Why do you get a high when shopping?

When people go shopping with the primary purpose of making themselves feel good, it’s called retail therapy. It gives people a sense of control, helps them de-stress, and cheers them up.

The high you get when engaging in some retail therapy comes from a neurochemical - dopamine. During a shopping experience, the brain releases dopamine, which has a role in our ability to experience pleasure or pain.

Columbia University professor of neurobiology David Sulzer notes that dopamine is associated with “learning, making new memories, and learning behaviors, and repeating them". That is, shopping is a pleasant discovery.

Can shopping be an addiction?

Your brain will feel this high, and you might get addicted to repeating your shopping behavior. Be careful, and don’t let the immediate gratification of shopping outweigh your budget.

According to a 2007 paper in the journal World Psychiatry, Compulsive buying disorder (CBD) affected 5.8 percent of the US-based respondents surveyed by researchers. CBD is characterized by excessive shopping cognitions and buying behavior that leads to distress or impairment.

How to practice control?

1. Window shopping: It can also act as retail therapy. A reason to get dressed, socialize and go to a good environment. Simply walking into a mall can also boost your mood.

2. Shop in moderation:

- Set a budget for yourself. Avoid impulsive shopping.

- Use debit cards or cash instead of credit cards.

- Avoid shopping with friends and on family trips to avoid group pressure.

3. Know yourself: Before you shop, understand your emotions. Ask yourself - are you buying because you need to, or is it to make yourself feel better? Write down your spending limit and stick to it if it's the second one.

Final Note: A 2013 HuffPost survey found that one in three Americans go shopping to alleviate stress. Do you ever shop to deal with stress/negative emotions? Understanding the behavioral and biochemical factors involved may help you to gain control.

You may also like - How big brands use neuromarketing to make you buy.

Also, check out my board on Mental Health.

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