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The shopping addiction test


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Quick fact – Similar to alcoholics anonymous, there is a shopaholics anonymous !

Some people develop shopping addictions because they essentially get addicted to how their brain feels while shopping. The brain releases endorphins and dopamine, in reaction to rewards related to shopping, very similar to the way the brain reacts to drugs of addiction (Alcohol, nicotine, cannabis etc).  It is important to note that going a shopping spree once in a while does not mean you are a shopping addict.

However, a large number of  people spend excessive amounts of time and  money engaging in compulsive shopping leading to restrictions in social or occupational functioning. Such people may be considered “addicted” to shopping. Shopping has never been this easy, swish, swipe and push. Your product flies to your house, safely packaged, waiting for your “unboxing”.

India’s e-commerce market was worth about $3.9 billion in 2009, it went up to $12.6 billion in 2013. In 2013, the e-retail segment was worth US$2.3 billion. With over 100 million customers as of 2017.

Here are a few warning signs of online shopping addiction –

  • Spending more money than one can afford.
  • Online Shopping as a maladaptive coping strategy against anger or depression.
  • Too much time spent on shopping or shopping related sites.
  • Failing relationships due to excessive shopping.
  • Constantly looking for deals and offers, in a way that interferes with daily life.
  • Buying a load of unnecessary articles despite financial strain, just because “the deal was too good”.

 

Are you addicted to online shopping ? Take the test

This quiz is based on the Bergen shopping addiction scale, and is based on WHO criteria for addictions.  The test will take around 10 minutes to complete. Start by entering your age, educational status, location and occupation.

Required fields are marked *

How old are you ? ( In years )

Your current occupation

A rough figure.

1.Shopping/buying is the most important thing in my life. *
2.I think about shopping/buying things all the time. *
3.I spend a lot of time thinking of or planning shopping/buying. *
4.Thoughts about shopping/buying keep popping in my head. *
5.I shop in order to feel better. *
6.I shop/buy things in order to change my mood. *
7.I shop/buy things in order to forget about personal problems. *
8.I shop/buy things in order to reduce feelings of guilt, anxiety, helplessness, loneliness, and/or depression. *
9.I shop/buy so much that it negatively affects my daily obligations (e.g., school and work). *
10.I give less priority to hobbies, leisure activities, job/studies, or exercise because of shopping/buying. *
11.I have ignored love partner, family, and friends because of shopping/buying. *
12.I often end up in arguments with other because of shopping/buying. *
13.I feel an increasing inclination to shop/buy things. *
14.I shop/buy much more than I had intended/planned. *
15.I feel I have to shop/buy more and more to obtain the same satisfaction as before. *
16.I spend more and more time shopping/buying. *
17.I have tried to cut down on shopping/buying without success. *
18.I have been told by others to reduce shopping/buying without listening to them. *
19.I have decided to shop/buy less, but have not been able to do so 2. *
20.I have managed to limit shopping/buying for periods, and the experienced relapse. *
21.I become stressed if obstructed from shopping/buying things. *
22.I become sour and grumpy if I for some reasons cannot shop/buy things when I feel like it. *
23.I feel bad if I for some reason are prevented from shopping/buying things. *
24.I there has been a while since I last shopped I feel a strong urge to shop/buy things. *
25.I shop/buy so much that it has caused economic problems. *
26.I shop/buy so much that it has impaired my well-being. *
27.I have worried so much about my shopping that it sometimes has made me sleepless. *
28.I have been bothered with poor conscience because of shopping/buying. *

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