About Shopaholics Anonymous
In December 2001, actress Winona Ryder was caught shoplifting $6,000 worth of merchandise from the Beverly Hills branch of Saks Fifth Avenue. While the star received an abundance of media attention, the fact is she is far from alone. Millions of people suffer from compulsive shopping and overspending, which often includes theft. Shopaholics Anonymous, an organization in the tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous, uses a combination of therapy, mentors and goal-setting to identify triggers and quell the urge to shop.
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Features
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Founded by Terrence D. Shulman, himself a compulsive shopper and shoplifter in recovery, Shopaholics Anonymous is part of the Shulman Center. The center provides a program for shoppers and spenders in need of professional help. The basic program includes 10 hour-long counseling sessions with Shulman, a follow-up session, study and exercises in books about addiction and ongoing participation in a local or online Shopaholics Anonymous group.
Benefits
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Shulman outlines the benefits of Shopaholics Anonymous. Successful graduates of the program stop stealing or overspending, gain knowledge about the root of their compulsions, identify triggers, develop new thought patterns to fight the urge to spend, learn self-forgiveness, rebuild relationships and resolve legal issues. They draw financial plans for their futures, establish support systems and free up money, time and energy in their lives.
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Types
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Shopaholics Anonymous addresses the various types of problems that come with compulsive shopping, such as shoplifting, overspending, excessive spending, employee theft, loss prevention and identity theft. There are concrete strategies for dealing with personal tragedies and financial issues, among them credit card fraud, time theft, stealing from family or friends, intellectual property theft and hoarding.
Statistics
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From a look at the statistics, America is the land of consumer. A Stanford University study conducted in 2006 found that 17 million Americans are overspenders or compulsive shoppers. The same study found that men and women overspend equally. "Psychology Today" notes that the primary cause of relationships failing is arguments over finances. "Money" magazine states that the average American carries nearly $10,000 of credit card debt . Shopaholics Anonymous asserts that these numbers attest to the fact that compulsive shopping is not merely a personal finance issue but rather a psychological problem.
Identification
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Shopaholics Anonymous has created a checklist for people to determine if they are compulsive shoppers. It asks people how frequently and in what contexts they shop. It poses questions about shopping habits and whether they cause chaos or conflict. Some questions center on the experience of shopping and whether it causes anxiety, euphoria or the need to lie. The aftermath of shopping is of key interest as well, especially if the shopper feels ashamed, guilty or confused. Financial behaviors such as using credit when there is no cash to pay the bills, juggling accounts, obsessing over debt and hiding excessive spending are also under scrutiny.
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