Hello, I’m Anna, and I’m here to confess that I have an online shopping addiction. They say recognizing the problem is the first step, and I’m finally confronting the reality: I have an issue.
Each day, I find myself endlessly browsing eBay, Amazon, and AliExpress. Instead of staying updated with current events, I hear about them second-hand from my partner. I’ve completely stopped engaging with opinion pieces or exploring popular websites, and even the latest theories on my favorite TV shows have lost my attention. There have been times when I’ve neglected my child while nursing, all to find the ideal t-shirt for him online.
Spending excessive time shopping online, rather than engaging in hobbies or activities I once enjoyed, is a clear sign of addiction. I don’t always make purchases, but I’m constantly flagging items, adding things to my cart, and creating wish lists for future buys. The real problem lies not in the purchases themselves but in the longing and the belief that life would be more fulfilling if my son wore that $3.85 lemon t-shirt instead of what he currently owns. It’s the overwhelming desire and the thrill of selecting that perfect rainbow shirt that fuels this addiction.
Shopping online often serves as my escape, providing comfort during stressful or low moments. This too is a hallmark of shopping addiction. While I may not be buying items constantly, I certainly do make purchases—especially for my children. I splurge on cute outfits that they only wear on special occasions and justify this excess by hoping to find reasons for them to wear these clothes more often. With each child’s closet overflowing with unworn outfits, it’s clear that I’ve lost track of what’s practical. Yet, I continue to buy, further indicating a compulsive shopping tendency.
The exhilaration I feel when I find the perfect jacket, bow tie, or suspenders is quickly followed by a wave of guilt. I know I shouldn’t have made that purchase, yet the cycle of excitement and remorse is typical of shopping addiction.
Then there’s the matter of packages arriving at my doorstep. Rarely do I buy anything for myself or anything genuinely useful. When I do, I feel compelled to confess to my partner, who is understandably frustrated by the sheer volume of unnecessary items. I often find myself checking the mail obsessively. When my partner is at work, I can easily intercept the deliveries and stash them away before he notices. However, when he is home, I have to be more discreet, carefully unwrapping items in another room and hiding larger purchases before he sees them.
This behavior isn’t typical or healthy. It’s not a sustainable way to manage a relationship. Deceiving my partner about my purchases is another clear sign of my online shopping addiction. When he sees the influx of packages or realizes how much I’ve spent, he gets upset. “We don’t need this stuff,” he tells me, and while I acknowledge his concerns, I feel a mix of sadness and anger. After all, it’s my money too, and I don’t believe I’m spending excessively. Yet whenever we discuss finances, he insists that I need to cut back on buying clothes for our kids. This cycle of anger and shame continues to weigh heavily on me.
If your spending habits create tension in your relationships, it’s a clear indicator of shopping addiction. Frequent arguments about online shopping with your partner are yet another warning sign.
What frightens me the most is the feeling of being unable to stop. Sure, I could refrain from making purchases, but I doubt I could resist the urge to browse. Even if I were to change my passwords to prevent myself from logging into shopping sites—an often-recommended strategy for tackling shopping addiction—I would still find myself perusing local thrift stores.
This realization is daunting, and I know something must change. I plan to limit my time spent on shopping websites, be more open with my partner about my purchases, and remind myself that my children don’t require additional items. When I’m feeling down, I’ll strive to engage in activities other than online shopping, perhaps even picking up a book for a change.
For more resources on fertility and parental support, check out Make a Mom and Intracervical Insemination. If you’re looking for insights into pregnancy and home insemination, I highly recommend visiting CCRM IVF.
Summary:
In this candid reflection, Anna shares her battle with online shopping addiction, detailing the ways it has impacted her life and relationships. She acknowledges the thrill and subsequent guilt associated with her compulsive buying habits and recognizes the need for change. With plans to limit her online shopping and be more transparent with her partner, Anna is determined to break free from this cycle.