Bipolar Spending

[bluewaves]

I'm curious to see if there are people who have experienced the mania of spending sprees and are diagnosed with bipolar.

I have sometimes participated in the spending spree when I am around bipolar people and it is amazing to listen to the thought processes that go on with them.

Unfortunately I have grown up with these influences and I'm trying to avoid them, but I slip back into the fun when I go shopping with certain people. I have to admit that it can be such a high. Sometimes I wonder if I have that problem.

Is it just a thought process or a mental illness?

[Broken Arrow]

That's a very good point! I think spending is, deep down, a psychological issue. The financial aspect is a just matter of learning, but hard part is getting people to change their ways to begin with.

That said, I don't personally know anyone who is really bi-polar, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if people in their mania phase went on serious shopping sprees.

[cschin4]

but I slip back into the fun when I go shopping with certain people.
If this is a problem for you, stop shopping with those people. Find new activities to do with these friends such as walking, staying home and renting videos, anything but shopping. Break this cycle.
Another point, if you do find yourself impulse shopping, then take the stuff home, leave it unopened in the bag with the receipts and give yourself a day or two of a cooling off period. Then, this will give you time to re-evaluate and the option to return those items.

[cschin4]

but I slip back into the fun when I go shopping with certain people.
If this is a problem for you, stop shopping with those people. Find new activities to do with these friends such as walking, staying home and renting videos, anything but shopping. Break this cycle.
Another point, if you do find yourself impulse shopping, then take the stuff home, leave it unopened in the bag with the receipts and give yourself a day or two of a cooling off period. Then, this will give you time to re-evaluate and the option to return those items.
In addition, you may also want to allow yourself a "treat" such as a Latte, etc, but NO buying of merchandise, etc. There are many ways to manage this. But, cutting down your exposure would be key.
I am not bipolar but have overspent in the past. I just simply quit shopping and only shop when absolutely necessary. I don't browse the malls. I now limit my shopping to 2 or 3 stores. And, I shop in smaller stores to expose myself to less merchandise. Works for me.

[DebbieL]

Well, my brother is bipolar and spends alot when he goes manic, but I think it's just on drugs, lol.

[Slug]

Bipolar Disorder is a serious disease. If I were you I'd do nothing that might reinforce the spending behavior in someone suffering through a manic episode. There's always the depressive crash on the other side. It will help you and your friend.

[DebbieL]

I agree Slug. I wouldn't participate in the behaviour with them. This IS a really serious issue. We've been dealing with my oldest brother's bipolar disorder for many years now. Sad.

[maat55]

You might want to give them Dave Ramsey's book Financial Peace as a birthday or christmas gift. You may be able to get them for 10 bucks or less. Some people need a guide line and some motivation to manage their money better.

[Gruntina]

My mother has severe bipolar (manic depression) and she was a single mom so it was just me and her most of the time. We did not go into debts as my mom never had a credit card to begin with but her shopping sprees had us moving from one place to another or living with her boyfriends because rent could not be paid.

Bipolar is serious and who has this disease can not help themselves without a lot of help and support and medicine. It’s more of an impulse or strong urges that takes over habits and the thoughts processes. To answer the op question, I would say it is neither a thought process nor fully a mental illness process.

I strongly believe they are at times aware of the consequences of their "off" behavior (which can bring them to the depression zone) but they don't seem to be aware while they are in the act of the "off" behavior (manic zone either extreme sadness or extreme happiness zone). I did not recognize my mom while she was in the manic mode. At the same time I was pretty embarrassed and usually duck when she cause a scene. (I was just a little kid). It was not until after 40 years she got help and now takes a boatload of medicine (She carries a pharmacy in her purse) but she mellowed out and even now dress more appropriate for the public. When bipolar, it’s not only about the finance and shopping, its behavior, how you interpret messages from others and convey them and a whole lot more. It seems they are affected by every movements, sayings and emotions evoked from others and not being strong themselves.

[bluewaves]

Wow...some very interesting points to consider. Thank you all for your responses. I think I'll get Dave Ramsey's book and I think I'll try to avoid shopping with...yes ....my mother...for the most part although...it is her favorite past time. Luckily the last time I went shopping with her I only spent $3.00...which was good for me.

[aevans1206]

My brother is bipolar. He encouraged me to get into $1800 worth of debt when I first struck out on my own to purchase a TV and a stereo. TV still works fine and I'm glad to have it. The others...sigh...I could've done without that crap. Hindsight is a b@$%^. He now has a humongoid TV in his living room that I know he can't afford (my sister in law went beserk). Bipolar coupled with my parents lack of financially educating us.

