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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by HappyGirl on October 12, 2006, at 7:22:42
Hi All:
My best friend and co-worker confided me recently that he has been spending more than $20,000 on eBay site for the past four years. Most of stuff he has been purchasing are related to his childhood memory, ... not for a grown-up guy at 35, like all sort of fancy toys at '70- '80, CDs/DVDs on college-footballs and the like which his parents could not afford.However, for me it's so shocking and outrageous that he has this problem, knowing that he has a steady job that seems making him truly happy.
My question is;
(1) Does he have some sort of mental problem, like OCD that keeps him outrageous eBay spending?
(2) If he sounds NOT to sufferr from any mental disorder, what it could be?
(3) On this behaviour, what form of mental help he should seek? Because, he's NOT able to pull himself from eBay site, even he knows he needs substantial amount of money for repairing his aged car.Any advices and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Posted by Racer on October 12, 2006, at 12:46:29
In reply to eBay Spending, ...OCD or what ?, posted by HappyGirl on October 12, 2006, at 7:22:42
It's hard to say whether he has any diagnosable mental disorder, but he's obviously got a problem. The problem is partially related to impulse control dysregulation, so therapy would likely be helpful. CBT or DBT might help a lot with it.
There could also be a bit of depression mixed in, but a trained professional should assess that. And, even if there is, psychotherapy to help him learn to control those impulses will still be the best help for him.
Hope that helps.
Posted by Jost on October 12, 2006, at 21:07:01
In reply to Re: eBay Spending, ...OCD or what ?, posted by Racer on October 12, 2006, at 12:46:29
Did he confide it as a problem?
Did he explain how and when he buys things on Ebay?
Sounds like a problem-- given the amounts and his income, and other needs-- but if he's a collector of antique or vintage stuff-- if there's a collector's market in it-- it's amazing how easy it is to spend outrageous amounts of money. Ebay isn't the best place to pursue that passion-- but it's one of the easiest one.
I mean, were his purchases all impulse, or did he have some plan for it?
Not that it isn't a problem anyway-- but there are different types of problems. I'd call it more of an addictive sort of issue-- or lessening of control of certain impulses-- than OCD, though. If he's trying to collect, there can be social or interpersonal pressures to have good stuff, so it shifts the meaning of it.
Jost
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