Overspending is something all of us do at one point or another, even the most dedicated planners and budgeters. But for some people, overspending is a chronic problem that can lead to high levels of debt and even bankruptcy.
It’s easy to think that overspending is just a result of lack of discipline, but often that isn’t the full story.
Sometimes overspending can be a direct result of an undiagnosed mental problem.
When Depression Causes You To Spend
Often people with depression turn to activities such as gambling and shopping to experience the release of dopamine that can make them temporarily feel better. Unfortunately, this is just a short fix, and soon the person is looking to have that feeling again through more shopping.
For instance, a relative I’ll call “Jon” married a woman, “Rachel.” This was not a quick marriage. Jon knew Rachel for five years before they married. However, they divorced within one and a half years of marrying.
Why?
Rachel, though always a bit of a spendthrift, became an outright shopaholic after their marriage and ran through all the money Jon had saved prior to their marriage. He had been saving that money for a house, but in 18 months, Rachel had spent it all from their joint account.
A year before they married, Rachel’s mother passed away, and then just a few months later her grandmother also passed away. Rachel, rather than grieving, tried to suppress her feelings with shopping. This was her way of medicating and feeling better temporarily.
When she married Jon, she felt additional stress and pressure, and soon she was shopping all the time. Of course, she felt bad about spending money when the high wore off. She worried what Jon would think of her and did her best to hide her purchases, but after a while, there’s no way to hide that $30,000 is missing from the bank account.
Bipolar Manic Episodes May Also Be To Blame
Bipolar disorder is often characterized by having wild mood swings from deep depression to manic highs. The manic highs are what often get people in trouble financially.
For example, “Andy Behrman, the author of Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania, says that at the height of his bipolar disorder, he would drop $25,000 at Barneys New York, the upscale retailer, and take taxis to the airport in the middle of the night to buy a full-fare seat on the next international flight. He would spend constantly, eventually running up a $2 million tab and serving time in prison for art forgery” (Health).
While most people with undiagnosed bipolar don’t have the means to run up a $2 million tab, they are able to create financial havoc in their lives. Those in a state of mania believe the money will keep coming. They are eternally optimistic. ” Christi Engle of Tyler, Texas, racked up more than $5,000 in credit card debt buying stuff that she didn’t want or need at Wal-Mart. ‘When I’m spending, I feel good. I get bubbly, the paranoia doesn’t matter, and I get out of my depressive mood,’ she says. During those episodes, Engle says she can convince herself that the overall economy, and her personal finances, are fine” (Health).
When To Seek Help
If you or a loved one previously had a fairly good handle on money but now you’re spending too much, it may be time to make an appointment with your doctor. Sudden spending sprees can be a sign that perhaps you have a deeper underlying issue.
With help and pharmaceuticals, many people with depression and bipolar go on to live typical and successful lives. The key is to not avoid the signs. Source: top10pharma.net
I’ve definitely seen this happen with people in my life. It’s unfortunate because they don’t always notice it is happening and it can cause serious consequences. Often it takes a friend or family member to pull them out of it to stop the spending.
This happened in our household by all the miscellaneous things adding up. We did have a budget but it was very loose. Now, we’re on top of every single transaction and we know exactly where our money goes.
I have seen this with a friend. They would spend, spend, and spend some more as that was the only way to make themselves feel better. It was hard to watch.
I’ve definitely seen this in people we know who were struggling with depression. They were spending constantly in an effort to get that good feeling you talk about above when the dopamine is released. Problem is the feeling faded quickly, but the credit card bills didn’t. One person I know ended up in prison after a gambling problem and depression led to embezzling money. Scary stuff, and it’s important to get that help when you need it!