The "Veronica Lodge Syndrome"

Posted on March 12, 2010 12:00 am by Veronica

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Finally, Sam and I finished putting wallpaper on the glass wall around my room. As the months passed, I started to learn a lot about this whole I-want-to-learn-how-to-be-independent thing or what’s it’s like to live with someone somewhere else. My parents would text me every now and ask how I’ve been doing, what I’ve been eating, is Sam gay, and if I’m wearing clean clothes, because they know I don’t do laundry at home. I haven’t changed, I guess. Three months after leaving home, I’m still stubborn and impossible.

A big chunk of my salary from the agency—my bread and butter—went to my half of the rent for the condo. The next big chunk went to my food and transportation allowance, phone bills, and personal necessities like soap, shampoo, conditioner, creams, lotion, etc. Sometimes, I would go to the grocery and buy some food to stock at the condo. Sam told me I need not do that because his place never ran out of food anyway, and the restaurant’s pantry was just a few blocks away if ever we run out of anything. But my pride got in the way, and I would still buy cereals, oatmeal, cookies, chips, and milk.

My paychecks from my freelance gigs were usually spent on clothes, shoes, and my other vanities. At 23, I didn’t have a single credit card (three banks disapproved my applications for reasons I never found out)--which, I think, was a blessing in disguise because God knows I’d go bankrupt with it. My savings account was collecting cobwebs because I haven’t deposited a single peso in the last three months or so. Saving is really hard when you are suffering from the “Veronica Lodge Syndrome.”

You see, I grew up reading Archie comics, and over the years, I developed what I fondly call the “Veronica Lodge Syndrome.” Anyone who has read the comics would understand my condition. Simply put, it means I shop like a maniac. Like Veronica Lodge of Archie comics, I find myself buying things, particularly shoes, on impulse, especially when I feel extremely upbeat or depressed. My shopping escapades amuse most of my friends and harass Sam, but compulsive shopping kills my budget in one go, and I would bleed until the next pay day.

The medical term for this condition is “oniomania” or “compulsive shopping.” Oniomania is an impulse control habit characterized by a strong desire to purchase items that would bring about personal satisfaction. It can be triggered by certain emotions like joy, anger, annoyance, and stress. And at this point, I’m depressed. At least, I think so.

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Tags: shopaholic,mall,bags,clothes,shoes,fashion,boutiques,shopping

