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- A DAY WITHOUT SHOPPING IS LIKE A DAY WITHOUT FOOD.
[gasps] I HAVE TO HAVE THIS. - I LIKE THIS.
WHEN ONE CARD STARTS TO MAX OUT, I'LL START USING ANOTHER CARD.
- I HAD NO PROBLEM DROPPING 7,000, 8,000 IN A DAY.
THIS IS $1,900. 800. 900. 1,300.
THIS IS MY TREASURE BOX.
- I DEFINITELY GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF SHOPPERS.
MY MOM SHOPPED, MY SISTER SHOPPED,
AND AS SOON AS I GOT MY CREDIT CARD,
I STARTED SHOPPING.
- I'M CONCERNED.
IT'S JUST GOT TO STOP.
DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKES THAT WE DID.
BANKRUPTCY - BANKRUPTCY.
- I MEAN, SHE KEEPS SHOPPING,
YOU KNOW, SHE'S GONNA REGRET IT COMPLETELY.
- THE LAST THING THAT I WANT MY PARENTS TO SAY TO ME
IS, "I TOLD YOU SO. YOU NEED TO MOVE HOME."
I CAN'T HAVE THAT HAPPEN. IT WOULD BE A FAILURE FOR ME.
- THIS HAS TO BE ABOUT YOU SAYING NO.
CAN YOU DO THAT?
- I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE. - OKAY.
- UM, MY HEART'S RACING.
- YOU'RE HAVING A HARD TIME LETTING GO.
- [sobs]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- OH, WOW, LOOK.
MY NAME IS ALEX, I'M 25, AND I'M A FULL-TIME MODEL.
I THINK THAT A DAY WITHOUT SHOPPING
IS LIKE A DAY WITHOUT FOOD. YOU JUST CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT.
[gasps] I HAVE TO HAVE THIS.
ABSOLUTELY, I NEED ONE OF THESE. - YOU NEED THAT.
- AND THIS, AND THIS. - WE JUST GOT THOSE JEANS IN.
I HAVE 'EM IN DARK DENIM AND LIGHT DENIM,
AND YOU PROBABLY ARE GONNA WANT BOTH, KNOWING YOU.
- DON'T SAY THAT, LIKE I'M A REGULAR SHOPPER.
- YEAH, I KNOW. both: [laugh]
- I'M A MULTIPLE SHOPPER BECAUSE IF YOU LOVE IT IN WHITE,
THEN, OF COURSE, YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT IN GREEN,
BLUE, RED, PURPLE, YELLOW. [chuckles]
- AS IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BELTS.
- 99, I NEED ONE MORE.
ISN'T THIS CUTE? - I LOVE THAT.
- IT'S A DEFINITE YES. - DEFINITE YES.
WHAT DO WE THINK?
- YOU DO NOT NEED THAT ONE. - BUT I LIKE THIS ONE.
- YOU KNOW WE GET NEW SHIPMENTS EVERY WEDNESDAY RIGHT?
- YEAH, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE... - OKAY, SO--I KNOW--
- EVERY WEDNESDAY. - I KNOW!
- WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO L.A., WITHIN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS
I BOOKED A NEUTROGENA COMMERCIAL.
A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THAT, I BOOKED AN AXE COMMERCIAL.
I BOOKED PLAYBOY, AND I HAD NO PROBLEM
DROPPING 5,000, 6,000, 7,000, 8,000 IN A DAY,
BUT IF I DON'T WORK, YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE THAT MONEY ANYMORE.
IT'S HARD TO ADJUST.
YOU GO FROM MAKING 10,000 A MONTH TO--
I MAKE ZERO, BUT I CAN'T STOP SHOPPING.
I'LL BE BACK ON WEDNESDAY.
- THANK YOU SO MUCH. - BYE, YOU GUYS.
- BYE. CALL ME WEDNESDAY. - I WILL.
I'LL CALL YOU ON WEDNESDAY. SEE YOU SOON.
- MY NAME IS DR. DAVID TOLIN.
I'M A BOARD CERTIFIED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST,
AND I'VE TREATED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
WITH COMPULSIVE DISORDERS, INCLUDING SHOPAHOLICS.
ALEX IS A YOUNG WOMAN WHO HAD A PRIVILEGED UPBRINGING
IN TEXAS, AND SHE WAS INDULGED FROM AN EARLY AGE.
SHE LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER, A FREQUENT SHOPPER,
NOT TO DENY HERSELF THE MATERIAL THINGS SHE WANTED,
BUT WHEN ALEX LEFT HOME AGAINST HER PARENTS' WISHES
TWO YEARS AGO TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MODELING,
THEY STOPPED SUPPORTING HER FINANCIALLY.
AFTER EXPERIENCING EARLY SUCCESS
AND EARNING A SUBSTANTIAL SALARY IN LOS ANGELES,
ALEX BECAME ADDICTED TO A NEW SENSE
OF FINANCIAL AND PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE.
SHE STARTED RECKLESSLY SPENDING
THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
ON CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES.
NOW ALEX IS 25.
THE MODELING JOBS HAVE SLOWED DOWN,
BUT HER SHOPPING HASN'T.
SHE STILL IS SPENDING RECKLESSLY.
PRETTY SOON, SHE'S GONNA BE OUT OF MONEY.
MY JOB IS TO HELP ALEX GET HER SPENDING UNDER CONTROL
OR ELSE SHE'S GONNA BE FORCED TO MOVE BACK TO TEXAS
AND LOSE THAT INDEPENDENCE
THAT SHE'S WORKED SO HARD TO CREATE FOR HERSELF.
- I LIKE THIS.
MY NAME IS SABRINA.
THIS IS SO CUTE.
AND I LOVE SHOPPING, BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER
WHEN I'M HAVING A BAD DAY. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A HIGH.
- HEY. HI, YOU GUYS. - HI.
- NOW, ALL OF OUR LINES ARE, LIKE, FROM EUROPE, AND LIKE,
OTHER STUFF LIKE THAT, SO-- - WE'RE GONNA TALK NOW.
- [laughs] - RIGHT?
- DON'T YOU WANT TO GO TO, LIKE, THE CHEAPER STORE?
- NO.
DO YOU LIKE MY WALLET?
- IT'S KATE SPADE.
OH, GOD, JEEZ.
YOU REALLY CAUGHT ME RIGHT NOW. - [laughs]
- HAVING NAME BRANDS, IT JUST GIVES YOU SORT OF A STATUS,
AND IT MAKES YOU SPECIAL IN SOME WAY.
IT WAS ON SALE.
- LET'S GO. - THIS ONE'S LIKE $175.
[laughs] - BE CAREFUL.
- LIFE'S TOO SHORT, AND YOU SHOULD LIVE IT AND HAVE FUN,
SO EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T REALLY AFFORD THESE NICE THINGS,
I LIKE TO HAVE THEM.
I LIKE THAT ONE. THAT ONE'S KIND OF EXPENSIVE.
JUST PUT IT ON MY CREDIT CARD, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.
- IT'S NOT 200. IT'S 449.
