Shopping to improve our mood has always been a thing, whether we realise it or not, and this is called retail therapy. This shopping can range from meeting a need like getting groceries to purchasing some new clothing released from a major brand. Everyone will spend different amounts of money during their retail therapy sessions, as some people only have to purchase one small item for this. Whereas, some people have to spend big.
Retail therapy is very powerful, as it can act as an endorphin release for some people. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that send impulses to the brain through the nervous system, so pleasant surprises and impulse purchasing can trigger these endorphins to make us feel good. This might enhance our mood for a short period of time, but is it good for our mental health in the long term?
This article will delve deep into whether retail therapy is good for your mental health or if the happiness you gain for it is just a temporary fix to your problems. Continue reading to find out.
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How Does Shopping Make You Feel Better?
There are several ways that shopping can boost your mood and make you feel better in life. Let’s take a look at some of these reasons.
Feel in Control
Not being able to control what’s happening in your life can make us feel upset and down, so finding ways to feel in control can be very important. Retail therapy provides us with this opportunity, as it gives us the ability to make choices which gives us control over an aspect of our life. According to studies, purchasing items you enjoy can increase your sense of control over your life by up to 40 times.
Dopamine Release
Treating or rewarding yourself to a purchase can release a hormone called dopamine in your brain. This can make us feel a sense of joy, as you can get an emotional and psychological boost from visiting a retail store or even browsing online. You don’t necessarily have to make a purchase for this release, as the journey of adding something to your cart will suffice.
Distraction
Shopping can be a distraction from anything bad that’s happening in your life. While this is a temporary fix, it’s better than feeling sad all of the time. Shopping centres can be as if you’re in a different reality for a short period of time, as you are presented with a plethora of retail options. Finding unconventional ways to express your style can make you forget about negative things in your life.
Social Interactions
Getting out of the house and having social interactions can be great for our mental health, especially for those who aren’t able to get out as much anymore. The act of shopping alone is enough to give people a sense of connection to society without having to engage in any kind of deep conversations.
Reaching a Goal
You can purchase something at the end of reaching a financial goal, which can make you feel as though you have achieved something. Saving up for months for that one item that you saw online or in a shop window and then being able to afford it can bring you a great sense of joy. This could be for something like affording a high-quality professional wardrobe.
The Negative Impacts of Retail Therapy
While retail therapy can be good for certain aspects of our mental health, there are also some negatives to the action. Here are some of these drawbacks.
Coping Mechanism
Using retail therapy as a coping mechanism to distract yourself from stressful situations might seem good at first, but it can have adverse effects in the long run. Not dealing with your problems and putting them into the back of your mind with shopping can worsen your situation and increase anxiety. You should look for other ways to help you solve any negative feelings that you have.
Addiction
Compulsive buying can happen as a result of retail therapy, as the constant need to purchase items to make yourself happy can turn into an addiction. The vast majority of addictions aren’t healthy with this being one of them. This constant need to buy something can get out of hand and can lead to other problems in life, such as debt.
High Costs
Some people need to spend a lot of money to get the benefits of retail therapy, as they feel like small purchases don’t have the same impact. This can lead to shopping expeditions being very costly and having an adverse effect on your bank account.
Retail Therapy Alternatives
There are other ways that you can boost your mood and better your mental health that are much better than retail therapy. These include:
- Yoga and meditation: One of the best releases of endorphins is yoga and meditation. It’s much healthier than retail therapy as it can slow down the ageing process to make you feel younger.
- Aromatherapy: Having certain fragrances within your environment can promote positive emotions. You can use essential oils, candles or bath solutions to help with this and encourage endorphin releases.
- Listening to music: Listening to your favourite artist or genre of music can be great for boosting your mood, as you can connect with the lyrics or relax your mind and body. Dancing to music will further enhance this experience.
- Exercise: Enhancing your mood with exercise is very beneficial, as you can improve your physical health at the same time. This doesn’t need to be extensive, as moderate workouts like swimming can be very beneficial.
- Meeting up with friends and family: There is no better way to forget about your troubles more than meeting up with friends and family. Having people around you that you know well will automatically improve your mood.
- Going on a walk: Walking through a park or woodland area can make you feel at one with nature and it can be the perfect way to boost your mood. Walking can also help you sleep better, which will make you happier in the morning.
- Attending support groups: If you are struggling mentally, you can attend support groups to talk about your problems. It’s much better to fix your problems directly rather than mask them with something like retail therapy.
Retail therapy can be very important for your mental health, as it’s a form of escapism that can’t be replicated any other way. Drive to the car park in Leeds and stroll over to the Victoria Shopping Centre, as it is one of the best in the UK for retail therapy with so many opportunities to explore both high-end and affordable stores to satisfy your retail needs.
