[miss writer]

Hi everyone,

I am a trainee journalist and in the midst of writing an article on oniomania, in other words shopping addiction. It is a subject close to my heart as the highs and lows of shopping and being in debt outlined by Benjamin Fry are remarkably like my own.

I would love to hear from anyone who can talk through their addiction in detail, how they feel when they're shopping, how it all started? What sets you off on a big shopping spree? That kind of thing.

If you don't want to post an entry my email is jopayne_26@hotmail.com.

Any help with this would be great.

Jo

[Deb]

I used to shop a lot, and really enjoyed it. My 'vices' were books, CDs and DVDs. While I enjoyed the things I bought - obviously; after all, I chose them :-) - I think one of the main things for me was how positively affirming the experience of shopping is.

We all know how to shop and most people into shopping are incredibly competent at it. When I go into a bookshop - any bookshop - I can suss the layout and where everything is within the first couple of minutes. I know, for instance, what subjects interest me, how to choose between a good and bad book, whether the book represents 'value for money' to me. It's effortless. And there is nothing to interfere with that feeling of competence. I am in complete control of the event, from beginning to end.

A lot of life, in contrast, is sheer hard work. Take driving for instance. Even though I know how to do this and can probably do it competently, I don't really enjoy it. Most other things in life, even when they are not tough in themsleves are relatively unpredictable and out of our control.

I don't shop much anymore, because I no longer work for someone else and now don't earn much. I miss it though. I had fun shopping. Yes, I spent more than I earned, but always found a way to pay it back (bonuses, not shopping as much for a few months, house going up in value).