It'll require some quality professional help to sort out whether your friend is suffering from depression, chronic alcoholism, or something else.

Some might tell you to leave this to the professionals, but in practical terms, they see people for only a short time, so your observations are going to be better than theirs--their conclusions as to cause will be better than yours, when it comes to how to deal with the problem, it will be completely up for grabs.

First, you have to figure out whether these impulse spending issues are a new problem or an old one.

Some people with depression and bipolar disorder tend to use spending binges as a kind of self-stimulation, we eve jokingly call it "shopping therapy". This if often a habit that becomes part of a lifestyle.

On the other hand, people who suffer brain injuries of one type or another often have problems making appropriate spending choices, when they once were good at it. It also can come with dementia of the various types, and after years of alcohol abuse.

This stuff isn't easy to deal with, and the solutions, if there are any, tend to be imposed--sooner or later, people run out of money and fall into debt, family members, friends, etc end up taking away credit cards, check books. take over financial responsibilities.

There are financial advisors, therapists, and even 12-step groups for people who are trying to reign in bad spending habits, and rehabilitation hospitals have programs to help people relearn budgeting and management skills, but the spender has to be committed to making a change.

You have my sympathy and best wishes--it is difficult to stand by and watch a friend or relative harm themselves in this way, and it can be both emotionally and financially expensive to intervene.