A man named Xiao Fang living in Ba’nan District, Chongqing, was brutally beaten with a wooden stick by his girlfriend, Xiao Lin, after he returned more than 20 parcels of her online shopping on September 26, reported Chongqing Morning News.

Local police officers rushed to the scene after receiving the emergency call. The police warned Xiao Lin that she might face a charge if her boyfriend’s injuries prove severe. Through police mediation, the two were calmed down and reconciled.

Xiao Fang claimed that his girlfriend was a compulsive buyer, spending 5,000-6,000 yuan a month (about US$ 900) on clothing and cosmetics.

"Online shopping addiction has become a common problem among women in Chongqing,” said Qing Si, head of Chongqing Psychological Consultation Center. A survey found that about 80 percent of women in Chongqing have online shopping habits, among which over 30 percent show symptoms of addiction.

He said that symptoms of online shopping addiction were the same as those for offline shopping with the added convenience and easy access that the Internet brings.

Introverted women under the age of 30 suffering from social dysfunction are particularly vulnerable to the addiction. They usually have few hobbies and use shopping to fill the feeling of emptiness in their lives, Qing Si added.

If you are struggling with online shopping compulsion, here are some ways to help combat the problem: block Internet access to your favorite shopping sites; unsubscribe from all promotional emails and delete shopping apps from mobile devices. Like any other addiction, compulsive shopping can be also managed successfully with treatment and therapy.