Sunny Health

Chinese New Year is just round the corner, a perfect excuse to stock up on new clothes, shoes and accessories. Of course, it also leads to excessive and unnecessary spending, and a stock of unused items for some.

Shopping is a well-loved past time for many women (and some men). It is usually harmless (except to your bank), but when it becomes an addiction or a compulsive habit, it can have an impact on one's mental well-being and require control and treatment.

The signs of compulsive buying disorder (CBD) (also known as Oniomania)

Shopping is an activity that should make one feel better - when purchasing a necessity or a beloved item, it should make one feel accomplished or even relieved. Compulsive shopping and spending, on the other hand, usually makes one feel guilty.

Typical signs include:
- Buying more than one can afford and being in debt
- Hiding the things they buy, especially from family
- Emotional "blackout" - forgetting the things they bought, usually because they bought too much, or because they are guilty and choose to forget
- Legal, social and relationship problems due to shopping habit.
- Being in denial about their problem
- Often buying lots more than what they intended to buy
- In possession of lots of unused items
- Buying to soothe emotional discomfort rather than due to needing or wanting the item

Why people indulge in compulsive shopping

Compulsive shopping can occur when one feels stressed, depressed, anxious or lonely, especially during the holiday season. Making a purchase can give rise to a moment of ecstasy, perhaps a bit like what smoking or drugs do (though to a less harmful extent), but as material possessions does not provide more love, boost self-esteem or heal hurts, stress and problems of daily living, it only adds on to emotional and financial burden.

In serious cases, it can even cause one to become suicidal. Last year, a student from China committed suicide because she spent all her tuition money on online shopping. Never underestimate how addictions can ruin one's life.

How to control this condition

The condition is a lot more manageable if the sufferer is not in denial of his/her problem. Here are some simple tips that can be used to keep spending in check

- Hide away / cut up credit cards. Only pay for purchases by cash and debit card that draw money from a separate bank account that has been allocated a sum of money for spending
- Avoid discount warehouses, the attractive ad copies and prices tend to make one buy in bulk
- Avoid shopping online. Buying online tends to lead to failure to keep track of purchases and expenses, until the parcel and the bill come.
- When travelling, the urge for extraneous purchases tends to kick in (there's that added excuse of "I can't find this in my country). If you're traveling with someone else, have that person remind you when you attempt to make unnecessary purchases. Dedicate more time and money to sightseeing and food; after all, travelling is about widening horizons, not wallets. Avoid the souvenir shops; those are gimmicks meant to milk innocent tourists of their money.
- Do something else when the urge to shop kicks in, like going out for a walk/jog, watching funny videos on youtube, reading a book etc.

If the condition still seems unmanageable, or if the sufferer is in denial, seek the help of a professional counsellor or a support group.

Good times fly fast, and before you know it, that holiday that you spent months to plan painstakingly is over. You've got the lovely memories and the beautiful pictures, but you can't seem to bring yourself to smile at them when you think of what lies ahead. Now what?

Holidays are a time when people let their hair down, completely ditch work and school (for most) and do much more pleasurable activities than they usually do in a routine day. When they are compelled to stop doing these things, the void shows up explicitly. Fortunately, holiday blues don't usually last for very long, and can be more quickly rid of with some minor adjustments.

Find new things to look forward to

Catch up on other fun activities that you missed on your vacation, such as watching your favourite programme on TV or online, reading a new book, watching a movie, eating a beloved local delicacy, having a nice warm soak in the bath...

Holidays with friends are good times to discover yourself through the eyes of others. Did your friends perhaps help you to discover something about yourself that you'd want to change or improve? Are you inspired to learn or improve on a new language or skill? Now's the time to start looking into it.

Additionally, the best way to get over something great that has ended, is to plan another great event. Start planning your next great getaway and your spirits will be up in no time.

Take care of yourself

Falling sick after a holiday can only worsen the blues. Your daily routine is likely to be upset during the holiday, so be sure to re-right it. Get ample sleep (early to bed, early to rise), water and exercise. Eat your meals at regular times and make sure you're getting sufficient bowel movement. Exercise to keep yourself fit, as well as to drive the blues way. During exercise, endorphins are released, which improves your mood.

Spend time outdoors

You've probably been spending a lot of time outdoors during your holiday, so make sure you continue to do so. Mopping indoors will only make you feel more down.

Readjust, but give yourself time

It will naturally require some time to get back to the momentum of work, so do it with resolution, but don't stress over rushing into it either. Seek help from others if you can't manage it by yourself.

Make a tribute to your holiday

A travel blog, online photo album, scrap book, even a slide show... these are ways to relive and prolong your wonderful time, and to share your experience with others. Ask your travel buddies out over the weekend to recount the fun stuff that you did, and help out with your tribute.

Incorporate more fun in your life

Who says you can only have fun during the holidays? Make more time for the things you enjoy so that you strike a right balance between work and fun. The end of the holiday is less likely to depress if the year ahead remains a fun-filled and meaningful one.

If your post-travel depression doesn't wear off after several days, or get worse, do see a doctor as it may be something serious.