IMPULSE BUYING

CAN ANYONE GIVE ME SOME TIPS ON HOW TO STOP IMPULSE BUYING IM IN DEBT SO BAD BUT WHEN I GET INTO A STORE OR A GAS STATION ITS LIKE MY BRAIN DISAPPEARS AND I GO ON A HUGE SPENING SPREE...I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

[budicca]

This may be a little extreme but you can also try leaving the credit cards and debit cards LOCKED in a safety (or fire) box. Then you carry only a reasonable amount of cash on you or only what you think you'll need. That way you have to go through extra steps to get to the cards before you use them. It gives you a little extra time to think about whether you really need that item or not. Like I said, it's extreme but since I've done it, it's taught me to budget and stop and think about my purchases in a different way.
Good luck to you.

[capegirlnoshoes]

A good psychiatrist (for mood stabilisers) and a good psychologist (for coping strategies) are probably your best options.  

[Xila31]

Spending spree is a symptom of mania, so maybe track your moods with the mood tracker or at least your symptoms if you're not sure about your moods. Really stabilizing is what will make it better, but in the beginning learning your triggers and when it would be a bad time to go alone into a store is a good start. I think they put things like this as "impulsive behavior" if they don't have spending spree. At least then you can also track when it happens.

[cynthgrl]

I sure wish that I had some good advise for you but I have the sam problem only with food, so THATS not good either! I know that we do these things because we are trying to "cope" with not good feelings or becuase we feel something is missing inside, but I cannot seem to fix it...Wish I had a better answer for ya!

[Mangoes73]

Get a sticker and put it inside yr purse, somewhere u can c it really well. Maybe use bright colour sticker. Write something that works for you like " no spending".
I find it helps me some of the times. I assume yr already getting medical and pharmaceutical help, but I know that's not always enough.
I find it a problem because I rapid cycle and have mixed states, so it's not like I have to be fully manic for that symptom to b present
Best of luck

[NikkiBelle]

On anything more than $10 (or some other reasonable amount), make yourself wait a week to buy it.  That way, you'll have a week to decide if it is something you really want or if it is just a bipolar urge.

[budicca]

This may be a little extreme but you can also try leaving the credit cards and debit cards LOCKED in a safety (or fire) box. Then you carry only a reasonable amount of cash on you or only what you think you'll need. That way you have to go through extra steps to get to the cards before you use them. It gives you a little extra time to think about whether you really need that item or not. Like I said, it's extreme but since I've done it, it's taught me to budget and stop and think about my purchases in a different way.
Good luck to you.

[bacla]

Even though it might sound extreme its something that would stop me actually in the store because i wouldnt have any way to buy things ..this is probably what i will start doing. thank you