and legally required payments

Prepare for High-Risk Periods

These may include:

Payday
Christmas
Black Friday
Birthdays
Relationship conflict
Returning to work
Weight changes
Holidays
Moving home
Pregnancy or a new baby
Perimenopause
Bereavement
Separation
Betrayal
Work-related stress

Create the plan before the trigger arrives.

Avoid Replacing One Compulsion With Another

Be alert to switching from shopping to:

Gambling
Alcohol
Cocaine or other drugs
Smoking or vaping
Excessive eating
Restrictive dieting
Pornography
Constant social-media use

A change in behaviour does not always mean the underlying difficulty has been resolved.

19. When Shopping Debt Has Become Serious

Seek financial advice promptly when:

Rent or mortgage payments are affected
Electricity or heating bills are unpaid
You are borrowing for food
Several lenders are contacting you
One loan is being used to repay another
You have received legal correspondence
A partner does not know about significant debt
You do not know how much you owe
You are considering further borrowing to conceal the position

Contact MABS

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, provides free, confidential and independent debt and money advice in Ireland. [30]

MABS National Helpline: 0818 07 2000

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 8 pm

Website: https://www.mabs.ie/

Financial advice addresses the debt position.

Therapy addresses the emotional and behavioural cycle that may recreate it.

Both may be necessary.

20. What Happens When You Contact Claire?

Uncertainty can prevent people from seeking help.

You may be wondering:

Will I be judged?
Do I have to reveal every debt immediately?
Will my partner be contacted?
Will I be told never to shop again?
Which therapy will I receive?
What should I say?

Step 1: Brief confidential contact

You can call, text or use the consultation form.

You do not need to include sensitive medical, psychological or financial information in your first message.

Step 2: Initial suitability discussion

Claire will discuss what you are looking for, whether her services may be appropriate and which appointment format may suit you.

Step 3: Individual assessment

The first full appointment may consider:

Your shopping pattern
Emotional triggers
Financial consequences
Mental health
Sleep
Relationships
ADHD or neurodivergent needs
Trauma-related difficulties
Body image
Food and nutritional concerns
Other addictive behaviours

Step 4: Clear recommendations

Recommendations may include:

Counselling
Psychotherapy
Clinical Hypnotherapy
Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy
RTT
Couples Counselling
Marriage Counselling
Registered Nutritionist Services
GP or psychiatric assessment
MABS or other debt advice
Another specialist service

Step 5: You decide

You can ask questions and decide whether you wish to continue.

Why Consult Claire Russell?

More than 20 years of clinical experience
Registered Nutritionist
Counsellor and Psychotherapist
Clinical Hypnotherapist
Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist
Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapy practitioner
Experience across substance and behavioural addictions
Experience with adults, teenagers and children
An integrative clinical approach considering behaviour, emotion, relationships, sleep, neurodivergence, nutrition and physical health
ONLINE consultations throughout Ireland and internationally
In-person appointments across several Irish locations
Referral to medical, psychiatric, debt or specialist services when indicated

Learn more about Claire Russell’s qualifications and clinical experience

Read client feedback

21. Related Clinical Resources

Shopping Addiction and Other Addictions

Eating Disorders, Food and Body Image

Mental Health and Neurodivergence

Physical Health, Hormones and the Gut-Brain Axis

Relationships and Clinical Services

22. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is shopping addiction a real mental health condition?

Shopping addiction describes a recognised clinical pattern involving persistent preoccupation, reduced control and continued buying despite harm.

Compulsive buying-shopping disorder is not currently a standalone diagnosis in the principal international classification systems. Research increasingly supports its recognition as a clinically significant disorder and continues to examine its most appropriate classification. [2–5]

2. What is the difference between impulse buying and shopping addiction?

Impulse buying is an unplanned purchase.

Shopping addiction involves a repeated pattern of urges, reduced control and continued buying despite emotional, financial, occupational or relationship consequences.

One impulse purchase does not establish an addiction.

3. Can shopping addiction exist without debt?

Yes.

Someone may be able to afford their purchases but still experience preoccupation, secrecy, relationship conflict, clutter, guilt or loss of control.

A high income can delay visible financial consequences without resolving the underlying pattern.

4. Why do I feel excited before buying and disappointed afterwards?

Anticipation, searching and imagining ownership may become more rewarding than the item itself.

Once checkout is complete or the parcel arrives, the expected emotional transformation may not occur. This can lead to further browsing in an attempt to recreate the anticipation.

5. Is online shopping more addictive than shopping in person?

Online shopping may be harder to control because it is constantly available, private and designed for rapid purchasing.

Saved payment details, targeted advertisements, notifications and credit options reduce the natural pause before spending.

Compulsive buying can nevertheless occur online, in physical shops or through both.

6. Can ADHD cause compulsive shopping?

ADHD does not automatically cause shopping addiction.