[Slug]

Originally Posted by aevans1206

My brother is bipolar. He encouraged me to get into $1800 worth of debt when I first struck out on my own to purchase a TV and a stereo. TV still works fine and I'm glad to have it. The others...sigh...I could've done without that crap. Hindsight is a b@$%^. He now has a humongoid TV in his living room that I know he can't afford (my sister in law went beserk). Bipolar coupled with my parents lack of financially educating us.

That's a scary combination.

[ttilmo]

The british actor Stephen Fry has bipolar and he says that he often goes on spending sprees, especially for electrical equipment. The facinating bthing is that it's not the actuially having the bitem as once the shopping is over the buzz that he gets from the manic shopping is over, it's more to do with the actual shopping.

This must be very difficult to cope with if you are bipolar and don't have a lot of money.

[Slug]

Originally Posted by ttilmo

This must be very difficult to cope with if you are bipolar and don't have a lot of money.

Not with today's easy access to credit. All it takes is a card swipe...

[Gruntina]

Originally Posted by ttilmo

The british actor Stephen Fry has bipolar and he says that he often goes on spending sprees, especially for electrical equipment. The facinating bthing is that it's not the actuially having the bitem as once the shopping is over the buzz that he gets from the manic shopping is over, it's more to do with the actual shopping.

This must be very difficult to cope with if you are bipolar and don't have a lot of money.

Unfortunately if you do not have money, there are other dangerous ways to get the high and damage your future if your bipolar.

Not only it is spending sprees, it is going to drugs, excessive lovemaking(you know what I mean), having a fit in public (example: jamming an umbrella into a stranger car out of emotion burst) , they can rack up debts by not being able to handle their emotions by not showing up to work or bad behavior towards employees and lose the job, damage other people's property and end up having to pay them back, having their car impounded due to road rage and etc.

[clubneary]

My sister in law was just diagnosed as bi-polar and she has had a long, painful love affair with shopping. Her nickname is Quantity Kerry if that tells you anything. If she finds something she likes she will buy it in every color. She has taken over both walk in closets in her bedroom, leaving her husband to hang his clothes in the spare room closet. Family members just thought she liked to shop and have new things. Her and her husband have a ton of debt because she buys without thinking. Her rationalization is the fact that she works and contributes to the family money so she should get to spend it. Her husband never buys anything for himself and works a lot of overtime to make more money. Once she was diagnosed everything made sense. In her manic phase she would have to purchase whatever she wanted at the moment;clothes, books, makeup, you name it. Since she was just diagnosed in the past 2 months she is still struggling with controlling the impulse to buy. She tries to limit the number of times she has to go to a store in an effort to avoid temptation. At least she has an idea of why she feels the need to buy things, hopefully she work it out from there.

[sheree0123]

I disagree with certain assumptions and inferences presnted in your appeal to understand the buying habits of a particular segment of the population {i.e. mentally ill or bipolar]. Accordingly, several studies done on the subject matter indicate the buying habits are chemical and provide positive stimulation.

If overspenders are assumed to be bipolar or mentally ill--what does that make those who choose to never spend regardless of circumstances. There are extremes on both sides of the equation.

[cptacek]

Couldn't some of that stuff be taken back? If Quantity Kerry brings the clothes home and they hang up in the closet with the tags still on, couldn't they be taken back to the store?

Not trying to be flip, but trying to point out maybe a way to not break the bank.

[Gruntina]

Originally Posted by cptacek

Couldn't some of that stuff be taken back? If Quantity Kerry brings the clothes home and they hang up in the closet with the tags still on, couldn't they be taken back to the store?

Not trying to be flip, but trying to point out maybe a way to not break the bank.

Your comments brought up memories! I do remember my mom taking a lot of her purchases back because she comes home with boatloads of purchases that she did on her whims.

I remember one time she went shopping with the intentions for groceries.... well there happened to be a huge clearance in the make-up department (small towns tends to have combo of groceries and drugstore together). She came home with 300 dollars worth of make-up that filled much of the cart.

She felt so guilty so she went to take them back.. Only to find she could not return them because they were on clearance.

She had a good cry and taped the receipt on the refrigerator for a reminder. It didn't really prevent future shopping sprees but she sure did cry every time she looked at the receipt.

[tr7nity]

I am bipolar and I have gone through spending sprees. Most of mine have actually been when I am in a mixed state. I get depressed and have to purchase something to make myself feel better (which actually makes me worse because I spend too much). I will go out and buy several of the same things. For instance my latest was a bunch of guitars (1 Dean, 1 Dano and 2 Taylors). It totalled about $4,000. In my normal thought pattern, I would know better but when I get depressed I get in a fog and get tunnel vision and fixated on something and I think about it until I impulsively buy it. I have had purchases while manic and I just seem to feel care free about money. It normally leads to a bad place financially though.