Shopping And Depression…

Shopping and Depression…. 

Let’s talk about spending money to cope when we are depressed!The other day I stumbled on a meme on a metal health Instagram page that joke about wondering where all the packages come from? You can see a copy of the post below. 

So many people commented on how this happens to them. We were all laughing at ourselves and tried to find the humor in the absurdity of it. I knew it happens to me, but there was some comfort knowing I wasn’t alone! LOL I’ve always shopped when I was depressed. I also have always known that this is a common coping mechanism for many of us. Shopping can give us an initial rush and release endorphins. For many of us it becomes a quick and easy way to feel better for a short amount of time. We may feel better again once the package arrives, but it is only temporary. Yet, it seems that so many of us continue to do it when we are sitting home battling through our latest episode of depression.

What I didn’t realize was just how many of us can be so lost in our depression that we can actually forget what we are buying. Being able to shop at home, in our pajamas without even leaving the sofa has made it even easier than ever to shop impulsively. Looking at the packages sitting outside your door and wondering what the heck you bought this time and just don’t remember until you open up those packages. Our brains are incredible organs that we don’t fully understand. Our brains control every part of our body, so it can be a little scary when it forgets something you did! It shows just how much our mental health can affect our day to day life. 

It can become an endless cycle that can end up costing a ton of money. This is why it is so important for us to develop multiple strategies we can use to cope with our depression. Instead of shopping, go for a walk, color, meditate or something else that helps you feel better without spending money you don’t have. Rotating our coping strategies will help you maintain a stronger mental health and help you feel more in control of your depression.