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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Notalis on December 11, 2003, at 4:03:53
Is there a corelation between mental illness (i.e. depression, cyclothymia) and addictions?
I have a real problem with SHOPPING. I spend money I don't have. My husband's going to kill me!
I used illegal substances when I was younger, a little here and there, drank, too, but never got out of control.
I pretty much stopped drinking when I turned 21 and it wasn't fun anymore! (I'm 33 now). I quit all the other stuff at that time, too, practically out of boredom.
But I've had problems with food (bulimia for awhile) and now it's this shopping thing!
When I'm "up" I'll spend $1000 on ebay without having any idea I'm doing it--and we're poor to start with!!!!
Anyone else who has has this experience, please let me know
Posted by zenhussy on December 11, 2003, at 10:41:49
In reply to ?? about CYCLOTHYMIA and SHOPPING (addictions), posted by Notalis on December 11, 2003, at 4:03:53
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20030903/msgs/269032.html ...I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach, almost a nausea telling me that the bottom of the barrel has been scraped, but does that stop the compulsion? Nooooo....
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20020516/msgs/368.html ...And the most frequent one; overspending. It seems under control now, but comes and goes from time to time....
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020202/msgs/17830.html ...My judgement is definitely getting affected by my lack of sleep. I'm overspending....
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031114/msgs/281197.html ...There is a HUGE diffrence between obsessively shopping and having a manic episode (bipolar disorder)....
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011216/msgs/16001.html ...Some spending sprees, but not too out of control--mostly just on books and wine, nothing weird....
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20021109/msgs/1619.html ...And a view on DA [debtors anon.] ... I went to meetings when I lived in a different city, and it's not like other 12-step programs. The name is misleading - they also deal with things like underearning, misallocation of resources (such as spending money on CDs instead of paying your electricity bill), "time debting", insufficient saving and other stuff....
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011216/msgs/16001.html ...Re: Anyone here cyclothymic?....
Posted by Kalamatianos on December 11, 2003, at 15:09:45
In reply to archive info--debtors anon/compulsive spending » Notalis, posted by zenhussy on December 11, 2003, at 10:41:49
Thanx for the hard work, zenhussy
Posted by Notalis on December 11, 2003, at 15:26:48
In reply to archive info--debtors anon/compulsive spending » Notalis, posted by zenhussy on December 11, 2003, at 10:41:49
Wow, this is great, thanks so much.. after I get the kids to bed I'll look at all the links!
Posted by elbee on December 11, 2003, at 15:47:02
In reply to ?? about CYCLOTHYMIA and SHOPPING (addictions), posted by Notalis on December 11, 2003, at 4:03:53
Hi, I became aware of some research that was done on compulsive shopping and docs. who did believe that it was related to mood disorders (if I understand correctly).
The doctor in the article seems to believe that sometimes drug therapy (mood stabilizers and/or antidepressants) (and also referrals to Debtors Anon.) can be helpful.
Here's a link to an older article:
http://www.napa.ufl.edu/99news/shopping.htm
Having (different) behaviors of my own that are difficult to stop I can relate to the frustration you must feel.
Posted by zenhussy on December 11, 2003, at 17:45:44
In reply to archive info--debtors anon/compulsive spending » Notalis, posted by zenhussy on December 11, 2003, at 10:41:49
Posted by Dinah on December 11, 2003, at 19:47:58
In reply to ?? about CYCLOTHYMIA and SHOPPING (addictions), posted by Notalis on December 11, 2003, at 4:03:53
I'm diagnosed with cyclothymia, and have had my share of sprees. I think it's mainly a way to distract myself. Or sometimes I think "if I just have this I'll feel good". It doesn't work of course.
I was only able to (partially) conquer it by destroying all but one credit card and requesting that the credit line on that one be reduced to a very low amount. You can't spend what you don't have.
This is the end of the thread.
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