Am I an Oniomaniac?
How Compulsive Shopping Can Lead to a Disorder

Photo Illustration by Willamae Boling | VOX Staff

By Crissinda Ponder | VOX Staff

Recently, I read that teenagers are in danger of becoming future “shop-aholics” because of our materialistic attitudes, and that our obsession with shopping is often caused by an inner emptiness that needs to be filled.

At first, I was shocked. I rolled my eyes, and thought, whatever. The article in The Sunday Herald, by journalist Rachelle Money, was based on research conducted by British researcher and psychology lecturer Dr. Helga Dittmar. The study emphasized our “compulsive shopping habits” as a recognized clinical disorder — oniomania. A person with an uncontrollable desire to buy things is called an oniomaniac.

Like many teens, I consider shopping a pastime, like playing baseball or surfing the Internet. Having the impression that everyone loves to shop, it’s hard for me to believe that a hobby could be considered a serious disorder. But more than one in 20 adults in the United States suffer from compulsive shopping, reports a study by Bankrate.com. That’s as many as 17 million adults alone.

Another study by Mediamark Research, Inc., shows that teenage girls spend 72 percent of their income on clothes and accessories as compared to boys who only spend 52 percent on clothing. I didn’t realize that I could actually be spending a big percentage of my income on clothing. Much of my money is spent on clothes, and now I’m starting to feel that I shouldn’t spend so much on material things.

After looking at my spending habits, I can understand the findings on how we spend money. Clothing and merchandise companies often target youth by promoting materialism and encouraging us to buy products. I remember watching a TV commercial that advertised some really cute shoes called Pastries. The vibrant colors and fashionable style of the shoes attracted me. The advertising worked. Soon, I found myself wanting those shoes. We should become more media savvy to avoid this pitfall, since advertisers aren’t going to stop promoting goods.

So yes, I probably fall somewhere in between those statistics, but it’s hard for me to decipher whether I have a sense of emptiness in my life just because I love shopping, or if I love shopping because I feel empty. In fact, my goal for my senior year was to create a whole new wardrobe and exude confidence, so shopping is a must. I take pride in style, and when I look confident, I can be confident. When I see clothes, shoes, accessories or anything to add to my wardrobe, I go berserk. When I’m at the mall and can’t afford to buy a particular item, I get a rush. My eyes start to focus in on that product and it stays on my mind. Once I get my check and buy that product, my urge is relieved. I love the feeling of popping tags from new clothes. It’s satisfying. Whenever I slip on something new, for me, it symbolizes a fresh start.

Despite my satisfaction with shopping, I have to be honest with myself. My obsession has a negative side that rears its ugly face at times. There are clothes in my closet that I still haven’t worn. And on occasion, I buy frivolous things only to recognize later that I don’t need them. Then, I come to the realization that I could have spent the money on something more essential. For example, a few weeks ago I bought a shirt and a couple of accessories, not realizing that I really needed that money for gas.

Realizing my one time mistake, I keep the essentials like food and gas first. Since I still have a small sense of control over my spending habits, I came to the conclusion that I’m not an oniomaniac. Although I love to shop, I realize that I have to be more conscious of how I spend my money. I plan to spend less on clothes and start saving money for college.

Crissinda is a senior at Creekside High School who likes to spend money on clothes.