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Study - Researchers from the National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan compared shoppers with non-shoppers and found that shoppers didn't just live longer but they had greater cognitive ability.

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Careful! - But you have to be careful that your love for shopping doesn't become an illness.

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Oniomania - Oniomania, commonly referred to as 'Compulsive Buying Disorder,' is a chronic psychiatric disorder.

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Compulsion - Oniomania is characterized by chronic and repetitive behavior which is difficult to stop and has prejudicial consequences for the affected person's life.

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Serious consequences - Similar to other disorders, oniomania only becomes a problem in its later stages of development, when it causes more serious consequences.

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Debts - In this case, accumulating debt is a warning sign that you should take urgent action.

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The act - For compulsive shoppers, it is the act of buying that provides the excitement, not the object itself.

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Symptoms - Some symptoms of the illness are noticeable, like repetitive behavior.

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Symptoms - Constant and uncontrollable thoughts about shopping is another symptom.

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Symptoms - Trying to resist the temptation to shop, usually without success, is also characterized as a symptom of the illness.

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Items of interest - Some items are of greater interest to sufferers of oniomania, like fashion items.

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Style - Or trying out new styles, which means having to buy everything new.

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Clothes - Clothing and apparel are of great interest to people who have the illness.

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Shoes - The compulsion for shoes is very common in patients.

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Jewelry - Jewelry is also among the items of greatest interest.

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Makeup - Makeup doesn't escape the list of products of greater interest for people suffering with oniomania.

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Population - Oniomania affects around 6% of the world's population.

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Gender - The majority of sufferers are women (92%).

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Accompanying disease - Oniomania frequently accompanies other psychiatric disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, dependency, anorexia and bulimia.

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United States - In the United States, 5.5% of the population have Oniomania. In other words, the obsession for shopping is far from rare.

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Finding help - It can cause huge damage to your finances as well as your mental health. If you feel you're losing control, don't hesitate to see a professional.

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Treatment - Suitable psychiatric support is fundamental when treating the illness.

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Treatment - Medical support could involve pharmacological help such as antidepressants or opiates.

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Treatment - Psycho-social intervention is also necessary, such as cognitive behavior therapy with progressive exposure to the stimulant and prevention of relapses.

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Indicators - Be aware of possible indicators of the illness, like buying unnecessary items without having money to spare.

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Indicators - Or always going to shops alone.

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Indicators - Find out if you have relatives with history of compulsive disorders, whatever it may be.

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Warning! - Pay attention to your acts and impulses, if you fit the description of any of the symptoms of this illness, don't leave it too late to seek treatment. Oniomania can be more detrimental to your mental and financial health than you think.

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