- I'M PUTTING MYSELF IN A POSITION
WHERE I'M JUST ALWAYS GONNA BE IN DEBT.
I'M GONNA GET THE LACE DRESS. - OKAY, CUTE.
- AND THEN I WANT TO GET THIS ONE.
- OKAY, COOL.
- I'M DEFINITELY A CREDIT CARD SHOPPER.
I NEVER USE CASH FOR ANYTHING.
- IF YOU JUST WANT TO SIGN THAT FOR ME, THANK YOU.
- WHEN ONE CARD STARTS TO MAX OUT,
I'LL START USING ANOTHER CARD.
THAT'S JUST PUTTING ME EVEN CLOSER
TO HAVING TO DECLARE BANKRUPTCY.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU GUYS GET, LIKE, NEW STUFF?
- EVERY SINGLE DAY. YEAH--
- EVERY SINGLE DAY?
- MY NAME IS DR. RAMANI DURVASULA.
I'M A LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST,
AND I'VE WORKED WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE ADDICTED TO SHOPPING.
SABRINA WAS RAISED IN A FAMILY OF COMPULSIVE SHOPPERS.
FROM AN EARLY AGE, SHE WAS EXPOSED
TO THE RECKLESS USE OF CREDIT CARDS
BY HER MOTHER AND SISTER,
WHICH EVENTUALLY LED THEM BOTH TO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY.
AS A YOUNG GIRL, SABRINA ENVIED THE POPULARITY
AND FASHION SENSE OF HER OLDER SISTER,
AND STARTED BUYING EXPENSIVE CLOTHES TO FIT IN.
IT TRIGGERED A PATTERN OF OVERSPENDING AND CARD-SWIPING
THAT IS TAKING HER DOWN THE SAME DESTRUCTIVE PATH
AS HER MOTHER AND SISTER.
SABRINA HAS MAXED OUT FOUR CREDIT CARDS
AND HAS RACKED UP $60,000 IN DEBT.
HER JOB AS A GUEST SUPERVISOR FOR A LOCAL SPORTS ARENA
ISN'T ENOUGH TO SUPPORT HER SHOPPING AND PAY DOWN HER DEBT.
AND AT 28, SHE CANNOT AFFORD TO MOVE OUT OF HER FAMILY HOME
WHERE SHE SHARES THE RENT WITH HER MOTHER AND SISTER
AS A RESULT OF THEIR FINANCIAL INSTABILITY.
I'M HOPING THAT WITH MY HELP,
SABRINA WILL STOP HER IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING
SO THAT SHE WILL NOT GO BANKRUPT NEXT.
- MY FIRST SHOPPING MEMORY
IS GOING TO NEIMAN MARCUS WITH MY MOM.
I ENDED UP TELLING MY MOM
THAT I LIKED THESE PAIR OF FERRAGAMO SHOES SHE WAS WEARING,
AND SHE BOUGHT 12 OF THEM. [laughs]
SHE HAS THE MOST AMAZING WALK-IN CLOSET,
AND EVERYTHING'S COLOR-COORDINATED.
I HAVE MIMICKED MY CLOSET AFTER HERS.
THIS IS WHAT I LOVE. THIS IS MY TREASURE BOX.
THIS IS FOX AND IT'S GUCCI.
THIS WAS $1,900. 800. 900. 1,300.
THIS ONE IS 900. 1,000. $1,200,
AND THIS WAS ABOUT $4,000.
THEN I HAVE MY VERSACE SHOES.
THESE ARE ABOUT 1,000. 1,500.
I LOVE THESE SHOES.
THESE ARE MY PRIZED POSSESSION, THEY WERE 5,000. [laughs]
MY MOM TAUGHT ME THAT WHEN YOU FIND A SHIRT THAT FITS YOU WELL,
YOU BUY EVERY COLOR.
PINK, RED, PURPLE, YELLOW, EVERY SHADE OF GREEN.
MY SKIRT PROBLEM. WHITE, ORANGE, AND TEAL.
SAME SKIRT. PINK, OF COURSE.
AND I FELL IN LOVE
THE FIRST TIME I EVER WORE THIS DRESS,
SO I DECIDED I NEED EVERY COLOR THAT THEY MADE.
I'M A MULTIPLE SHOPPER BECAUSE I'VE SEEN MY MOM DO IT.
MY PARENTS TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET ME TO STAY,
AND SAID, "IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO,
"YOU WILL HAND OVER YOUR GAS CARD, YOUR CREDIT CARD,
AND I WILL ZERO OUT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT."
AND I THINK THEY THOUGHT THAT MAYBE
I WOULD CHANGE MY MIND IMMEDIATELY, BUT I DIDN'T.
WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO L.A.,
I WAS MAKING 10,000 A MONTH, NO MATTER WHAT.
WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE TO SIT BACK AND SAY,
"WAIT A MINUTE, I'M NOT MAKING THAT ANYMORE,
NOT UNTIL I BOOK SOMETHING ELSE,"
IT'S A REALITY CHECK.
IF I WANT TO STAY IN L.A.,
AND I WANT TO STAY INDEPENDENT FROM MY PARENTS,
I NEED TO GET CONTROL OF MY SHOPPING.
THE LAST THING THAT I WANT MY PARENTS TO SAY TO ME
IS "I TOLD YOU SO. YOU NEED TO MOVE HOME."
I CAN'T HAVE THAT HAPPEN. IT WOULD BE A FAILURE FOR ME.
- WE CAN START OVER HERE WITH MY PURSES.
THIS ONE IS MY MARC JACOBS BAG. [laughing] $850.
I HAVE MY GUCCI PURSE. 600.
250 BUCKS. $200.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH THIS ONE WAS. [laughs]
UNDER MY BED, THIS IS MY BIN OF BAGS.
THIS IS A MICHAEL KORS BAG. KATHY VAN ZEELAND.
THIS IS ACTUALLY MY VERY FIRST COACH BAG.
THESE ARE MY BURBERRY FLATS. BURBERRY HEELS.
I ALSO HAVE A PAIR OF BURBERRY TENNIS SHOES.
THESE WERE 300. [laughs]
ONE OF MY FAVORITE BRANDS OF SHOES IS MARCIANO.
I LOVE THESE SHOES, BUT I NEVER WEAR THEM.
MY SISTER STARTED WORKING AT NORDSTROM.
SHE SOLD ME MY FIRST PAIR OF DESIGNER SUNGLASSES,
AND THAT'S WHEN I STARTED MY CHANEL SUNGLASSES OBSESSION.
SO THESE ARE LIMITED EDITION. THEY COST ME $555.
I LIKED THEM SO MUCH I GOT MYSELF A SECOND PAIR.
WHEN I GO TO VEGAS, I GO OUT AND GET ALL DRESSED UP,
AND I HAVE, LIKE, THESE COOL SUNGLASSES
AND MY NICE PURSES AND MY CUTE HEELS.
I DEFINITELY GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF SHOPPERS.
MY MOM SHOPPED, MY SISTER SHOPPED,
AND AS SOON AS I GOT MY CREDIT CARD, I STARTED SHOPPING.
