Take Dr. Dow's Obsession Quiz!
Friday, August 24, 2012 5:00AM
Do you suspect your passion may be more of an obsession? On Friday, Behavioral Expert Dr. Mike Dow tells viewers the top signs of a dangerous compulsion, tips to avoid the behavior, and what steps you can take to stop it.
Before you tune-in on Monday, take this quiz and be ready to learn about the results along with Anderson and the studio audience…
This information is provided for entertainment/informational purposes only. This is not a substitute for professional medical or health advice, examination or diagnosis.
The "Anderson Live" team is looking for people who have an unusual obsession. Click here for more information.
Filed Under: As Seen On The Show, Quizzes
Comments
Hey Anderson,
I have always enjoyed Flea Markets and yard sales.
When my mother became ill she moved in with me as my father could no longer take care of her needs.
When she passed away two years later I was devastated. Two years of my life had been taking care of her every need.
Don't get me wrong I never felt it was a burden. I am disabled and it is difficult for a single man of 45 to have to take care of his 81 year old ailing mother's every need.
When my mother got to the point that she needed round the clock nursing care I was forced to out her in a nursing home. I spent most of my day at the nursing home caring for her needs.
She died in 2009, the first 4 weeks or so I rarely left my house. I had nothing to do, the source of my daily activity was gone.
I started going to Goodwill, Habitat, Helping Hands, Flea Markets, yard sales, etc. to fill this empty time and hole in my heart.
I would purchase things and not even unwrap them, simply put them in my mother's room.
Within 4 months I was seriously in debt, I had drained my finances.
I'm lucky. I saw this was an obsession and went to one of the flea markets I shopped at and rented a booth. I filled it with the items I purchased and have made my money back.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have caught this early and fixed it.
I recognized that my grief and guilt of not being able to keep my mother at home and save her was making me a compulsive shopper.
This in my opinion is a completely different addiction than drugs or alcohol because we hear about drugs and alcohol all the time but not shopping addictions.
My siblings don't understand my addiction but they continued to have their normal lives. My disability is due to a stroke. When I had my stroke I lost everything, my home, car, job and ended up filing bankruptcy. Just as I was getting on my feet my mother suffered a diagnosis of Leukemia and also fell and broke her leg.
I have mostly gotten my guilt under control as well as my grief and my addiction is now under control. I give myself a weekly allowance to spend on items to sell in my flea market and I think I am managing well.
I wish all those with addictions the best of luck.
God Bless You.
I watched today's show with great interest, as I am also an obsessive shopper. Even as I am purchasing something I am telling myself that I don't need the item, but I buy it anyway. I usually find that if I successfully talk myself out of purchasing something, that I will obsess about it afterwards, and typically end up going back to buy it. Of course, if it is no longer available, I then obsess about not having it. Recently this situation occurred with a purse that I had wanted... talked myself out of... and then couldn't find when I returned to the store because they had sold out. Immediately I am trying to find other stores that carry the same product and am ready to go miles out of my way just to find it. Because of this kind of situation, I will often convince myself to buy something "at the time" because I know that I will only come back for it later anyway, and if I have to drive out of town to get it, then it is ultimately costing more in the long run.
I have always had this compulsion to shop, but it seems to have increased exponentially with the loss of each family member (mother-1983, father-1995, sister-in-law-1998, brother-2002, husband-2005).
I do find that shopping does give me that adrenaline (dopamine) rush... it can actually be better than sex if I am in the "right" frame of mind... and finding that extra special bargain really seals the deal and puts me over the top... at least temporarily.
The next problem, stemming from the shopping, is the state of my home. I am on the verge of being a "hoarder", since I do not get rid of something old every time I buy something new, so my "things" have now taken over almost every space in my home.
The whole time I was watching today's show, I was yelling at the t.v. screen that this kind of obsession is not just a simple matter of "wanting things"... it feeds a much deeper need... an almost bottomless void in one's soul... that is not to justify the behaviour, but to at least give it a reason for being. I have tried taking on other activites... dog walking, volunteering... but nothing gives me that same euphoric feeling as shopping.
I have family members who are concerned about my behaviour, since I have a 20 year old son living at home with me who seems to be picking up the same habit. His "thing" is video games.
Thank you for "listening" to me express my opinion in this matter... it feels good to get that off my chest.
I have been a severe nail bitter since I was 4 yrs. old. I am now 68 and my fingers become infected and are in constant pain. I have gone to every kind of doctor, therypist etc. to stop to no avaail..
I really enjoy ur show. I really like Dr. mike and the eating disorder. I have one too and it made me see that I need help. I eat to feel pain. So hopefully this will help me a little. Look forward to more in thefuture.
Listening to Dana made me want to drag out all of her boughten things and put them in piles of likeness THEN figure out what can be used in the home less shelters and then donate them. It would be good for her to see the JOY that comes to those whom the gifts never reach. Then I would like to take her shopping and allow her to fill her cart with her wishes and when she got the check out she has to leave the cart and walk out of the store leaving all those things behind. I would also like to see her work on filling her empty love tank which is so m-t that s he can only take and not give of herseelf.
