Dealing with an addiction is not an easy topic to talk about especially when you are so young. Many of my close friends know what I struggle with on a day to day basis. Experts say that it gives the same high as smoking weed. I have omniomania.
Omniomania is the technical term for a shopping addiction. While I don’t buy things I [at the time] don’t feel I need, I still buy many things I want that are unnecessary. I always feel the need to be at a store, whether it’s Costco or Sephora. I just want to go and find something I want to buy. It’s a little bit harder for me to support my addiction since I’m a high school student who doesn’t have a job or credit card. I try to control my addiction by not having a debit card or carrying around less cash. Doing these things doesn’t stop me from the excessive want to be at the mall. It’s just a wonderful atmosphere to be in when you need time to release stress or just to think about life. I don’t usually go with friends because it causes a distraction and when I’m shopping, I’m focused. I go in with a plan, and despite often getting distracted, I always find something. Even if they don’t have what I’m looking for, I don’t want the shopping trip to go to waste, so I just go and find something else.
With that type of mentality it makes it difficult for me to save money.I have to spend it all before I leave, just to feel content with shopping trip. If I have any money left I feel like I haven’t succeeded and that’s when I begin to buy unnecessary things. I find myself buying more things that I don’t need when I go with friends or family rather than when I’m alone. Noticing these things makes me more cautious to choose who or even if I go with someone.
For instance one day I went to Ulta and I didn’t know what to buy, so I bought a new blush. When I got home it looked like glitter. I was so upset because at that point I had already threw away the box and the receipt. I was stuck with the blush until I gave it to my mom. It was really upsetting because it was a $25 blush and that money is just down the drain.
I make time for it even if it’s just five minutes. I don’t understand how anyone couldn’t like shopping.