Shopping addiction and depression
Speaking at a media seminar on mental health and internet addiction organized by the Institute of Mental Health (Bach Mai Hospital) this afternoon, July 24th, in Hanoi , psychologist Dang Thi Hai Yen (Institute of Mental Health) stated that shopping addiction can occur in women, usually middle-aged women.
People who overspend and buy beyond their means need psychological support.
People with shopping addiction exhibit behaviors such as: increased shopping urges, often involving overspending or excessive use of credit cards leading to debt and exceeding their spending capacity.
Shopping addiction is common in people with unstable mental health and is associated with depression and anxiety. Typically, addictive shopping behaviors only require psychological intervention and outpatient treatment, not hospitalization.
To intervene, mental health professionals can talk to them, motivate them, help them pay off their debts, and restructure their perceptions to change their behavior.
For example, when shopping, an individual might add an item to their cart and wait a while (perhaps up to 7 days) to consider and decide whether to buy it, ensuring they only purchase it when truly needed. They might also discard an unused item instead of buying it immediately, or even borrowing money to buy it as they did before. Or, like many young people today, they might use credit cards to buy things, spending now and paying later.
Interventional therapies are needed when patients increase their spending without being aware of their debts.
"However, before focusing on modifying consumer behavior and shopping habits, it's necessary to address other underlying medical conditions first. For example, the person may have depression or anxiety disorders. These conditions need to be treated first, and consumer behavior can be addressed later," Ms. Hai Yen stated.
5 groups of internet addicts
Speaking at the seminar, Dr. Bui Nguyen Bao Ngoc (Substance Addiction Treatment Department, Institute of Mental Health) shared that internet addiction is becoming increasingly common.
Internet addiction is classified as a behavioral addiction, divided into five groups. The first is online sex addiction. The second is online relationship addiction. This occurs in individuals who engage excessively in online relationships or may engage in virtual infidelity. Online relationships become more important than real-life relationships, potentially leading to marital discord and family instability.
Thirdly, there is pure compulsion (online gambling, shopping, or stock trading… which can lead to significant financial losses, as well as disruption to relationships and work).
Fourth is information overload (creating a new type of compulsive behavior related to excessive web browsing and data searching). These individuals spend a disproportionate amount of time searching, gathering, and organizing information.
Fifth is gaming addiction. Gaming addicts spend most of their time playing games, leading to a decline in academic performance and reduced work efficiency. They experience withdrawal symptoms when they are not playing games...
Dr. Nguyen Thanh Long (Substance Addiction Treatment Department, Institute of Mental Health) added that internet addiction can occur at all ages. Among them, game addiction is commonly seen in young people aged 13-17, then progresses over time and worsens if left untreated.
Online gambling addiction can occur in young and middle-aged men. In women, addiction to online shopping may be more common.
Source link
Comment (0)