- WHEN THEIR DAD AND I DIVORCED,
I COULDN'T KEEP UP THAT DOUBLE INCOME LIFESTYLE.
I PAID FOR EVERYTHING ON THE CREDIT CARD,
SO NOW THERE'S NO RETIREMENT, NO SAVINGS, NOTHING.
I GET FRUSTRATED AT TIMES, BECAUSE I'M NOT TOO SURE
HOW TO AMEND WHAT I'VE STARTED.
- GROWING UP WITH MY FAMILY WAS INTERESTING.
AS A LITTLE KID, MY SISTER AND I DIDN'T GET ALONG.
I MEAN, I WAS SUPER NERDY. UM, I WAS SUPER CHUBBY.
I HAD CURLY, FRIZZY HAIR.
MY SISTER WAS, LIKE, THE CUTE, POPULAR ONE.
- IT WAS THAT TRANSITION OF JUNIOR HIGH
GOING INTO HIGH SCHOOL.
I WANTED HER TO COME INTO FRESHMAN YEAR BEING COOL
AND TEISHA'S LITTLE SISTER.
- I JUST ASSOCIATED DESIGNER THINGS WITH MY SISTER,
WITH SOMEONE WHO'S POPULAR, OR LIKED,
OR SOMEONE WHO'S BEAUTIFUL,
SO I WANTED TO PORTRAY THOSE THINGS.
- I HOPE THAT MY SISTER DOESN'T FOLLOW IN MY FOOTSTEPS FOR ONCE.
- HI, SISTER. - HI.
- YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT I GOT WHEN I WENT SHOPPING WITH LISA?
- AND WHO MADE THAT THAT'S SO FAMOUS?
- I DON'T KNOW, SOMEONE FROM PARIS. [laughs]
- HOW MUCH WAS IT? - LIKE, $400.
NO, I PUT IT ON MY CREDIT CARD.
I DON'T KNOW. IT'S JUST, LIKE, FUN TO HAVE A NEW DRESS TO WEAR,
AND YOU FEEL, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, CUTE AND SPECIAL.
- SABRINA, I LOVE YOU, BUT IT'S GOT TO STOP SOMETIME.
IT'S JUST GOT TO STOP. I'M CONCERNED.
I'M REALLY CONCERNED.
I WANT YOU TO HAVE NICE THINGS, BUT IT NEEDS TO STOP.
DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKES THAT WE DID. BANKRUPTCY.
- BANKRUPTCY.
- I MEAN, SHE KEEPS SHOPPING,
YOU KNOW, SHE'S GONNA REGRET IT COMPLETELY.
- WHEN YOU CAN'T PAY YOUR CREDIT CARDS,
DON'T COME AND ASK ME TO HELP,
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO HELP YOU WITH.
I'M TIRED OF IT.
- IF YOU KNOW SUNGLASSES,
I'M GIVING YOU TEN MINUTES TO FIND THE REAL PAIRS IN HERE.
- THERE'S SUNGLASSES EVERYWHERE. THEY ALL JUST LOOK THE SAME.
- THIS WAS TAKEN FROM YOUR CLOSET TODAY.
WERE YOU AWARE THAT YOU OWNED THIS ALREADY?
- NO. OH, MY GOSH,
I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THAT.
- I'M GONNA GET THE LACE DRESS. - OKAY.
- MY MARK JACOBS BAG, $555. 600.
- IT'S JUST GOT TO STOP.
- I EVEN STARTED TO MAX OUT,
LIKE, MY CREDIT CARDS, BUT THAT'S JUST PUTTING ME
EVEN CLOSER TO HAVING TO DECLARE BANKRUPTCY.
- IT'S TIME TO MEET SABRINA ONE ON ONE
SO SHE CAN SHOW ME HER PURCHASES
AND EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT WHAT FUELS HER SHOPPING ADDICTION.
- I GUESS WE COULD START HERE. - OKAY.
- WITH MY SUNGLASSES. - OH, WOW.
HOW MUCH WERE THEY? - THEY ARE 555.
I DO WEAR THEM ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
- HMM. - LIKE IF I GO TO VEGAS
FOR MY BIRTHDAY. - OKAY,
SO THEY'RE SPECIAL GLASSES THAT YOU WEAR FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS
THAT MAKE YOU FEEL SPECIAL.
- THEY TEND TO GO WITH MY SPECIAL PURSE,
AND MY SPECIAL SHOES... - OKAY.
- AND MY SPECIAL OUTFIT.
- I THINK THAT, LIKE, THE MOTIVATION
WAS AN APPEARANCE, AND AN IMAGE, AND, LIKE, A FITTING-IN THING.
- MM-HMM. IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT YOU KEEP
ALL THE PACKAGING AND ALL OF THAT.
- YEAH, EVERYTHING. THEY GO BACK INTO THE BOX.
- AND THEY GO BACK IN THE BOX. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SHRINE.
- SO I WENT TO PARIS AND GOT LOUBOUTINS.
THEY WERE 350 EUROS.
- HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WEAR 'EM?
- THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE. - SO YOU'VE NOW SPENT
SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS ON AN UNCOMFORTABLE PAIR OF SHOES.
- NO, I WAS REALLY SAD WHEN THE RED STARTED COMING OFF
ON THE BOTTOM. - YEAH, IT WAS GO--
AND IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN, AND I THINK IN SOME WAYS,
THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE BLUSH COMING OFF THE ROSE.
- MY FRIENDS ARE MORE THE ONES WHO THINK THEY'RE SUPER COOL.
- OKAY, WHAT DOES IT IMPLY TO THEM?
- I GUESS IT'S JUST A THING.
LIKE, ALL THE CELEBRITIES HAVE THE RED BOTTOMS,
AND THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
- SO IT IMPLIES SOMETHING ABOUT YOU
THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT TRUE. I MEAN, THEY'RE--
- THAT I HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY LOUIS VUITTONS.
- YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY THOSE SHOES.
- IT'S LIKE A GUY WHO HAS A REALLY EXPENSIVE SPORTS CAR,
BUT HAPPENS TO LIVE IN IT. - [laughs]
- WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME IS, I THINK YOU ACTUALLY
MAY BE TRAPPED IN A SORT OF LITTLE PRISON HERE,
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY I SAY THAT, OKAY?
- [laughs]
- I'M LOOKING AROUND YOUR ROOM,
AND THIS FEELS LIKE THE ROOM OF A TEENAGER.
I MEAN, THE ANIMALS, THE PICTURES OF FLAG TEAM.
YOU KEEP CHANNELING THAT TEENAGER,
THAT GIRL WHO WANTS ACCEPTANCE,
EVEN JUST BY YOUR PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS.
- IT'S LIKE, I'VE BEEN MEANING TO, LIKE,
TAKE THOSE THINGS DOWN AND CHANGE MY ROOM...
- RIGHT, MM-HMM.
- BUT I JUST NEVER GET AROUND TO IT.
- OKAY, BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO FIND TIME TO SHOP.
