Muddy Boots in the Hallway

Book excerpt: Compulsive spending is a secret addiction seldom discussed but more common than anyone is willing to admit. For years, I hid purchases, bought things on impulse, and lived with constant feelings of shame and guilt. They owned me. I felt like I didn't deserve anything, and there was no one to talk to about it. I would sneak things into a shopping cart, even if I was the one going to the checkout. One day, after I had found freedom from another chemical addiction, I had a moment of clarity around my spending addiction and, like magic, a light came on. I began to see clearly a way out. I began to apply the Twelve Steps to my compulsive spending. Little by little, one day at a time, I gained ground on those powerful sister demons, guilt and shame. They began to lose their grip on me. I felt a new freedom. I wanted to share that freedom with others. Recovery is a gift you work for, and freedom is the reward.