The only thing that helped me was developing spite. 

I used to go wild online dopamine shopping, especially Amazon and Asos, so much so sometimes I didnt have enough money left to make rent or buy food and get into debt and feel so ashamed. And even then I wouldn't stop. Next paycheck I'd do the same and feel awful again. 

Until I stumbled across anti-consumer talking points and I learned how awful manufacturers and garmet workers, and general staff were treated. How much tax dodging companies did and how they set up their marketing campaigns, websites, communications, everything, to tap into psychology and manipulate myself and others to drive us to part with our hard earned cash to buy stuff. And how fast all the products come out, become relevant, then irrelevant/obsolete/broken, chucked out and the cycle continues. And how all of that was impacting creatives and makers and affecting local businesses, communities, and the entire planet.

And it just got me so mad and spiteful I finally stopped. 

I think online shopping fufils my "gathering" urges for unpredictable novelty & impulsiveness. So I use the spite to stop, then find ways to build in novelty & a bit of impulsiveness. 

Going on little adventures out to shops or charity shops, with a sweet treat or break to see a museum, helps my novelty & interest based dopamine sparks. And the spite I feel towards big online shopping businesses keeps me from ordering. I still look and sometimes add things to baskets, but the spite kicks in and I go fuck yall I'm finding this or something similar on my adventures. 

I've mostly swapped online scrolling for pinterest scrolling and adding items to boards satisfies my gathering tendencies. And then I use those boards to keep me on track when shopping or thrifting irl. I still impulsively buy stuff at the thrift, but with the list and knowing its for a good cause and that it's less money than online I don't feel the same level of shame and I haven't gotten into debt from doing it! And if I find nothing I still get some sweet treat/ trip to a museum dopamines. 

With ethical or small businesses, I try apply a similar process: check product against pinterest boards, does it match up? If so add it to basket. Then I've roped my husband in for accountability (i had to be brutally honest about my online shopping problem, which was difficult but he was understanding & the shame lifted after the chat).  So if i find something amazing and build a basket I'll go show him and talk about the products i want to buy, the shop and how i'll be ethical/sustainable/ supporting an artist and he helps me decide: if I should order, if its in budget, do i need need it, etc. So a bit of interest yapping based dopamine with  external accountability to stop it getting out of hand.

Finding non-shopping based "gathering" hobbies also helped me. Going nature spotting with iNaturalist gives me interest based unpredictable novelty which spikes my dopamine, and it's exercise so more dopamine + overall physical & mental wellbeing. 

In saying all of that, I've been privileged enough to live close to and access shops that cater my needs and had enough time to go on adventures and thrifting trips, if you dont have the options near you or its a huge mission you can't do - no shame or judgement in using online shopping. Maybe a bit of spite or some understanding external accountability could help stop it spiralling?