Profeco warns of oniomania and compulsive shopping addiction

The Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor (Profeco) has released information regarding oniomania, a disorder characterized by an addiction to compulsive shopping. This condition involves an uncontrollable urge to purchase unnecessary items to compensate for emotional deficiencies, which can severely impact an individual's economic, family, professional, and social life.

Common triggers for this behavior include social media-driven obsessions with physical appearance, low self-esteem, and the use of shopping as a temporary relief for loneliness or emotional voids. Symptoms often include intense anxiety before purchasing, immediate satisfaction followed by guilt or shame, and irritability. To address the cycle, experts recommend an integrated approach including cognitive-behavioral therapy and financial management education.