42 Comments

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• 
  lavfifth
  42. i'm an oniomaniac too..haha..bute nalang ala akong pera..LOL..
  May 21, 2010 at 07:00 pm report abuse
• 
  eieioow
  41. waaaaaaah...ako din ata may �Veronica Lodge Syndrome.�
  May 18, 2010 at 09:05 pm report abuse
• 
  veronica11
  40. Hi ladies! Want to read what goes inside the mind of your average guy? Here's the link to my friend Franco's blog: http://bachelorfranco.blogspot.com/
  April 14, 2010 at 11:26 pm report abuse
• 
  zyramae_12
  39. Being Independent is so hard..like me i didn't know how to iron clothes and how to laundry..but I know how to cook italian dishes and a lot more that's my specialty at home cooking and that's it
  April 05, 2010 at 08:53 am report abuse
• 
  lalabong
  38. i love Arche comims too. Veronica Lodge syndrome, that was cute.
  March 30, 2010 at 10:19 am report abuse
• veronica11
  37. @lalabong: oh yes, super! :)
  March 17, 2010 at 05:15 pm report abuse
• 
  lalabong
  36. you're shopaholic! me too!
  March 16, 2010 at 03:31 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  35. @logan: of course you do, archie :P
  March 14, 2010 at 11:30 am report abuse
• veronica11
  34. @sweetdecember: wow, a lot of girls *suffer* from this syndrome pala :D OFF TO THE SALE!!! :))
  March 14, 2010 at 11:29 am report abuse
• Logan
  33. Hey I love Archie comics too! :)
  March 14, 2010 at 01:59 am report abuse
• 
  sweetdecember
  32. 32. i think i'm also one, gosh.
  March 13, 2010 at 12:49 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  31. @santori: yep, I'm always in Megamall :P <--- Mall Rat :))
  March 13, 2010 at 09:48 am report abuse
• 
  Santori01
  30. @veronica: Ur near in Ortigas Area lang ba?i really like your blogs.. ill add u sa FB..
  March 12, 2010 at 11:55 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  29. Girls, who's your favorite Bedroom Blog by Veronica character? :) Post your answers on FB :) Wiii! :)
  March 12, 2010 at 11:08 pm report abuse
• 
  toughgurl
  28. hahaha. I guess meron din akong ganung condition. haha.
  March 12, 2010 at 10:56 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  27. @paula: I'm flattered :)
  March 12, 2010 at 10:39 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  26. @katiyay: hi there! :) yes, sam's real. i hope you enjoy bedroom blog. add me up on facebook :)
  March 12, 2010 at 10:39 pm report abuse
• 
  katiyay0624
  25. hi veronica, im new here. i want to watch the aven q, too. :) is sam for real?
  March 12, 2010 at 10:15 pm report abuse
• Paula
  24. Does anyone here knows who writes these blogs?
  March 12, 2010 at 09:13 pm report abuse
• Paula
  23. Seriously, I'm curious. Who is the writer of this blog?
  March 12, 2010 at 08:19 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  22. @santori01: ohhhh, yes, suki ako sa Linea Italia sa Megamall :) Will buy my next pair this monday :)
  March 12, 2010 at 06:57 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  21. @gia: oh yes, nagastos ko na sa utak ko yung paycheck ko even before i make the first withdrawal :))
  March 12, 2010 at 06:56 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  20. @hazelnutzy: Free ka Monday? Lunch out tayo, bili ako sa Linea Italia eh, Game? :)
  March 12, 2010 at 06:56 pm report abuse
• 
  Santori01
  19. @veronica11- yeah sale ang Linea Italia..meron dito sa megamall.. and i got nice tops..hehe ill post it in budget find...:)
  March 12, 2010 at 05:53 pm report abuse
• gia
  18. woot! sa wakas, ive been waiting for your blog.. :) and i have to agree, mahilig mgshopping ang girls!!! cant wait for the next payday! hahahahah!
  March 12, 2010 at 05:20 pm report abuse
• 
  hazelnutzy
  17. I WANT BOOTS! As in Robin Scherbatsky and Lily Aldrin boots! hehehe. Shoes are our other bestfriend. :P
  March 12, 2010 at 05:14 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  16. Make that it's 70% OFF at Linea Italia. Whew, sabi na eh, my brain is soupy right now :P
  March 12, 2010 at 05:07 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  15. I just got home from Makati, where we met Logan's bestfriend for lunch. Whew, ang traffic!!! Thanks for all the comments girls. And yes, I shop like a maniac...and whenever I see a shoe store na naka-sale, i transform into an Energizer Bunny on drugs. :))
  March 12, 2010 at 04:58 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  14. Oopps correction, Bestfriend ni Logan and yung girlfriend ng bestfriend ni Logan, hahahah!!! :)
  March 12, 2010 at 04:56 pm report abuse
• veronica11
  13. It's 70% at Linea Italia!!!! Weee, Imma buy a new pair of boots for the Avenue Q play next Saturday (with Logan, Franco, Chi, Logan's BFF and gf!) weeee!!!!
  March 12, 2010 at 04:55 pm report abuse
• 
  jhe_1212
  12. 9. Waaahhh!!! I have that disorder also!
  March 12, 2010 at 03:47 pm report abuse
• 
  izzy08
  11. well im a bit impulsive myself....i guess im on my way to suffering such syndrome..yayks...
  March 12, 2010 at 03:35 pm report abuse
• 
  shadysurvives
  10. @ gorgeousrn: shoeholic talaga.parang imeldific lang di ba? ;-)
  March 12, 2010 at 03:23 pm report abuse
• 
  Santori01
  9. shoes & bags are women cure in times of depression... :) you think so? I THINK SO.. shopping...
  March 12, 2010 at 03:11 pm report abuse
• 
  sexybebe
  8. most women suffer that condition, i guess. hehe!
  March 12, 2010 at 01:25 pm report abuse
• 
  lalabong
  7. V, you're a compulive buyer pala, me too.. :) I so love shopping!
  March 12, 2010 at 01:05 pm report abuse
• khar
  6. ..shoes is my weakness too.,,V..i agree with georgeousRN, shoeholic term..
  March 12, 2010 at 10:41 am report abuse
• loraine
  5. dear veronica, i think i need to upgrade my eyeglasses soon, because i read all of ur blogs in one night!my eyes are really tired now but i enjoyed reading. u do have a gift with words.i plan to know where u and sam "the man", end up. =)
  March 12, 2010 at 10:01 am report abuse
• 
  malditcha87
  4. I think being shopaholic is common to us girls especially when you're single and not attached to anybody else. Me, I really go crazy when I got my salary. Addicted to online shops..
  March 12, 2010 at 09:02 am report abuse
• inlove
  3. i love archie comics! i can totally relate V, especially with oniomania. :-B
  March 12, 2010 at 12:35 am report abuse
• 
  mary_ann_lei
  2. Veronica Lodge syndrome aka shopaholic
  March 12, 2010 at 12:31 am report abuse
• 
  gorgeousRN
  1. Same here V... I am also a shoeholic... Who can blame us diba... especially pag may sale sa Aldo why not diba....
  March 12, 2010 at 12:17 am report abuse

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