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The mid-life crisis is so common that it received its own term. In fact, it is almost expected for men. It is also expected for financially successful middle-aged men to live their mid-life crises in the most extravagant ways possible, on cars, boats or houses. But for Friday Night Lights author and Vanity Fair contributing editor Buzz Bissinger, his poison was different. His addiction was clothes.

In a GQ piece to be published in their magazine next month, Bissinger describes his addiction. His compulsive shopping has had some payoffs, with him being invited to Milan for Fashion Week at the behest of Gucci. However, the compulsive spending also led to a great amount of money being spent. In researching his spending habits over the course of the past five years, Bissinger found that he spent nearly $600,000 - entirely on clothes.

"I have an addiction," he writes in the piece. "It isn't drugs or gambling: I get to keep what I use after I use it. But there are similarities: the futile feeding of the bottomless beast and the unavoidable psychological implications, the immediate hit of the new that feels like an orgasm and the inevitable coming-down."

According to NBC News, Bissinger's addiction began when the youngest of his three children left for college and when his wife accepted a position in Abu Dhabi. He said that buying clothing fulfilled his need for attention. In addition, wearing women's clothing and experiencing wild nights allowed him to answer his sexual confusion.

Bissinger said that he wrote the piece in order to hold himself accountable to the help that he needed to receive. He also wanted to provide a voice to help other people face addiction.

The piece was released online today. Bissinger has since checked himself into a rehabilitation center. He and his family have declined to state the reason.