L ena had been attending 12-step meetings together with Suri a woman I’d been working with by phone on her Internet-cum-shopping addiction. Suri suggested that Lena call me.
As the owner of an upscale boutique on Long Island Lena’s income coupled with a generous alimony meant she could work or not as she chose. She chose to work increasing her hours at the boutique after both of her children had flown the nest. Shopping for her boutique gave her a thrill a rush. When the thrill began to fade she expanded into other shopping avenues to get her fix.
Between business and leisure shopping had taken over her life. She missed important meetings was losing touch with her children. She was always half involved in whatever she was doing and half planning the next thing. She described feeling “breathless.”
Lena had been attending 12-step meetings for over a year and strongly identified with the other members but her behavior hadn’t changed at all.
