Love it or hate it,  it’s that Christmas shopping time of year again.

For compulsive shoppers, shopping takes on a much darker significance, it’s a way of ‘zoning out’ from all the emotional turmoil they find themselves in, a way of distancing themselves from the reality of their emotional state in much the same way that other people use drink or drugs.

Rosemary Reeves, a hypnotherapist at Cheshire Natural Health advises that if you think you’re out of control, you probably are! Many clients that Rosemary sees are close to emotional breakdown and thousands of pounds in debt – most of which is on store cards and credit cards. “A typical compulsive shopper may go shopping several times a week just to make themselves feel better.  They may spend upwards of  a couple of hundred pounds and feel great – in control, happy and positive, Then they get home,…… nip upstairs ….and dump all the shopping bags, unopened, in the wardrobe or spare room, adding to the hundreds of pounds of untouched shoes, handbags and clothes all with the tickets still on them . The bags generally remain unopened, and the compulsive shopper, feeling guilty, ashamed and embarrassed may comfort eat or drink to numb the unpleasant feelings.

Many sufferers put off getting help because they are embarrassed, terrified of being found out, and think no –one will understand. Compulsive shopping is usually a symptom of a much deeper problem - and that’s the key to treatment – don’t just deal with the symptoms, get to the root of the problem with hypnotherapy or Emotional Freedom Technique and sort it out. If you are feeling angry, hurt, lonely, depressed or any other negative emotions which you are trying to suppress with shopping, it’s the emotions that need to be addressed.”

There are four elements for recovery. Firstly, realize you have a problem secondly, be ready, prepared and determined to make a change for the better, thirdly, get some help from a supportive GP, a hypnotherapist, Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner or counsellor and finally, consult a debt counsellor who will be able to help you with financial recovery.

Rosemary Reeves can be contacted at Cheshire Natural Health, Beehive House, Tarporley Road, Stretton. WA4 4ND (www.cheshirenaturalhealth.co.uk) 01925 730123.

ENDS

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