Impulsivity, novelty seeking, time blindness, emotional intensity and difficulty tracking repayments may increase vulnerability for some people. Assessment should consider ADHD when there are wider lifelong difficulties with attention, organisation or impulsive decision-making. [17–19]

7. Is shopping addiction connected with trauma?

Trauma does not explain every case.

Research has found associations between adverse childhood experiences, emotional dysregulation, impulsivity and compulsive or impulsive spending. These studies do not prove that trauma directly causes shopping addiction. [15,16]

8. Is shopping addiction connected with eating disorders or sugar addiction?

It can be.

Research has identified overlaps between compulsive buying, body-image concerns and disordered eating. Some people also move between shopping, emotional eating, binge eating, sugar cravings and other immediate-reward behaviours. An assessment can identify whether these patterns share emotional or behavioural triggers. [20,21]

9. Can perimenopause or menopause affect shopping behaviour?

Hormonal changes do not directly establish shopping addiction.

Perimenopause and menopause may affect sleep, mood, anxiety, concentration, body image and impulse control in some women. These factors may increase vulnerability to emotion-driven spending.

10. What treatment has the strongest evidence?

Structured psychological therapy, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy, currently has the strongest direct research evidence.

Treatment may also need to address debt, ADHD, trauma-related difficulties, anxiety, depression, body image, relationships and other addictions. [6–8]

11. Can hypnotherapy help shopping addiction?

Clinical Hypnotherapy may help some people work with automatic urges, emotional triggers, stress responses, repetitive imagery and habit patterns.

Direct research specifically examining hypnotherapy for shopping addiction is limited. It is best used within a broader clinical and financial plan rather than as a replacement for psychological therapy, debt safeguards or medical assessment.

12. Do I need a formal diagnosis before contacting Claire?

No.

You can request a consultation when you are concerned about shopping, spending, secrecy, emotional buying or loss of control. Assessment helps clarify what may be happening and which next steps may be appropriate.

13. Can my partner attend?

A partner may be involved where appropriate and agreed, particularly when concealed debt or financial trust has affected the relationship.

An individual assessment may sometimes be recommended before joint work begins.

14. Should I address the debt or the shopping pattern first?

Usually both.

Urgent financial risks require immediate action. Psychological treatment is also important because clearing debt alone may not change the emotional and behavioural cycle that created it.

Book a Consultation Now

You do not have to wait for another purchase, another argument or another missed payment.

A confidential consultation can help clarify:

What is maintaining the shopping cycle
Which immediate safeguards may be needed
Whether ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, body image, sleep or other addictions are relevant
Whether individual, couples, medical, nutritional or financial input should be considered
What an appropriate treatment plan may look like

Services Available

Counselling
Psychotherapy
Addiction Counselling
Clinical Hypnotherapy
Clinical Medical Hypnotherapy
Rapid Transformational Therapy, RTT
Couples Counselling
Marriage Counselling
Registered Nutritionist Services

ONLINE appointments: Throughout Ireland and internationally

In-person appointments: Adare, Newcastle West, Limerick, Abbeyfeale, Charleville, Kanturk, Fermoy, Midleton, Youghal, Cork, Dublin, Lismore, Tallow and Dungarvan

Call or text: 087 616 6638

Book a confidential consultation

Suggested first message:

Hello Claire, I would like to arrange a confidential consultation about compulsive shopping. Please let me know your next available appointment, or give me a call back to discuss my needs

About the Author

Claire Russell is a Registered Nutritionist, Counsellor and Psychotherapist, Clinical Medical Hypnotherapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, RTT Therapist and Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapy practitioner with over 20 years of clinical experience across Ireland, the UK, UAE and Europe.

Claire works with adults, teenagers and children across:

Substance and behavioural Addictions
Trauma-related difficulties and PTSD
ADHD, autism and neurodivergence
Anxiety and depression, stress and overwhelm
Eating and food-related difficulties
Gut-brain and digestive concerns and gut issues
Hormonal health, PMDD, PMS, peri menopause, menopause, post natal depression
Inflammatory conditions and Autoimmune disease and symptoms
Chronic stress and sleep issues
Chronic pain and fatigue
Relationships and betrayal
Fertility issues
Grief and loss
Emotional regulation
Mental Health issues

Learn more about Claire Russell

Educational and Safety Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes. It does not provide a diagnosis and does not ever replace individual medical, psychiatric, psychological, legal or financial advice.

Speak with your GP, pharmacist or prescribing clinician before changing medication

Seek prompt medical assessment when a sudden change in spending occurs with significantly reduced sleep, unusual energy, racing thoughts, severe agitation, psychotic symptoms or a recent medication change.

If you or another person is in immediate danger, call 112 or 999 or attend the nearest emergency department.

For urgent mental health assistance in Ireland, contact Pieta’s 24-hour crisis helpline on 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444.

