Ep 31 | Shopaholic No More with Dr. April Benson

Dr. Benson, a leading expert in compulsive buying disorder, joins us to discuss the connection between clutter, consumption, and addictive shopping behaviors.

No matter how intentional you are with your spark joy decision making, excessive shopping can severely compromise your ability to either finish your KonMari tidying event or maintain a tidy home and lifestyle long term. Therefore, it is important to address any compulsive or addictive behaviors that you may have uncovered around shopping and consumerism.

Our guest, Dr. Benson, is a nationally known psychologist specializing in the study and treatment of compulsive buying disorder. Author of To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop, she offers individual, evidence based coaching and a comprehensive website - www.shopaholicnomore.com - filled with information and effective strategies.

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In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

• How the closing of her favorite store led Dr. Benson to explore her own shopping behaviors, which led her to transition from working with people with eating disorders to working with people with shopping disorders

• Why compulsive buying is often referred to as the "smiled-upon addiction"

• The three cardinal signs someone is suffering from an addiction

• The common reasons why we overshop

• The primary and secondary consequences of shopping addiction (emotional, financial, physical, etc.)

• How to confront a compulsive buying disorder, along with certain questions to ask yourself to determine if you're a shopaholic

• Six major shopping magnets and tips to deal with these triggers

• Extended tips on avoiding impulsive online shopping

• What to do if KonMari tidying triggers compulsive shopping behaviors used to fill an emotional or social void

• Take the evaluation: Who Needs Help? 3 Ways to Know, Are you an Overshopper?

• Six questions to ask yourself before you make your next purchase: Why am I here? How do I feel? Do I need this? Can I wait? How will I pay for it? Where will I put it?

• Take the Values in Action Character Strengths evaluation

Gems:

"Create a pause between the impulse and the action."

"Shopping is a short cut solution to issues related to how someone feels about themselves."

"You can never get enough of what you don't really need."

What sparks joy for Dr. Benson: A collection of passion flowers in her greenhouse, dog-sitting, and a love of learning Russian and the piano.

Parting words of wisdom: Effective help is available. [Compulsive buying disorder] is something you need to be serious about.

To connect with Dr. Benson visit www.shopaholicnomore.com.

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Dr. April Benson.