What I’ve Been Up To

Stopping Overshopping — Once and For All

We all know that shopping makes us feel good. It’s a scientific fact – when we see something we want, it triggers the release of feel-good endorphins and hormones that inspire us to make a purchase – something I talk about in my book, The Difference. But I know from reading many of your e-mails that, in some cases, this kind of feel-good shopping can become a real issue. When you shop compulsively – buying things you don’t need, and racking up debt – it can take a real toll on your life.
 
My good friend April Lane Benson, PhD, is an expert in overshopping – and how to stop. She authored a book – To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop – to help compulsive shoppers curb their behavior and live a financially responsible lifestyle. Recently, April let me know about a new study she’s working on to test her treatment for compulsive buyers. The treatment has been a success for more than 100 shopaholics – and it incorporates a series of steps that help to re-shape buying behavior, and keep you from falling back into a bad habit once you’ve fixed it.
 
The study takes place over 12 weeks, where you’ll work with a small group (five to seven people) to treat compulsive buying behavior one night a week. It’s open to men and women, ages 18 and older, that live in the New York City area. You’ll pay a one-time fee of $150, which covers the materials and session costs, including the materials needed and the session fee.
 
If you’d like more information, visit April’s website. If you’re interested in participating, leave a message at 917-885-6887 and a researcher will call you back to arrange a preliminary fifteen-minute telephone screening to answer questions about the study and to make sure you meet the eligibility criteria. Actual inclusion in the study is determined after an in-person interview with a clinician that will assess eligibility more comprehensively and answer any remaining questions.