23. Academic and Scientific References

Prevalence, classification and assessment

Maraz A, Griffiths MD, Demetrovics Z. The Prevalence of Compulsive Buying: A Meta-Analysis. Addiction. 2016;111(3):408–419.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26517309/
https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13223
Müller A, Brand M, Claes L, et al. Proposed Diagnostic Criteria for Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder: A Delphi Expert Consensus Study. Journal of Behavioral Addictions. 2021;10(2):208–222.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33852420/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8996806/
https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2021.00013
Laskowski NM, Brand M, Müller A, et al. Comparison of Clinicians’ and Researchers’ Ratings of Proposed Diagnostic Criteria for Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder Within a Delphi Study. Journal of Behavioral Addictions. 2023.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37014876/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10072380/
Ni N, Jones SB, David J, Müller A, Norberg MM. Evaluating Diagnostic Criteria for Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Published online 2026.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42258280/
https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0001166
Müller A, et al. Empirical Support for Recognizing Pathological Buying/Shopping as a Mental Disorder. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2026;146:152673.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41719690/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2026.152673

Treatment research

Müller A, Laskowski NM, Thomas TA, et al. Update on Treatment Studies for Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder: A Systematic Review. Journal of Behavioral Addictions. 2023;12(3):631–651.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37450373/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10562810/
https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2023.00033
Vasiliu O. Therapeutic Management of Buying-Shopping Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review and Evidence-Based Recommendations. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2022;13:1047280.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36405896/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9669662/
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1047280
Müller A, Trotzke P, Schaar P, et al. Psychotherapy Research for Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder: Quo Vadis? Addictive Behaviors Reports. 2025;21:100591.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40094143/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11910673/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2025.100591
Black DW. A Review of Pharmacologic Treatment for Compulsive Buying Disorder. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry. 2016;28(4):281–291.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27067344/

Cue reactivity, craving, decision-making and stress

Brand M, Wegmann E, Stark R, et al. The Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution Model for Addictive Behaviors: Update, Generalization to Addictive Behaviors Beyond Internet-Use Disorders, and Specification of the Process Character of Addictive Behaviors. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 2019;104:1–10.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31247240/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.06.032
Trotzke P, Starcke K, Müller A, Brand M. Cue-Induced Craving and Symptoms of Online-Buying-Shopping Disorder Interfere With Performance on the Iowa Gambling Task Modified With Online-Shopping Cues. Addictive Behaviors. 2019;96:82–88.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31060009/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.04.008
Vogel B, Trotzke P, Steins-Loeber S, et al. An Experimental Examination of Cognitive Processes and Response Inhibition in Patients Seeking Treatment for Buying-Shopping Disorder.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30840643/
Trotzke P, Müller A, Brand M, Starcke K, Steins-Loeber S. Buying Despite Negative Consequences: Interaction of Craving, Implicit Cognitive Processes, and Inhibitory Control in the Context of Buying-Shopping Disorder.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32652388/
Thomas TA, Schmid AM, Kessling A, Wolf OT, Brand M, Steins-Loeber S, Müller A. Stress and Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder: A Scoping Review. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2024;132:152482.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38603938/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152482

Trauma and emotional regulation

Richardson T, Egglishaw A, Sood M. Does Childhood Trauma Predict Impulsive Spending in Later Life? An Analysis of the Mediating Roles of Impulsivity and Emotion Regulation. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma. 2024;17:275–281.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38938974/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11199441/
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-023-00600-7
David J, et al. Emotional Difficulties Mediate the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Compulsive Buying-Shopping Problems. Journal of Behavioral Addictions. 2024;13(4):1064–1073.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39412889/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11737423/

ADHD and financial decision-making

Einarsson SB, et al. Impulsive Buying and Deferment of Gratification Among Adults With ADHD. Clinical Psychology in Europe. 2024;6(3):e9339.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39678320/
https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.9339
Bangma DF, Tucha L, Fuermaier ABM, Tucha O, Koerts J. Financial Decision-Making in Adults With ADHD. Neuropsychology. 2019;33(8):1065–1077.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31343233/
https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000571
Black DW, Shaw M, McCormick B, Bayless JD, Allen J. Neuropsychological Performance, Impulsivity, ADHD Symptoms, and Novelty Seeking in Compulsive Buying Disorder. Psychiatry Research. 2012.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22766012/

