Compulsive overshopper Elizabeth J. is learning to curb the habit.

She loves the television shopping channels. She frequently made unnecessary purchases.

But, recently, she said, "I decided that I needed to lick this because it causes financial difficulties for me. There's only so many clothes that you need. There's only so much of anything that one needs."

April Lane Benson is a New York psychologist who specializes in the treatment of compulsive buying disorder. She weighed in on reasons consumers overshop.

Elizabeth J. -- who did not want her full name used because friends and family would learn about her compulsive behavior -- told how she is trying to curb the habit.

Elizabeth contacted me and told her story after reading my April 27 column on overshopping.

She hopes her method -- and her story -- will help other readers curb their destructive overshopping habit.

. . .

Being socially isolated was not the cause of Elizabeth's TV shopping compulsion as it is for some.

"I am very socially active," she said.

Rather, her shopping compulsion stems from having an addictive personality, which made it hard for her to stop smoking, for example. She needed to dress well in her career, too.

She also came from a family of spenders and she feels that American culture encourages and validates constant consumption instead of saving. "We've had a very big consumer culture in this country and I think this" fuels general overspending, she said.

Add the sense of urgency created by shopping channels to make a purchase, together with convenient and hassle-free buying without leaving home, and the experience becomes "very seductive," she said.

How did she curb her destructive buying habit?

For the 40 days during Lent, she gave up watching the shopping channels. Watching the programs had been a habit, she said.

"It was actually much easier than I thought it was going to be," she said. "For me, it's far easier to avoid watching the programs than it is once I'm actually watching, to stop myself from buying. I have no sales resistance."

Since February, she has made four to five purchases compared with four to five purchases a week previously.

"I have had some lapses" since then, she admitted. "Then, I realized I just needed to do again what I did during Lent" -- stop watching and completely avoid the situation.

"Just watching the channels can suck you right back in if you're not careful," she said. "My method may not be for everyone. But, it has worked best for me."

A few shopping channel hosts warn viewers to spend within their budget.

But "with gas prices rising and the cost of food rising, there are going to be more and more people who may be tempted to buy things" from television in order to save food and gas money.

. . .

Benson, the psychologist, said people buy compulsively for many reasons. Some "don't feel good enough about who they are and think that by purchasing something, they will be more like who they want to be."

They think other people will see them differently, or they won't have to deal with something that troubles them. Some feel more in control when they're shopping, or more powerful. Others do it as an act of revenge.

Often, people overshop to fill an inner void, manage feelings, repair a poor mood or pursue a perfect image.

Benson (her Web site is www.stoppingovershopping.com) also noted that some people are adult children of alcoholics, who are more prone to addictive behavior. They may try to meet psychological needs by buying material things.

Stopping overshopping can be difficult for some, Benson said. But compulsive urges can be overcome. "Step one is to think about why do you overshop and how did it all begin."

Once that is determined, the person can be helped to find gratifying ways other than overshopping to satisfy emotional needs.
Contact Iris Taylor at (804) 649-6349 or itaylor@timesdispatch.com.