Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on our thoughts, not on our situations. The skills learned help us to handle difficult situations in new ways, which can be helpful in many problem areas of life, including addiction. In a cognitive behavioral approach to substance abuse treatment, patients learn new coping skills, how to change old habits… Continue reading Treating the Cognitive Components of Addiction
Category: Compulsive Buying
How One Small Decision Saved Me
Like dominoes, one decision can start an unstoppable process. Blogger Jill Chivers shares the story of a recent dilemma while driving by a shopping mall. Remembering she was out of her favorite tea, Chivers thought about stopping in for some. Being in a difficult emotional place at the time, she realized she wouldn’t just stop… Continue reading How One Small Decision Saved Me
Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion
By Lexi McGlade In an eye-opening novel entitled, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth L. Cline, the consequences of “fast fashion” are considered. Fast fashion is a term used to acknowledge the rapidity with which trends move from the runway into stores in accordance with the latest style. Cline interweaves personal… Continue reading Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion
The Pursuit of Something Greater
Becoming Minimalist blogger Joshua Becker reflects on what holds value in his life now, as compared to his younger years. Sharing the story of his infatuation with his first car and how it lost its glow as he moved on to bigger and newer vehicles, Becker realized that “when something better comes along, the old… Continue reading The Pursuit of Something Greater
Ways to Avoid Compulsive Shopping
Here are some tips to help you manage compulsive shopping behaviors. First, don’t shop if you’re in a bad mood. A Harvard study shows people who are upset are more likely to overspend. Instead, work out or volunteer. Second, just because something is a bargain, you don’t have to buy it. The savings may be… Continue reading Ways to Avoid Compulsive Shopping
Is being a shopaholic truly an addiction?
Not everyone agrees on the answer to the question of whether being a shopaholic is truly an addiction. MailOnline presents two women with opposing opinions. Carol Sarler says being a shopaholic is more about greed than addiction, writing, “You’re not ill, honey—you’re stupid.” Sarter believes over-shopping is a choice that leads women to act like… Continue reading Is being a shopaholic truly an addiction?
Throw a Thrifty Summer Bash by Planning a Tailgate Party
Myscha Theriault says any occasion is just right for a tailgate party and provides some cost-saving ideas to pull it off. Location is key in terms of power supply, number of people, and event activities. She suggests keeping the menu low-key, whether or not you have electricity and water. Accommodating a variety of diets is… Continue reading Throw a Thrifty Summer Bash by Planning a Tailgate Party
Materialized Socialism
I often get interview requests from undergraduate and graduate students who are writing papers about compulsive buying. Every so often, the finished paper seems to capture something about compulsive buying that some of the seasoned writers have missed. Rachel Davidson’s paper is one of those. A rising senior of UC Santa Clara, majoring in communication, Rachel’s… Continue reading Materialized Socialism
Influence. You Already Have It.
Becoming Minimalist blogger Joshua Becker write of influence: “…{I]t would be wise for us to stop always asking how to acquire more and instead, start asking what to do with the influence we already have.” Becker believes that once we realize the scope of our influence, we can begin to focus on being a positive… Continue reading Influence. You Already Have It.
You Know You’re A Shopaholic When You Start Doing These Things
If you want to regain control over your shopaholic tendencies, author Kimberly Palmer suggests you ask the following questions. Who can I talk to about this? What is going through my mind while I shop? What else could I be doing that would make me happy? Who can I bring with me? Do I need… Continue reading You Know You’re A Shopaholic When You Start Doing These Things