Eating disorders, body image, psychiatric overlap and assessment

Laskowski NM, Ballero Reque C, Reiß P, Pahlenkemper M, Brandt G, Paslakis G. Interconnected Desires: A Systematic Review of Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder and Its Links to Disordered Eating and Body Image by Gender. Journal of Behavioral Addictions. 2025;14(2):679–713.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40434831/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12231422/
https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2025.00042
Devoe DJ, Anderson A, Bahji A, et al. The Prevalence of Impulse Control Disorders and Behavioral Addictions in Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35069274/
Christenson GA, Faber RJ, de Zwaan M, et al. Compulsive Buying: Descriptive Characteristics and Psychiatric Comorbidity. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 1994;55(1):5–11.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8294395/
Zhang C, Brook JS, Leukefeld CG, Brook DW. Associations Between Compulsive Buying and Substance Dependence or Abuse, Major Depressive Episodes, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Among Men and Women.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27215919/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5061592/
Andreassen CS, Griffiths MD, Pallesen S, Bilder RM, Torsheim T, Aboujaoude E. The Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale: Reliability and Validity of a Brief Screening Test. Frontiers in Psychology. 2015;6:1374.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26441749/
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01374
Varvaras J, et al. To Hoard or Not to Hoard Purchased Items: Does It Matter? A Clinical Cross-Sectional Study on Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40054095/

Irish Financial and Consumer References

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Buy Now Pay Later: How BNPL Works in Ireland.
https://www.ccpc.ie/manage-your-money/borrowing-money/buy-now-pay-later
Jose A, Kelly J, King M, McCarthy Y. Buy Now, Spend More, Pay Later: Behavioural Mechanisms of Buy Now Pay Later Products. Central Bank of Ireland Research Technical Paper, 2025, Number 15.
https://www.centralbank.ie/docs/default-source/publications/research-technical-papers/rtp-15-2025-behavioural-mechanisms-of-bnpl.pdf
Central Bank of Ireland. Who Clicks “Pay Later”? Financial Vulnerability and Buy Now Pay Later Usage.
https://www.centralbank.ie/publication/research-publications/staff-insights/who-clicks-pay-later—financial-vulnerability-and-buy-now-pay-later-usage
Central Bank of Ireland. Consumer Protection Code 2025.
https://www.centralbank.ie/regulation/consumer-protection/consumer-protection-code
Money Advice and Budgeting Service. Free and Confidential Debt and Money Advice in Ireland.
https://www.mabs.ie/

Shopping Addiction Ireland: Signs, Causes and Treatment

Shopping Addiction in Ireland: Signs, Causes, Online Shopping Triggers, Buy Now Pay Later and Treatment

Summary

Concerned About Your Shopping or Spending?

Quick Answers About Shopping Addiction

What is shopping addiction?

What are the main warning signs?

What treatment has the strongest evidence?

When is urgent medical assessment important?

Contents

1. What Is Shopping Addiction?

Is shopping addiction an official diagnosis?

Shopping addiction is not defined only by how much you spend

2. How Common Is Compulsive Shopping?

3. Shopping Addiction, Impulse Buying and Overspending

Manic or hypomanic spending

4. Signs and Symptoms of Shopping Addiction

Thoughts and urges

Buying behaviours

Emotional signs

Financial signs

Relationship signs

Work, study and daily-life signs

Is This Service Right for Me?

5. The Shopping Addiction Cycle

1. Trigger

2. Preoccupation

3. Anticipation

4. Purchase

5. Aftermath

6. Renewed emotional discomfort

The shopping addiction cycle

6. Why Does Shopping Become Compulsive?

Emotional regulation

Cue reactivity and craving

Identity and the hoped-for future self

Stress and exhaustion

Scarcity and urgency

7. Online Shopping, Social Media and Buy Now Pay Later

Why online shopping may be harder to control

Social media and social commerce

Buy Now Pay Later is borrowing

Important Irish Buy Now Pay Later evidence

A Buy Now Pay Later reality check

8. Shopping Addiction, ADHD, Autism and Neurodivergence

ADHD-related factors

Autism and shopping

9. Trauma, Anxiety, Depression and Other Addictions

Trauma-related difficulties

Anxiety

Depression

Other addictions

10. Eating Disorders, Sugar Addiction, Food Addiction and Body Image

Shopping addiction and eating disorders

Sugar addiction, food addiction and compulsive reward-seeking

11. Sleep, Hormones, Gut Health and Physical Wellbeing

Perimenopause and menopause

Sleep and fatigue

Gut-brain and digestive symptoms

Registered Nutritionist Services

12. Relationships, Secrecy and Financial Trust

A partner may feel

The person shopping may feel

Understanding is not the same as excusing

Couples Counselling and Marriage Counselling

Recent composite Irish example: Hidden Debt in a Relationship

13. Shopping Addiction in Teenagers

What parents should consider

Social media and a Teenager

14. What Claire Assesses When Someone Seeks Help

1. Control and preoccupation

2. The emotional purpose of shopping

3. Financial safety

4. Mental health and neurodivergence

5. Body image, food and identity

6. Relationships and secrecy

7. Other addictive patterns

Late Night Online Shopping

15. Where Should I Start?

16. Treatment for Shopping Addiction in Ireland