Easter’s almost here. For those who celebrate it, how good have you been about Lent? Did you try to give up shopping? If you have omniomania – yes, that’s the scientific term for a shopping addiction- it has probably been a rough time. Omniomania is the “most socially reinforced of the behavioral addictions,” and was even known in the early 19th century and listed as a psychiatric disorder in the early twentieth century. So if you’ve failed to keep up with your Lent “resolution,” know that it’s not a sign of personal weakness. You can overcome your shopping addiction, and just as with any other addiction, you should seek the aid of a trusted professional.
Carrie Rattle is a Principal at BehavioralCents.com, a website for women focused on mind and money behaviors. She has worked in the financial services industry for 20+ years and hopes to inspire women to better prepare themselves for financial independence.