Can Shopping Help Anxiety?

All of us are guilty of emotional spending at one time or another. And although shopping isn’t a conventional type of therapy, it undoubtedly has a positive effect on us. Many times, shopping relieves stress and anxiety, with studies showing there are clear benefits to retail therapy.

Why do some people feel compelled to purchase items they don’t need, splurging without pausing to consider costs? Why do we often find ourselves heading for the shopping mall whenever we are feeling down or burdened with daily problems? It’s obvious that overspending leads to financial problems. So why is it that so many consumers are unable to control their spending habits? How is it we all buy more than we need, and why can’t we be more rational about shopping? I’m Svetlana Ekimenko, and with my co-host on Looking Forward, acclaimed Russian writer Victor Erofeyev, we are joined by Dr. Niall Campbell, a consultant psychiatrist and specialist in addictions at the Priory Hospital in Roehampton, South-west London to explore the pros and cons of binge shopping.