SABRINA WOULD PREFER TO OWN EXPENSIVE LABELS
AND PRETEND TO BE SOMEONE SHE'S NOT
RATHER THAN PAY HER BILLS AND AVOID GOING BANKRUPT.
THE EXERCISES THAT I'VE GOT PLANNED
WILL HOPEFULLY HELP HER UNDERSTAND
THAT SHE CAN'T MANUFACTURE A PERSONA
BY ACQUIRING THINGS THAT SHE CAN'T AFFORD.
- $1900. $4,000. 5,000. I HAVE TO HAVE THIS.
WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO L.A. FROM TEXAS,
I WAS MAKING 10,000 A MONTH, NO MATTER WHAT.
WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU HAVE TO SIT BACK AND SAY,
"WAIT A MINUTE, I'M NOT MAKING THAT ANYMORE,"
IT'S A CRISIS POINT.
- HI, ALEX. - HI.
- I'M MEETING ALEX AT HER APARTMENT
TO FIND OUT HOW COMMITTED SHE IS TO CHANGING,
AND ALSO TO FIND OUT HOW SERIOUS THE THREAT IS
OF HAVING TO MOVE BACK TO TEXAS
IF SHE CAN'T GET CONTROL OF HER SHOPPING.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION FOR LEAVING TEXAS
IN THE FIRST PLACE?
- I FELT THAT IF I DIDN'T LEAVE,
I WOULD NEVER GET TO EXPERIENCE
LIFE OUTSIDE OF THAT SMALL TOWN, SMALL FEEL.
EVERYONE KNOWS MY FAMILY. - SHELTERED.
- RIGHT. - THAT'S A BRAVE MOVE.
I MEAN, YOU STRUCK OUT ON YOUR OWN,
AND YOU LEFT, YOU KNOW, THE COMFORT OF HOME
AND THE PRIVILEGE THAT BEING WITH YOUR PARENTS PROVIDED,
BUT WHAT YOU ENDED UP WITH WAS,
YOU'RE LIVING OUTSIDE YOUR MEANS,
AND YOUR COLLECTION OF CLOTHING IS KIND OF GROWING
AND GROWING AND GROWING, AND YOU DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT TO DO.
- I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
- HOW IMPORTANT IS RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM TO YOU?
- IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOP PRIORITIES.
- YES. - I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE FORCED
BACK INTO THE HOUSE I GREW UP IN.
THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR ME.
- SO IN SOME WAYS, WHAT WE'RE-- WHAT WE'RE SHOOTING FOR HERE
IS NOT JUST GETTING YOUR FINANCES IN ORDER.
WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT
HELPING YOU TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT
AND NOT RELY ON YOUR PARENTS.
SO THE STAKES ARE HIGH? - YES.
- OKAY. ALEX'S BIGGEST FEAR
IS LOSING HER INDEPENDENCE AND HAVING TO MOVE BACK TO TEXAS,
BUT UNLESS SHE CHANGES HER SPENDING HABITS,
THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE SHE'S HEADED.
- SABRINA HAS AN OBSESSION WITH BRANDS SHE CAN'T TRULY AFFORD,
AND IT'S FORCING HER INTO BANKRUPTCY.
IN THIS FIRST EXERCISE,
I'M BRINGING SABRINA TO A SUNGLASSES STORE
IN THE FASHION DISTRICT OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.
TODAY I WANT HER TO CONSIDER
WHETHER OR NOT DESIGNER LABELS ARE REALLY WORTH IT,
ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE FACING A FINANCIAL CRISIS.
- HI. - HELLO.
- THANKS FOR JOINING ME HERE. - OF COURSE.
- SO LET ME TELL YOU WHY I BROUGHT YOU HERE.
WHAT ARE WE STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF HERE?
- SUNGLASSES. - YOU LIKE YOUR SUNGLASSES.
- [laughs] I DO.
- IN THIS AREA,
THERE ARE FIVE ULTRA HIGH-END PAIRS OF SUNGLASSES,
THE REAL DEAL.
IF YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT LABELS,
SO MUCH SO THAT YOU'D SPEND $600
INSTEAD OF $6 ON A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES,
AND IT MATTERS THAT MUCH TO YOU,
I WANT TO KNOW HOW TRAINED YOUR EYE IS.
- [laughs] - I'M GIVING YOU TEN MINUTES
TO FIND THE REAL PAIRS IN HERE AND PULL THEM OUT.
GO AHEAD, START LOOKING.
- I DO HAVE QUITE A FEW PAIRS OF DESIGNER SUNGLASSES,
SO I'M THINKING THAT WILL HELP ME OUT.
THERE ARE A COUPLE RED FLAGS: MADE IN CHINA,
SOME OF THEM LOOK SUPER FAKE.
- SO NONE ARE JUMPING OUT, HUH? - [laughs]
FOR SOME BRANDS I KNOW WHAT THE TAGS LOOK LIKE.
- OKAY, BUT THAT'S INTERESTING.
THEN YOU'D BE LOOKING AT THE TAG, WHICH IS SOMETHING
THAT WON'T REMAIN ON THE GLASSES
ONCE THEY'RE ON YOUR FACE.
- THAT IS TRUE. - RIGHT?
- ALL OF THEM ARE BRANDS THAT I KNOW?
- OKAY, THERE'S DOLCE AND GABBANA, PRADA,
AND VERSACE.
- THOSE ARE DEFINITELY BRANDS THAT I KNOW. [laughs]
- YEAH. I DON'T KNOW,
I'M DOUBTING YOUR SUNGLASS CONNOISSEUR ABILITIES HERE,
MY DEAR. - [laughs]
- THAT'S NOT-- YEAH, IT'S NOT REAL.
- I HAD A FEELING. - OKAY.
LAST MINUTE, SO WHY DON'T YOU MAKE ONE LAST LAP?
- OH, BOY.
LOOKING THROUGH THESE SUNGLASSES,
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE'S THE RIGHT ONES IS HARD.
THERE ARE SUNGLASSES EVERYWHERE. THEY ALL JUST LOOK THE SAME.
- OKAY, TIME'S UP.
- ALEX BUYS THINGS IN MULTIPLES.
- PINK, RED, PURPLE, YELLOW, EVERY SHADE OF GREEN.
- FOR THIS FIRST EXERCISE, I WANT TO FIND OUT
IF SHE EVEN KNOWS WHAT SHE ALREADY OWNS,
SO I'VE BROUGHT A HANDFUL OF HER OWN CLOTHES,
AND I'VE PUT THEM ON THE RACKS OF THIS STORE WITH TAGS.
I WANT TO SEE IF ALEX CAN EVEN RECOGNIZE HER OWN CLOTHES,
AND IF SHE WOULD PICK THEM AGAIN.
THIS WILL SHOW US WHETHER SHE EVEN KNOWS
WHAT SHE HAS TO BEGIN WITH.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. WELCOME. - GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO TODAY IS SORT OF SHOP AS YOU NORMALLY DO.
- GREAT. - GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR THING,
AND I'M GONNA JUST KIND OF FOLLOW YOU AROUND.
