Spending as a response

[Phantasos]

When I'm anxious, my response is to spend, I feel an overwhelming need to spend. So much that I'm often putting myself into trouble. I do pay all my stuff on time(sometimes barely) because I HAVE to but if not, that money would be gone already... The internet makes it too easy to spend with instant payment and in the case of PC video games, instant download... It seems that since the effort is gone, it's become even easier to spend.

Anyone else have/had this problem? How do/did you cope with it?

[tigerpaw]

I would ask what it is that makes you anxious since that is your trigger it seems to spend.

I don't believe it is healthy spending on a whim, or do to anxiety. 

Sounds to me like the spending is a way of coping with anxiety. Not good!

Your thoughts?

[miika]

My problem is gambling. I play on online casinos, sucks. But one thing is for sure, while playing I forget my anxiety, I feel great. When I lose the money, like yesterday, My anxiety goes terrible Same with drinking, eating junk food etc. I need to stop, because I`m in trouble with money again, I hate myself for that.

[LaTANK]

My Wifes spending makes me anxious.  HAHAHA!!!!

[Love2Sk8]

I think most of us have some comfort tendency that our anxiety triggers like this. Mine is stress eating. I know when my anxiety kicks into gear, I start craving chocolate, cakes, pies, and junk foods in general. When I'm not anxious, I could care less about eating (don't get very hungry) and I gravitate toward healthier choices naturally.

When I feel the urge to stress eat, I try to do something else instead. Take a walk, clean house, talk to a friend. Usually doing something active or interactive with someone else will help.

I'm not perfect though. My weight goes up and down by 10 pounds quite frequently as the anxiety ebbs and flows (I gain and lose the same 10 pounds over and over).

Try to find an alternative activity that you can use to distract yourself from the habit and that also helps to relieve the anxious feelings (but doesn't cost you money). That's the best I think we can all strive for.

~Anna

[alwaysafraid77]

I tend to spend as well.  I will go to Target and by things like baskets to rearrange things, or will buy things to decorate the house.  I think it is because having new things around as decorations, or having more of the basic things makes me feel comforted in some way, if that makes any sense.

[Phantasos]

I would ask what it is that makes you anxious since that is your trigger it seems to spend.

I don't believe it is healthy spending on a whim, or do to anxiety. 

Sounds to me like the spending is a way of coping with anxiety. Not good!

Your thoughts?

This is what I meant actually. I just couldn't place the word(english not my mother language).

It's really really not good. I'm always at the edge of being in trouble.  One problem I've talked with my therapist about is that I spend on stuff that isn't useful to me. I could go cut my hair, go to the dentist but I always end up spending the money I put aside for it...

I also stress eat but more recently, I've started forgetting to eat and remembering it when I feel dizzy...

Yesterday, I was feeling very stress/anxious and I felt an overwhelming urge to spend. I would have done it if not for the fact that I had nothing to spend at this moment...