Anderson:
I love your show - and I enjoyed learning about how to help myself get over a couple of obsessions I have. But man, I have to tell you - when you confronted Dana about getting a job, I feel you may be misinformed. Disability isn't always visible. I have Multiple Sclerosis, severe osteo-arthritis, and I have depression because less than a year ago I was very active and it was suddenly taken away from me. I used to go hiking with my husband, work in the yard with him, play baseball with my son, go fishing, and I had a very physically demanding job I loved - went to the gym and lifted weights, walked every day, etc. In March of 2011, I had a hysterectomy and wasn't able to be very active for nearly 2 months. When I went back to work, I couldn't stand up for more than a few minutes at a time - I would cry every day on the way home. An MRI showed that I now have spinal stenosis on top of all the other problems (I have a disc that is pressing on my spinal cord)...so, I feel you need to make an on-air statement regarding people with disability. Yes, she can shop sometimes. I used to be able to do a lot of things I can no longer do on a daily basis. There aren't ANY employers who will put up with you calling out when you have a bad day - 5 of 7 of my days are bad days. But those 2 good days are wonderful...and those are the days I get outside and enjoy the sunshine I used to enjoy every single day.
My point in all this is simple: don't judge by the outside or by "activities" you see someone perform. You don't know unless you've been there. A lot of diseases are "invisible". Mine are most days - I use a cane now when I go out, and I haven't been able to do any kind of shopping alone for months. The pain I am enduring mentally because of this has sent me into a deep depression which has resulted in a lot of other problems like weight gain, that have exacerbated my other problems.
Thank you for a wonderful show. I do so enjoy your show and I think you are a very intelligent man. I just think you should take a step back from that comment yesterday and apologize to the people who love your show for a judgment you aren't qualified to make. Disability isn't always visible. And no one WANTS to be disabled. Thanks again!
i love the show today... I do have an obsession or addiction too... I love eating chocolates but I am aware of it and sometimes, I don't eat chocolates most likely I divert my attention to other things... I observe that I am doing this if I am upset, or too busy to eat... So I think we should know and be aware of what we are doing to ourselves ;) God Bless... ;)
Anderson,love your program. It's fresh, timely, informative and you are really relate to your audience. You filled my Oprah void when she left the Oprah show. Thanks.
Thought Anderson and your obbession specialist would find this interesting. A couple of years a ago i called into a radio program for the morning question ( right answer wins a prize) The question went something like....this is mutli million or billion dollar a year industry they say people can be come addicted to it( they gave a few clues as people came up witht he wrong answer then they said it was a beauty product....I called in and said Lip Balm or as your audience member said Chapstick....my best friend at the time was addicted to this so I took a chance....apparently there is something in the lip balm that acutally dries the lips out so people keep applying it.
Thought you appreciate thisâș
Questions about who is Dr. Mike: Maybe I watch too much TV, that could be my obsession?
Here is Dr. Mike Bio:
Dr. Mike is an author, psychotherapist and addiction recovery expert. He is also a member of the California Psychological Association and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Dr. Mike has trained with top health experts such as Dr. Harville Hendrix, Dr. Daniel Siegel and even furthered his training at The Betty Ford Center's Professionals in Residence Program. With his own personal experiences, Dr. Mike has learned how to overcome difficult times in life by helping others. Dr. Mike believes in the power of balance and well-being by being of service to others.
i think anderson was demeaning the lady. this subject is not new and he should have study up on the subject. any addictive behavor means there is something missing in her life. and if you lost your abilities or a love one or health it is devastating. her husband and children should realize she is sick. this is how some people cope, i know. i have lost my husbands and then decided to retire and realize my children didn't need me like they did before and the grandkids are growing fast and they live a distance away, then i fell and hurt my knee to the point i couldn't walk..how do you think a so-so mentally healthy person handles it sometimes. try to be empathic. it is like trying to stop smoking or eating or not eating..I think anderson was too testy, have not read up on this subject and was swaying the questioning to be confrontational. another jerry springer show
i think anderson was demeaning the lady and should reprase your tone and questions or perhaps that is your intention?. this subject is not new and he should have studied up on the subject. any addictive behavor means there is something missing in her life. and if you lost your abilities or a loved one or health it is devastating. her husband and children should realize she is sick. It is like hoarding. the bottom line usually is a life changing event.this is how some people cope, i know. i have lost my husbands and then decided to retire and realize my children didn't need me like they did before and the grandkids are growing fast and they live a distance away, then i fell and hurt my knee to the point i couldn't walk..how do you think a so-so mentally healthy person handles it sometimes. try to be empathic. it is like trying to stop smoking or eating or not eating..I think anderson was too testy, have not read up on this subject and was swaying the questioning to be confrontational. another jerry springer show
My only obsession is for my partner and I to dance on your show to make it our third tv appearance in the past seven years. We'll be 80 years young later this year. We amaze people especially with our lifts.
I compulsively change my mind....I don't just mean once in a while! I cannot make a decision even on the smallest matter. I drive my family insane because of it! I'm obsessed with buying protein bars! I hide them in my bedroom because I have so many! I'm vegan so every time I find a new vegan bar, I have to have it in every flavor!!
I'm obsessed with Buying protein bars! I hide them because I have so many. I also share your guests attachment to chap stick!!!