BUT TAKE ME INTO YOUR WORLD HERE.
- OKAY.
- IN GENERAL, ARE YOU MORE
OF A BOUTIQUE STORE KIND OF SHOPPER,
OR ARE YOU MORE OF A MALL SHOPPER?
- THIS IS WHAT I LIKE. - OKAY.
- I LIKE TO GO THROUGH EVERY PIECE AND LOOK
AND SEE IF I HAVE ANYTHING LIKE IT, HAVE A COLOR LIKE IT.
- UM, SURE. - COULD YOU ADD THAT AS WELL?
- YOU SAID YOU BUY A LOT OF TEAL. YOU MEAN,
LIKE, PINK AS WELL, RIGHT? - MM-HMM.
- THERE'S A RED DRESS ON THIS RACK THAT BELONGS TO ALEX.
I WONDER IF SHE'S EVEN GONNA RECOGNIZE IT.
- YOU'VE COME BACK OVER TO THAT RED DRESS A COUPLE TIMES NOW.
- I LIKE IT. - YEAH.
ALEX DOESN'T KNOW THAT THE RED DRESS
SHE'S ABOUT TO TRY ON IS HERS.
- LOVE IT. - WOW.
- I LIKE THAT ONE. - I REALLY LIKE THIS.
- WHAT DO YOU--WHAT-- - UM, THIS IS--
- WHAT DO YOU KEY IN ON IN PARTICULAR?
- I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS ANYWHERE.
- SO LIKE, THIS IS SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW.
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT BEFORE, YOU SEE IT, YOU LIKE IT,
AND YOU START THINKING ABOUT WHERE IT COULD GO?
- YES. - OKAY, OKAY, FAIR ENOUGH.
ALEX JUST TRIED ON ONE OF HER OWN DRESSES.
THIS IS CLASSIC SHOPPING ADDICTION.
THE PERSON GETS SO WRAPPED UP IN THE THRILL OF THE PURCHASE
THAT THEY LOSE THE ABILITY TO THINK CRITICALLY
AND ASK QUESTIONS LIKE, "DO I ALREADY OWN THIS?"
WHAT DO YOU HAVE? ALL RIGHT.
- I HAVE GRAY AND THE RED. - OKAY, SO TWO DRESSES.
NOW, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
DURING THE HOUR THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THIS STORE,
YOU'VE BEEN SURROUNDED BY YOUR OWN CLOTHING.
I'M NOT SURE YOU WERE AWARE OF THAT.
- UM, BUT... THESE AREN'T MINE.
UM-- - THIS IS YOURS.
THIS WAS TAKEN FROM YOUR CLOSET TODAY.
WERE YOU AWARE THAT YOU OWNED THIS ALREADY?
- NO. - THIS IS VERY INTERESTING,
BECAUSE THIS ALREADY BELONGS TO YOU.
- RIGHT. - I MEAN,
NOT ONE JUST LIKE IT, I MEAN LITERALLY,
THIS IS YOUR PROPERTY. - THIS ONE.
- OH, MY GOSH, I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THAT.
- HER MOTHER INFORMED ME THAT SHE WAS SHOPPING AT THE MALL.
HELLO, SABRINA, HOW ARE YOU?
- I'D LIKE YOU GUYS TO GO START PULLING OUT THE MULTIPLES.
- I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE AWAY MY CLOTHES.
- WERE YOU AWARE THAT YOU OWNED THIS ALREADY?
- NO. - THIS IS VERY INTERESTING,
BECAUSE THIS ALREADY BELONGS TO YOU.
NOT ONE JUST LIKE IT. I MEAN LITERALLY,
THIS IS YOUR PROPERTY. - THIS ONE.
- AM I HEARING IT RIGHT THAT RIGHT UP UNTIL THIS POINT,
YOU WEREN'T EVEN AWARE THAT IT WAS YOURS?
- NO.
- AND YOU TRIED IT ON EVEN. YOU TRIED IT ON,
YOU LOOKED AT YOURSELF IN IT.
MIGHT IT SUGGEST THAT YOU JUST OWN WAY TO MANY CLOTHES,
THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN KEEP TRACK OF 'EM?
- THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT IT SUGGESTS.
THIS IS CRAZY, TRYING ON MY OWN DRESS,
UM, NOT KNOWING IT WAS MY DRESS.
THAT'S MY FENDI DRESS THAT I LOVE,
SO NOT NOTICING KIND OF SPARKED A LIGHT BULB THAT SAID,
"OKAY, I SEE WHERE YOU MIGHT GET CAUGHT UP IN HOW IT FEELS,
HOW IT LOOKS, AND YOU JUST WANT TO BUY IT."
- YOU GET REALLY CAUGHT UP IN THE HIGH OF THE BUY.
YOU GET REALLY CAUGHT UP IN THE GOOD FEELING
THAT YOU GET FROM PURCHASING THINGS,
AND THAT GOOD FEELING KIND OF
OVERRIDES YOUR CRITICAL THINKING.
- RIGHT. - INCLUDING THOUGHTS LIKE,
"DO I ALREADY OWN THIS?" [laughs]
- RIGHT.
- ALEX SEEMS A LITTLE EMBARRASSED,
BUT SHE DID LEARN A LESSON TODAY.
SHE BUYS MULTIPLES OF SO MANY THINGS
THAT SHE DOESN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S IN HER OWN CLOSET.
I HOPE THAT SHE WILL HANG ONTO THIS LESSON
IN OUR FUTURE EXERCISES TOGETHER, AND THINK TWICE
ABOUT WHAT SHE REALLY NEEDS TO ADD TO HER CLOSET.
- LAST MINUTE, SO WHY DON'T YOU MAKE ONE LAST LAP?
RIGHT NOW, SABRINA SEEMS TO BE HAVING TROUBLE
FINDING THE DESIGNER SUNGLASSES OUT OF THE KNOCKOFFS.
I'M HOPING THIS EXERCISE WILL SHOW HER
THAT DESIGNER LABELS AREN'T WORTH THE COST,
ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE FACING BANKRUPTCY.
TIME'S UP.
FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS SUCH A CONNOISSEUR
AND CARES SO MUCH ABOUT LABELS,
DESIGNER GLASSES DIDN'T JUMP OUT AT YOU.
NOT SO SPECIAL.
- IT'S INTERESTING THAT I BUY ONLY DESIGNER GLASSES,
BUT I COULDN'T TELL WHICH ONES WERE REAL
AND WHICH ONES WERE FAKE. - RIGHT.
I WANT YOU TO PUT THESE ON. GO OVER TO THAT MIRROR,
AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE.
- THEY'RE JUST SUNGLASSES. - THAT'S IT.
$300 PAIR OF GLASSES, THE REAL THING.
DO YOU FEEL SPECIAL? - I GUESS
I COULD PUT ON A DIFFERENT PAIR AND FEEL THE SAME.
- WITH MOM AND SISTER IN BANKRUPTCY,
AND YOU LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL OF A GUN AT DEBT,
WE'RE SEEING THAT THIS IS ALL AN ILLUSION.
