If your partner has been spending more money than is wise for your financial situation, they may just be irresponsible with money. However, in many cases, a partner who spends unwisely may actually be suffering from a spending addiction. As with an addiction to alcohol, food, or video games, a spending addict knows their behavior is destructive -- but they have a very hard time not engaging in it. How can you tell whether your partner has a spending addiction? Look for these signs.
Seeking to hide the spending.
A person who just spends irresponsibly does not usually go out of their way to hide their spending, since they don't typically see anything wrong with it. However, someone who is addicted to spending is usually aware, on some level, that what they are doing is wrong. They are likely to be embarrassed and ashamed that they're spending so much money, so they'll go out of their way to hide it from you. You may discover hidden receipts, secret credit cards, and even purchased items hidden in the backs of closets or under the bed.
Spending after a stressful event.
Much like alcoholics tend to turn to alcohol when they are stressed out, anxious, or otherwise ill at ease, spending addicts often display their behavior most after stressful events. So, pay attention to when your partner is spending money. If stressful events like a big project at work, social unease, or family arguments trigger them to spend, you may be dealing with an addiction.
Expression of remorse regarding the spending.
As previously mentioned, most addicts feel bad about their spending. So, your partner may come to you and apologize in a way that seems sincere. They may promise never to spend money excessively again, and they might even agree to let you control the money or screen their purchasing decisions. You'll take this seriously because they seem to mean it -- and they do. But when they feel stressed out or out of control again, they fall back into their old habits and spend excessively again. It's like an endless cycle.
If your partner displays one or more of the behavior patterns described above, it's wise to seek help from a mental health counselor at a counseling center like Dr. Stephen Brown & Associates. He or she can analyze and diagnose your partner's behavior and determine if an addiction truly is to blame. Then, methods like cognitive behavior therapy can be employed to get your partner's spending behavior back under control.
Share12 April 2017
From the time I was born to the time I graduated high school, my parents were very overprotective of me and shielded me from all of the "bad" things in the world. When I decided to go to college out of state, they wanted me to stay closer to home, but gave into my wishes eventually. Once I got settled at college, I realized just how attached I was to my parents. I began to feel so homesick that I almost quit before the first semester ended. I decided to visit a counselor to see if she could help me get through the semester, and after just a couple of visits, I began actually enjoying my time away from home. I know there are others in tough situations like I was who need guidance, so I decided to start a blog to share my tips for coping with stressful situations.
