For many years now, Patty, aged 27, liked to shop. Stylish and savvy, a vice president at a large public relations firm, she enjoyed expensive food, jewelry and clothes. However, for years she battled periods of sadness and endured sudden anxiety attacks. Her problems worsened when her long-time boy-friend suddenly left her for another woman. She felt lonely and isolated. Needing to feel satisfied and fulfilled in some way, Patty started to spend money like there was no tomorrow.

Every day, in an effort to fight her depression, she began to hang out in shopping malls during her lunch hour and after work. At first, she bought only small items like cosmetics or inexpensive jewelry. Soon, she was charging huge sums of money on her credit cards, buying designer clothing, shoes and handbags. Feeling totally out of control, she had a compulsive need to buy whenever she could. She spent hundreds of dollars on unnecessary items purchased on the cable television shopping channel and from mail-order catalogs. She was so addicted, that she couldn’t resist buying from the local street vendors. Within six months, her financial base had deteriorated. Her friends and family refused to support her fi-nancially. Nothing could stop her spending habits ─ not fear, nor guilt.

Finally, she went to a psychiatrist who diagnosed her symptoms as “shop-a-hol-ism”. His tactic for treating Patty was one year of intensive group therapy. Now, after a year of therapy, Patty has found herself out of debt and in control: A recovered shop-a-holic.