Expert advice on supporting relatives with shopping addiction

Shopping addiction, characterized by an uncontrollable urge to purchase goods, can lead to severe psychological and financial consequences for both the individual and their relatives. Those affected may spend large sums of money over extended periods, sometimes exhausting all available financial resources.

Professor Astrid Müller, a leading psychologist at the Hannover Medical School (MHH), advises that relatives should not ignore the behavior or enable it by lending money. Instead, she recommends addressing the issue openly and respectfully without making accusations. The primary goal should be to motivate the affected person to seek professional help, such as through addiction counseling services, to identify the underlying needs driving the compulsive behavior.