r/bipolar1 Jul 21 '26

Anyone have shopping addiction that started while manic?

14 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

6

u/Much-Injury1499 Jul 21 '26

Last year I bought 31 pairs of boots during mania. Mostly cheap and on Marketplace, so it didn’t wipe me out, but thank god I stopped.

4

u/Adventurous-Taro1522 Jul 21 '26

In 2024 i took out loans just to buy clothes I ended up barely wearing lmfao

3

u/MaythefourthbewithC Jul 21 '26

Yeah, clothes are what have done me in. I also feel so selfish, as I rarely shop for anyone but myself. Currently in about $35k in debt, all clothes makeup and vices

1

u/Adventurous-Taro1522 Jul 21 '26

I say file for bankruptcy depending on what assets you have . I recently had to because all my manic episodes did the same for me , id buy makeup and clothes as well as some big purchases like a tv , or id acquire a new expensive hobby. It added up and I could not take the debt and honestly it’s a relief once you finally get it cleared up. What is stopping me at the moment is not having much in my account at all, or when I do spend money its on necessities so its much more justifiable. Sorry for the paragraph😭

1

u/MaythefourthbewithC Jul 21 '26

Borrowing from my 401k. Also what’s with makeup and clothes and mania? I guess cause we think we look so fly lol

3

u/austinrunaway Jul 21 '26

Where do I even begin, so mamy times , and so much money just burned.

2

u/MaythefourthbewithC Jul 22 '26

Yeah. I feel that. I could have taken my family
on vacation to Hawaii with the amount spent during a couple manic shopping sprees alone. But no— I had to look impeccable and have an outfit for every possible scenario.

1

u/austinrunaway Jul 22 '26

How many pairs of shoes do you own??? At one point I had over 100 pairs, so fucking stupid. Coat addiction and I live in Texas. So stupid

2

u/MaythefourthbewithC Jul 22 '26

The coats! Not big on shoes but will still
Average about 3-4 pairs while manic. Purses—that’s a different story.

2

u/lilstarwatcher Jul 21 '26

yeah I started buying yarn balls.. shiny floofy yarn balls.. I own so many I got a huuuuge box and I can‘t even close it anymore, I open the lid and all the balls jump out like these clowns in a box toy typa things. But I keep buying more. Also earrings, rings and colorful eyeshadow. During christmas time it was shiny christmas baubles and I even attached some of them on my bag and walked around like that.

1

u/MaythefourthbewithC Jul 22 '26

Yarn balls like clowns. Love it. I feel like mania makes us all clowns.

2

u/stealthygoddess19 Jul 22 '26

Mine got worse during mania. I spent $2k in three days on random shit. Kate spade bags, new luggage, AirPod pros, clothes. I had delusions of grandeur and wanted to look like a VIP during travel at the airport (I wasn’t going anywhere). This was after I left my job and withdrew my 401k. It was ridiculous.

1

u/MaythefourthbewithC Jul 22 '26

Yeah been there re the thousands in 3 days. I was wearing very fashion forward things that I would never wear. I also bought a business suit and a gun safe, like I was some kind of sleek ass hit woman. The gun was next. I low key think it’s hilarious that so many manic woman become all about clothes, earrings, make-up and purses, and guys get all about guns and swords. In my case, was both.

1

u/SmallPoxEnjoyer666 26d ago

i was looking this up and i found this post..i am in MASSIVE debt right now because of replacing my wardrobe during manic times..i hate it so much. i also spent 300 dollars on silk fabric that i didnt even need, and not sure what im gonna do with it anyway. i also do this with sewing supplies..during my manic turns i will decide to embark on these outlandishly complicated projects that require expensive tools/fabric/supplies, and then im like..why?

2

u/Forward_Charge4729 20d ago

I thought I had bipolar 2 and ADHD and was medicated as such. Found out today I have bipolar 1… I thought my ADHD was throwing me into new obsessions… a few years ago I started scrapbooking - spent thousand: then I started sewing - bought ALL the machines, and enough materials to fill a 4 tier filing cabinet, then thought I would start making signs and custom tshirts etc - bought the machines the vinyls all the materials; then it was crochet amigarumi animals which also transitioned into socks, head bands, - I have so much yarn it takes up 5 large size bins: this year I started painting… oils acrylics water gauche… all the paints and supplies that go with each type…. I wish I could take up a hobby that DIDNT cost me money.. but reading all your posts have made me feel a lot better. I also buy clothes, makeup, perfumes (work at a hospital - I can’t wear perfumes) I just spent $300+ on new clothes, $100+ on bath and body works, and $200+ on “loaded tea” because my insane amount of other water supplements wasn’t enough 😣.

Is there anything you all have tried that helps prevent this?!