Marketplace addiction is a condition in which a person experiences an irresistible desire to frequently make purchases on online platforms. Moreover, they do this even if they do not really need the purchased goods.
A person suffering from such an addiction can lead a healthy lifestyle. No, he does not hang out on social networks and remains indifferent to alcohol and sweets. He has another irresistible passion – to open the application of his favorite marketplace, choose products for a long time, fill the basket. Then look at another online hypermarket, compare prices . Again put the products in another basket. Finally, click on the “Place an order” button and monitor the next delivery.
If you recognize yourself in this description, check whether your passion for online shopping has turned into an addiction
How does marketplace addiction manifest itself?
Like any uncontrollable passion, dependence on marketplaces can lead to significant losses. A person susceptible to it can seriously undermine their financial well-being. And also – spoil relationships with loved ones and drive themselves into a state of emotional discomfort . Here are some characteristic signs of this addiction.
Constant thoughts about products and purchases
A person regularly visits the marketplace, adds to the “Favorites” category, reads reviews, looks at photos of products taken by other buyers. This behavior is understandable: there is nothing strange in looking for interesting and useful things. Problems can begin when a person prefers to visit an online store rather than watch a TV series, read a book, listen to music. And the lack of access to the marketplace begins to cause an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety and irritation .
Frequent and impulsive orders
At the same time, the shopping lists contain not the most necessary, and sometimes even random products. There is no reason to worry if a person has a couple of hundred items in favorites. It is normal if he discovers new items based on recommendations in thematic selections or on social networks. But if every visit to the marketplace ends with an order, and the purchase is made impulsively, this is a reason to be wary . Another alarm bell is if the next day you cannot remember why you wanted to immediately place this order. A big discount on a product that is not really needed is not a reason to immediately make a purchase.
Financial difficulties and constant returns of goods
If it suddenly turns out that there is a week until payday, there are a bunch of new and even unopened packages and boxes in the house, and there is almost nothing on the card, this is a problem and should not be ignored. It happens that a person decides to return some of the goods that, frankly, he never needed. If this is an isolated case, it is not a big deal. Perhaps the return procedure will stop the attack of shopaholism, and there will be no more uncontrolled spending. But it happens that the chain “order – receipt – misunderstanding why this purchase is needed – return” is repeated regularly. In this case, it is also worth thinking about the emergence of an addiction.
The emotional roller coaster of shopping
If you have made an order and are looking forward to it, and then are happy about a good purchase, this is normal. But it happens that a person is in a depressed state because he has not bought anything on the marketplace for a long time. And the only way to cheer up is to arrange another delivery. If online shopping has become a habitual method to cheer up, and other options do not work, this is an alarm signal. Especially when you are forced to make orders almost every day so as not to feel despondent, apathetic or irritated.
Feelings of guilt and shame about impulse buying
It often happens that an order is placed “in a fog”: you open the app, see a discount, and immediately click the “Place order” button. It’s okay if this is an exceptional case that you can talk about with a laugh. But if such orders have become habitual, and after receiving them you feel guilty and ashamed , this is already a problem. Especially when you hide the real cost of the goods or try not to tell anyone about the new purchase.
Conflicts with loved ones
They can arise even if the purchases do not create a serious hole in the family budget. A partner or children may not like the growing stock of unnecessary things at home. Or the appearance of a whole pile of clothes that a person never starts wearing. Or the realization that the only topics for conversation with a loved one are new discounts on the marketplace and scandals around the work of pick-up points. If such conflicts begin to repeat themselves, it is time to sound the alarm.
The more points you have found in yourself, the more likely it is that you could have encountered an addiction to marketplaces. But if you have any doubts, it is worth talking about it with a psychologist.
Why Marketplace Addiction Occurs
Like all types of addictions, the desire to constantly shop on marketplaces arises from unmet life needs. A person may be missing something, and he tries to compensate for the deficit in an accessible way. Perhaps, with the help of shopping, he tries to cope with anxiety, irritation, and remove excess tension.
Any completed task causes a surge of dopamine , and a person experiences joy and satisfaction. This is how the brain sends a signal that the owner is a good guy and that completing any task is good and right.
Buying a product on a marketplace is a simple matter. It is much easier to do than, for example, to cope with a complex work task. But it will still bring satisfaction and a dose of dopamine. It turns out that by placing and then receiving orders again and again, a person gets this neurotransmitter in an easy way.
However, over time, the flow of dopamine will decrease. And the activity that brought pleasure will turn into a routine that brings little joy. As with any addiction, a person will have to “increase the degree” – for example, order more expensive goods. Or try to get rid of the irresistible urge to buy.
How to overcome marketplace addiction
Luckily, the need to order online can be managed, although it can be challenging at times. Here are some steps to help.
Acknowledge that there is a problem
This is a very important stage. If a person believes that nothing special is happening to him, he is unlikely to make serious efforts to overcome the dangerous craving. A shopping diary will help you realize the seriousness of the situation . It is worth keeping it daily and not missing a single order – and in a couple of weeks or a month, assess the scale of the problem.
Try to find the reasons for the addiction
To do this, you should look for what you lack, what need you are trying to satisfy with the joy of shopping. You can use a diary again and write down in which situations you especially want to go to the marketplace. Perhaps this is how you try to cope with boredom or work stress. Or you are trying to distract yourself after a difficult conversation with relatives. Or maybe you are trying to forget about another quarrel with your partner. Look for the reason and ways to get rid of it. And as a result, you may no longer need to shop all the time.
Find a replacement for your shopping habit
And again, a diary will help you. Write down when you don’t even think about marketplaces. Perhaps you don’t think about shopping when you’re busy with a hobby or when you have a lot of interesting work. Or maybe games with children make you forget about sales and discounts. Find your source of joy — perhaps a long-forgotten one. And try to do things that inspire you more often.
Make a list of necessary purchases and allocate a certain budget for them.
If you are struggling with addiction, it does not mean that you can not make a single order now. You can. But first, make a list of things that you really need. Add to them a few nice little things that will surely please you. Then calculate how much money you can spend on orders every month. It is useful to create a special card for marketplaces and transfer a fixed amount to it once every 30 days. And never go beyond the limit you set yourself.
Ask for support
Tell them in what situations you feel lonely, when you are sad, when you want understanding and warmth. Ask them not to leave you alone with your worries and bad mood. Perhaps your loved ones will be able to support you. If you feel that you still cannot cope with the problem, sign up for a consultation with a psychologist.