How to Help a Loved One With a Shopping Addiction? She Won’t Admit She Has a Problem.?

Published October 11, 2012

Question by Mark A: How to help a loved one with a shopping addiction? She won’t admit she has a problem.?
My mother in-law has a seriuos shopping addiction. She stays up all night watching home shopping club, she has literally hundreds of unopened boxes, and keeps on going. She has incurred over $ 75,000 in debt. Her husband is in a rest home and she has nobody to answer to. We try to offer suggestions or advice, but she only gets angry and feels we are trying to control her life. This greatly upsets my wife. Any advice would be sppreciated.

Best answer:

Answer by lovelorn
Well, unless you get her declared incapacitated, there is not much you can do. She’s an adult and can get herself into debt if she wants. Someone should really raid her wallet and cut up her credit cards. The only thing you can do is have her face up to the debt she has and have her answer how she is going to handle it. Explain to her she is putting her home or pension in jeopardy, that creditors can come after her savings, etc. You could always try approaching any friends of her or siblings of hers to also talk to her. Does she visit her husband in the home? Can he talk to her if someone told him what is going on? Find out if there are any compulsive disorder support groups where she is and give the details of the organization.

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From Twitter:

RT @Cuska15: RT @Cuska15: Shoutout to all my friends telling me I have an addiction to shopping right now and finding me help – by hallorantaylor (Halle Murdock)

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Addiction Treatment Australia: The GATS Program: Shopping Addiction Australia http://t.co/ANDIS4qM FOR HELP http://t.co/ycEWHoXO – by AddictionAust (Addiction Australia)

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I have a serious shopping addiction. I literally cannot say no to anything that requires money. #help #CGD – by diplomaprobs (College Grad Diaries)