Don’t believe me yet? Take a look at a few interviews of current college students and their successes of using shopping as a form of therapy after they were dumped by their exes.
At this point, I knew you’d need just a little more convincing. So, I sent out a good ol’ survey to my fellow college peers at Penn State University. Those taking the survey are aged between 18-22 years old. Of the 83% of people who said they have gone through a rough breakup, only 20% used a traditional form of therapy to help themselves.
63% of those heartbroken, though, went shopping after their breakups. Over 50% believed shopping helped improve their moods and over 60% said shopping helped improve their self-image.
These true to life statistics show how successful shopping can be as a form of therapy. Stay clear of those 1-800 therapists and the pricey sessions and put your money towards something worthwhile (like a new Michael Kors purse) to help you move on through the use of reflection, encourage you to focus on personal growth, and improve your self-image.
After your next break up, consider hitting up the mall or scrolling through some online stores before attending the traditional therapy sessions. Because of the way shopping helps to ease transitions, dress for success, relax, escape, and create a space for social connections, you are better able to reflect, grow, and improve.
Retail Therapy, it’s not just an excuse to shop.
Sources
Bachai, Sabrina. “4 Real Benefits Of Retail Therapy.” Medical Daily. N.p., 01 July 2014. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. <http://www.medicaldaily.com/retail-therapy-real-thing-4-ways-shopping-can-help-boost-your-mood-290936>.
“Breakup.” GoodTherapy.org. N.p., 3 July 2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. <http://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/breakup>.
Bueno, Antoinette. “6 Times Kourtney Kardashian And Her Sick Bod Totally Killed It Since Splitting With Scott Disick.” Entertainment Tonight. N.p., 16 Sept. 2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. <http://www.etonline.com/news/172032_6_times_kourtney_kardashian_totally_killed_it_since_splitting_with_scott_disick/>.
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autonomy>.
“Retail Therapy: Does It Help?” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 3 Sept. 2015. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/rent/2015/09/03/retail-therapy-does-it-help/#60e5050151f2>.
Yarrow, Kit, Ph.D. “Why “Retail Therapy” Works.” Psychology Today. N.p., 2 May 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. <https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-why-behind-the-buy/201305/why-retail-therapy-works>.