THAT $555 PAIR?
THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY IN SEARCH OF AN IMAGE THAT--
YOU COULDN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
- [laughs] - WHICH MEANS THERE'S NO WAY
THE WORLD'S GONNA TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
- YEAH. TODAY I LEARNED
THAT DESIGNER GLASSES AREN'T THAT IMPORTANT.
I'LL PROBABLY THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING ANOTHER PAIR.
- SO WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE STORE,
I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO REMEMBER THIS.
THIS EXERCISE WAS GOOD PROGRESS FOR SABRINA.
I THINK SHE REALIZED THAT NAME BRANDS
AREN'T WORTH PUTTING HER INTO DEBT,
AND THEY ARE CREATING A FALSE IMAGE.
SHE NEEDS TO CARRY THIS LESSON WITH HER
AS WE CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER.
- I'VE INVITED ALEX'S SISTER, JULIE, TO JOIN US.
SHE'S TRAVELED FROM TEXAS BECAUSE
SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT ALEX, AND SHE UNDERSTANDS
HOW UPSETTING IT WOULD BE FOR HER
IF SHE HAD TO MOVE BACK HOME.
THIS WAS A BIG ENOUGH DEAL TO GET YOU ON A PLANE
FROM DALLAS TO LOS ANGELES.
- MM-HMM. - WHY?
- WELL, SHE'S USING A LITTLE BIT OF MY MONEY.
- MM-HMM. - UM, SO I WANT TO KNOW
WHERE THAT MONEY WAS GOING AND KIND OF WHY IT WAS NEEDED.
- WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GONNA HAPPEN
IF ALEX JUST LEAVES THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE?
- UM, WELL, WHEN YOU CAN'T MAKE BILLS,
WHERE DO YOU NORMALLY GO?
I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE,
WHETHER IT'S GOING BACK WITH THE PARENTS
OR MOVING IN WITH A SISTER OR BROTHER, OR--
- SO YOU'RE A LITTLE WORRIED
ABOUT HOW THIS IS GONNA TURN OUT.
- MM-HMM. - OKAY.
ALEX HAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CLOTHES
THAT SHE'S ATTACHED TO, AND IT'S TIME TO LET THEM GO.
IN THIS EXERCISE, I WANT HER TO PULL ALL OF THE MULTIPLES
AND EXTRA CLOTHES THAT SHE DOESN'T WEAR
AND PREPARE TO DONATE 'EM TO A CHARITY.
HERE'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO.
I'D LIKE YOU GUYS TO GO BACK INTO THE BEDROOM
AND START PULLING OUT THE MULTIPLES,
THE THINGS THAT DON'T FIT, THE THINGS YOU WON'T WEAR,
THE THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF STYLE AND YOU DON'T LIKE,
AND BRING 'EM HERE TO THE LIVING ROOM.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN LEARN TO LET GO OF THEM.
- OKAY. - I'LL STAY HERE.
I'LL WATCH AND SEE WHAT YOU GUYS COME AND BRING OUT.
PART OF CHANGING YOUR BEHAVIOR
MEANS LEARNING TO LET GO OF THINGS,
NOT HANGING ONTO THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
ALEX HAS SOME VERY DEEPLY-ROOTED HABITS
THAT SHE'S GOT TO OVERTURN, SO SHE'S GOT TO BE ABLE
TO LET GO OF SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT SHE DOESN'T NEED.
- DO YOU WEAR ALL OF THOSE?
LIKE, YOU HAVE-- ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR--
YOU HAVE-- ALL THOSE ARE PINK.
DO THESE NOT FIT?
- THEY DON'T FIT, BUT I LIKE 'EM.
- I REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT SHE HAS PUT INTO HER CLOTHING.
IT'S INSANE--I'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT, HONESTLY,
SO I REALLY HOPE THAT SHE DECIDES
TO START ON A DIFFERENT PATH,
OR AT LEAST START WORKING THAT WAY.
OH, LOOK HOW MANY YOU HAVE OF THE BLUE.
- I HAVE-- I HAVE A LOT.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE MY CLOTHES GO AWAY BECAUSE
I ASSOCIATE CERTAIN MEMORIES WITH CERTAIN CLOTHING.
- LOOK AT ALL THE BLACK SHIRTS. - NO, THEY'RE DIFFERENT.
- DIFFERENT BUT SAME.
- IT STILL HITS SOMETHING INSIDE OF ME THAT SAYS,
"BUT YOU BOUGHT THAT WITH YOUR OWN MONEY."
THAT WAS THE FIRST $300 SHIRT THAT YOUR DAD DIDN'T PAY FOR.
- BUT-- - I KNOW THERE'S
SENTIMENTAL VALUE THERE, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.
IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA WEAR IT,
PASS IT ON TO THE NEXT PERSON WHO CAN WEAR IT.
MAKE THEM HAVE THE MEMORIES.
- ALEX IS ALREADY RESISTING THE IDEA
OF PULLING THE MULTIPLES AND THE OLDER ITEMS FROM HER CLOSET,
BUT THAT DISCOMFORT TELLS ME THAT WE'VE STRUCK A NERVE.
WE HAVE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE UNCOMFORTABLE
IN ORDER TO CHANGE.
- I WAS PLANNING TO MEET SABRINA
AT HER HOME TO CONTINUE OUR WORK TOGETHER.
WHEN I ARRIVED, TO MY SURPRISE,
HER MOTHER INFORMED ME THAT SHE WAS SHOPPING AT THE MALL.
I'M SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED.
HER MOM INVITED ME TO WAIT FOR HER,
AND I'M ANXIOUS TO FIND OUT WHAT TEMPTED HER TO SHOP
IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR WORK TOGETHER.
I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A MORE SERIOUS APPROACH.
- YEAH, THAT'S FINE.
- I THINK THAT SOMETHING ELSE SHOULD FILL THAT GAP
INSTEAD OF WANTING TO GO SHOPPING.
- MM-HMM, YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.
HELLO, SABRINA, HOW ARE YOU? - HELLO.
HI, MOMMY. - HI, SWEETIE.
- UH, SHOULD I SIT DOWN? - YOU WANT TO JOIN US?
- SURE. - THANK YOU.
THOSE CREDIT CARDS ARE THE PROBLEM,
SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE YOU CUT 'EM UP RIGHT NOW.
CAN YOU DO THAT?
- THERE'S A LOT OF NEED FOR DONATIONS.
- I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE. I FEEL LIKE
I COULD START CRYING. MY HEART'S RACING.
- WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
- SO I HAVE EVERY BRA THAT YOU COULD IMAGINE,
BUT THEN I DECIDED I NEED MORE,
AND I HAVE BRAS WITH THESE SEQUINS ON THEM.
THESE ARE ABOUT 150 EACH.
I HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11.
THIS BRA FROM VICTORIA'S SECRET IS ONE-OF-A-KIND.
IT WAS $400.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY MADE LINGERIE THAT WAS $400,
BUT APPARENTLY, THEY DO.
