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As the days grow shorter and colder, depression kicks in. One technique you may try is retail therapy. This is when you make an unplanned shopping trip to boost your mood.
Retail therapy tends to involve visiting a store in-person, but many may feel therapy from some online shopping as well. Even with everything going on, it’s hard to avoid going to the store, especially with Black Friday Deals right around the corner. Is it bad for you? Let’s take a look.
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Does it Work?
Yes, it works. Many people find that shopping can help boost your mood. In fact, many people who try retail therapy do stay within their budget, meaning that there are fewer feelings of guilt.
The main reason for this is that it’s different from compulsive shopping, where a shopper may spend beyond their budget and end up hiding what they bought. This is an entirely different beast, and someone who has compulsive shopping urges should seek help as soon as possible.
In 2020, many people may be looking to retail therapy due to being locked down. Visiting stores is all that you can do in an era of restricted travel. Even if you don’t want to make unneeded trips, you may find that surfing online can help as well.
Getting the Most Out of Retail Therapy
With all that said, there are some ways to get more out of retail therapy. These include:
Moderation and Budget Following
Everything in moderation, as they say. Taking a retail therapy trip every week or two weeks probably won’t hurt your budget. Speaking of which, planning a budget is always important, no matter who you are. When you do not have a budget, you end up spending more than you think!
Not Spending Anything
One of the biggest secrets to retail therapy is that the trip in the store itself is what makes you feel good. Not buying an item may offer the same mental health boost. While there is nothing wrong in purchasing an item if you're within your budget, penny pinchers may want to avoid the purpose.
Window Shopping
Another way for you to be able to get retail therapy benefits is to do a little window shopping. Stand in front of a store and look at their wares, but avoid going in.
Seeking Help
If you always find that you're depressed, there may be more going on that you need to be aware of. You may have chronic depression. Chronic depression is something that should be treated through a combination of medication and therapy. Sometimes it can be hard to determine if you have chronic depression or if it’s just a passing phase. One way to help you is to get a diagnosis. You can do so without even leaving your home. Mind Diagnostics can help. Visit https://www.mind-diagnostics.org/ and get started.
Overall, retail therapy is fine when done in moderation. Just be mindful of it and its possible consequences on your wallet.