I HAVE EVERY COLOR, EVERY LEOPARD,
EVERY ZEBRA, EVERY POLKA DOT.
PROBABLY HAVE $10,000, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT $100 A BRA.
[laughs] SO YEAH.
- SABRINA IS FACING BANKRUPTCY
DUE TO OVERUSING HER CREDIT CARDS.
I WAS PREPARING TO MEET HER TODAY FOR OUR NEXT EXERCISE
WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT SHE HAD BEEN SHOPPING.
HER MOTHER INVITED ME TO WAIT UNTIL SHE RETURNED HOME,
AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO HAVE A SERIOUS TALK.
HELLO, SABRINA.
- HELLO.
I COME HOME FROM THE MALL,
AND DR. RAMANI IS SITTING ON THE COUCH WITH MY MOM,
AND IT MAKES ME NERVOUS,
BECAUSE I JUST USED MY CREDIT CARD ON SHOES.
I DID BUY SOMETHING.
I WENT TO MY FAVORITE STORE.
- AND? - BUT I DIDN'T SPEND
AS MUCH AS I NORMALLY SPEND THERE.
- I WANT YOU TO REFLECT FOR A MINUTE
ON ALL THE THINGS YOU COULD HAVE DONE.
YOU COULD HAVE DONE WHAT?
- WHEN I WENT IN THE STORE,
WELL, YOU KNOW, I SHOULDN'T REALLY BE SPENDING IT.
I SHOULD USE IT TO PAY MY CREDIT CARD.
- THAT PUT ME INTO BANKRUPTCY. - WHAT'S THAT?
- THE CREDIT CARDS. - THE CREDIT CARDS DID, YEAH.
- I PAID FOR EVERYTHING ON THE CREDIT CARD.
I DON'T WANT SABRINA TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE THAT I DID.
SHE NEEDS TO STOP NOW.
- AND YOU BOUGHT TWO PAIRS OF SHOES.
- UM, WELL, I DID SEE A COUPLE OTHER PAIRS THAT I LIKED,
BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE MY SIZE.
- SO THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE.
THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED IT WAS CIRCUMSTANCE.
CIRCUMSTANCE IS OFTEN NOT GONNA BE ON YOUR SIDE.
THEY ARE OFTEN GOING TO HAVE THE SIZES.
THIS HAS TO BE ABOUT YOU SAYING NO, NOT THE STORE.
I WANT YOU TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY
FOR YOUR LIFE AND WHO YOU WANT TO BE.
SABRINA GREW UP
WATCHING HER MOTHER AND SISTER USE CREDIT CARDS,
AND IT LED THEM BOTH TO BANKRUPTCY,
BUT SHE HASN'T LEARNED HER OWN LESSON YET.
SHE HAS SEVEN CREDIT CARDS, AND FOUR OF THEM ARE MAXED OUT.
IT'S TIME TO TAKE SOME DRASTIC MEASURES
TO END THIS CYCLE OF DEBT ONCE AND FOR ALL.
THOSE CREDIT CARDS ARE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM,
THEY REALLY ARE,
SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE YOU CUT 'EM UP.
RIGHT NOW, IN FRONT OF YOUR MOM, CLOSE THIS CHAPTER
UNTIL YOU'RE COMPLETELY PAID OFF.
CAN YOU DO THAT?
- WHEN THE DOC ASKED ME TO CUT UP MY CARDS,
I WAS KIND OF SCARED.
ONCE I CUT THEM UP, THERE'S NO GOING BACK.
- CUT UP THE CARDS.
STOP THE SHOPPING.
GET YOUR LIFE BACK.
ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THAT?
COULD WE GET TO THAT PLACE?
- I THINK SO.
- LOOK AT THIS.
- HMM.
- I WANT THIS TO BE DONE NOW.
COULD YOU PLEASE GET YOUR CREDIT CARDS OUT?
- YEAH, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, HAVE YOU WORN ANY OF THOSE?
I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A PICTURE OF THESE
SINCE I CAN'T TELL YOU WHEN.
- I'M HAVING ALEX, WITH THE HELP OF HER SISTER,
ROUND UP SOME OF THE MULTIPLES IN HER CLOSET,
SOME OF THE OLDER THINGS THAT SHE'S NOT WEARING,
AND I'M HOPING THAT SHE'S GONNA BE READY TO LET GO OF THEM
AND DONATE THEM TO CHARITY.
ALL RIGHT. NOW, JULIE,
WE'RE GONNA LEAVE YOU HERE FOR NOW.
- OKAY. - ALL RIGHT?
ALEX AND I ARE GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A TRIP.
SHALL WE? - YES.
- OKAY, HERE WE GO.
WE'VE PACKED UP A BUNCH OF THE THINGS
THAT YOU HAD IDENTIFIED AS BEING MULTIPLES,
BEING THINGS THAT YOU DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT,
AND WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?
- IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE. - OKAY, TELL ME ABOUT IT.
- UM, I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S MINE, AND--
- YUP, IT IS.
- BEING IN BAGS, THAT'S NOT THE WAY I TREAT MY CLOTHES.
- RIGHT. - TO ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY
LOOK AT THE EMPTY HANGERS
AND THE SPACE IN MY CLOSET BOTHERS ME.
- MM-HMM. IT SOUNDS LIKE EVEN THOUGH
YOU HAD BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THESE AS CLOTHES
THAT YOU DIDN'T REALLY WANT, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT
PUTTING IT IN A BAG THAT STARTS TO CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THAT WANTING STARTS TO INCREASE.
YOU START TO FEEL WORSE ABOUT IT.
- RIGHT. - SO THE ACT
OF LETTING GO OF SOMETHING ACTUALLY MAKES YOU
START TO WANT IT MORE. - RIGHT.
YOU DON'T REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE TILL YOU LOST IT.
LIKE, IT MAKES ME REALLY BOTHERED.
- LIKE, I FEEL IT. - YEAH.
THIS LAST EXERCISE MAY BE MORE OF A STRUGGLE
THAN WE ANTICIPATED.
ALEX MAY HAVE PACKED UP HER CLOTHES
AND LOADED UP THE CAR,
BUT SHE'S STILL NOT ONBOARD WITH GIVING THEM UP.
WE ARE AT THE CHARITY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.
THEY HELP THE HOMELESS, WOMEN, THEY RUN A SHELTER.
THERE'S A LOT OF NEED FOR DONATIONS.
THAT SAID, GIVEN THE FACT
THAT WE NEED TO BREAK THIS ASSOCIATION THAT YOU HAVE,
WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO WITH THESE CLOTHES?
- [laughs] I THINK I SHOULD TAKE THEM HOME.
[laughs] I DON'T-- I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE.
LIKE, THIS MAKES ME, LIKE, REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE.
- OKAY, TALK ME THROUGH IT. - UM, I FEEL LIKE
I COULD START CRYING. - OKAY.
- UM, MY HEART'S RACING.
- YOU'RE HAVING A HARD TIME LETTING GO.
- YEAH. - OKAY, SO THIS IS
EXACTLY WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE OUR WORK NEEDS TO BE.
WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?
- I DON'T KNOW.
I AM REALLY UPSET. MY HEART IS RACING.
I THINK HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND
THE ASSOCIATION I SHARE WITH MY CLOTHES.
THEY'RE MEMORIES TO ME.
I FEEL LIKE I'M GIVING AWAY MY MEMORIES.
- IS THAT WHAT IT IS? - YEAH.
- DOES IT FEEL LIKE YOUR MEMORIES ARE IN THESE BAGS?
- [chuckles] YEAH.
- I THINK IT'S PRETTY COMMON FOR PEOPLE
TO INFUSE THEIR MEMORIES WITH THINGS,
BUT IN ALEX'S CASE, THAT'S BECOME SO POWERFUL,
THAT SHE'S REALLY RESISTANT TO LETTING GO OF THOSE ITEMS.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THE MEMORIES ARE IN HER HEAD.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA GO AWAY
JUST BECAUSE SHE GIVES SOME CLOTHES TO CHARITY.
I CAN SEE THIS IS--THIS IS TRIGGERING A LOT FOR YOU.
- [sniffs]
- SO THEY'RE--ESSENTIALLY, THEY'RE MY PICTURES
IN MY MEMORY BOOK, BUT MY MEMORY BOOK'S IN MY CLOSET.
- RIGHT, RIGHT.
- [sobs and sniffles]
- MAYBE WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IS TELLING YOUR BRAIN
THAT THIS IS A PAIR OF SWEATPANTS.
IT'S NOT A MEMORY.
- BUT IT'S NOT A PAIR OF SWEATPANTS.
[laughter] - IT'S A PAIR OF YOGA PANTS.
- BUT IT'S--IT'S-- IT'S--IT'S--
LIKE, THOSE ARE THE FIRST YOGA PANTS I EVER BOUGHT.
- YES. - AND THEY WERE THE FIRST
YOGA PANTS I EVER BOUGHT WITH MY MONEY, AND--
- AND WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED THAT YOU WOULD BE GIVING UP
IF YOU GOT RID OF THIS?
- I DON'T KNOW. LIKE, MY MEMORIES
OF GETTING INTO YOGA, AND... - MM-HMM.
- AND HAVING MY VERY FIRST JOB, AND--
- MM-HMM. THOSE GOOD MEMORIES
OF STARTING YOGA AND THAT HAPPY TIME IN YOUR LIFE,
THEY'RE IN HERE.
THEY'RE NOT HERE.
THESE CLOTHES ARE NOT THE STORYTELLERS.
YOU ARE THE STORYTELLER.
YES, YOU HAVE A TENDENCY TO TELL YOURSELF THE STORIES
WHEN YOU LOOK AT AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING,
BUT THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT.
THAT'S NOT THE SAME THING AS THE STORY BEING IN HERE.
- [sniffs] RIGHT. - THE STORY ALWAYS WAS IN HERE
AND IN HERE.
WE HAVE A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE CYCLE THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO BREAK.
- RIGHT.
- WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS AND HUNGRY
WHO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME OF THESE THINGS.
- YOU HAVE A RATHER EMPTY BANK ACCOUNT
THAT COULD PROBABLY BENEFIT FROM A GOOD TAX DEDUCTION.
- RIGHT. - YOU TELL ME.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
- UM...
- SABRINA HAS BEEN USING CREDIT CARDS
SINCE SHE WAS 14 YEARS OLD
AND GETTING FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO DEBT.
I WANT HER TO CUT UP THE THREE ACTIVE CREDIT CARDS SHE HAS LEFT
AND END HER DEPENDENCE ON CREDIT ONCE AND FOR ALL.
I WANT THIS TO BE DONE NOW.
COULD YOU PLEASE GET YOUR CREDIT CARDS OUT?
- YES.
LOTS OF PLASTIC. - OKAY.
I'M GONNA LET YOU DO THE HONORS ON THE FIRST TWO.
OKAY, I'LL TAKE THAT OUT OF YOUR HANDS.
ONE DOWN.
TWO.
MAY I HAVE THE SCISSORS? - YES.
- I WANT YOU TO CUT THIS LAST CARD.
I WANT YOU TO END THE PROCESS THAT YOU BEGAN.
THIS IS IT.
14 YEARS AGO YOU GAVE HER A CARD.
NOW YOU'RE GONNA CUT IT.
- I THINK WHAT I COULD HAVE DONE
TO CHANGE THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW
IS NOT PUT SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE CREDIT CARDS.
I SHOULD HAVE PUT EMPHASIS ON TO SAVE, TO BUDGET,
AND THAT YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL WITHOUT THE NAME BRAND CLOTHES.
- HOW ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT NOW, SABRINA?
- I GUESS KIND OF LIBERATED. - YEAH?
NO ONE CAN UNDO 14 YEARS OF AN ADDICTION OVERNIGHT,
BUT I THINK SHE'S HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WITH CONTINUED WORK, I HOPE SABRINA REALIZES
THAT SHE HAS THE CONTROL OVER HER ADDICTION
AND THE POWER TO FIGHT IT.
[dog barks]
- NOW, I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO GIVE YOU A HUG.
I THINK THAT I'VE JUST KIND OF GROWN
TO WHERE NOW I HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE
AND I SEE MYSELF AS BEING BEAUTIFUL
WITHOUT ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS.
I'M GLAD I LEARNED THAT LESSON.
- WE HAVE A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE CYCLE
THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO BREAK. - RIGHT.
- WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS AND HUNGRY
WHO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME OF THESE THINGS.
YOU HAVE A RATHER EMPTY BANK ACCOUNT
THAT COULD PROBABLY BENEFIT FROM A GOOD TAX DEDUCTION.
- RIGHT. - YOU TELL ME.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
- I SHOULD DONATE 'EM.
- IS IT TIME?
- I THINK SO.
- ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS A BIG STEP FOR YOU.
- I KNOW, BUT IT STILL REALLY HURTS. [sobs]
- OF COURSE. THE GOOD STUFF ALWAYS HURTS.
- [sobs] - ALL RIGHT,
WE'RE GONNA GO RIGHT OVER HERE WHERE THE DONATION DOCK IS.
READY?
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
FEELS KIND OF YUCKY NOW.
FEELS BETTER LATER. - RIGHT.
GROWTH IS UNCOMFORTABLE.
- GROWTH IS UNCOMFORTABLE.
- WORKING WITH DR. TOLIN WAS AMAZING,
AND HE PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE
FOR ME IN A WAY THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE.
- THAT WAS HARD. - THAT WAS HARD. [laughs]
- I'M PROUD OF YOU. - THANKS.
- ALEX HAS MADE SOME HUGE STRIDES.
IT HASN'T BEEN EASY FOR HER, BUT I'M CONFIDENT
THAT SHE'LL KEEP MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
MY HOPE IS THAT ALEX WILL REMAIN INDEPENDENT FROM HER PARENTS,
GAIN FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY,
AND CONTINUE TO PURSUE HER DREAMS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COMPULSIVE SHOPPING,