Do you steal for an emotional high? Do you feel initial tension, then a thrill of excitement that builds up prior to the theft and relief after it’s done? Is this then followed by feeling guilt, shame and remorse? These are some signs that stealing may be a problem for you. Do you steal to escape? When stealing, do you feel different, as if you’re not yourself or you’re not in touch with reality? This is a fairly common state of feeling for individuals who steal.
Be sure to name the feelings, such as anger, fear, sadness, loneliness, being creeped out, exposed, vulnerable, etc. that accompany the need to steal.
If you have been caught, how strong were the accompanying feelings? Why do you feel that even being caught isn’t enough to overcome the need to steal? Write it all down.
Be reassured that therapy for kleptomania/compulsive stealing can be very successful in helping you to overcome this disorder, but also remember the outcome depends on how badly you want it and how much you are willing to work for it!
You can discuss these options with a mental health professional. There are also ways you can explore these types of therapy on your own through self-help measures. For example, CBT involves changing your thoughts in order to change you feelings and behaviors.
Consult a psychiatrist for additional information or to discuss psychotropic options.
Think about the thoughts that arise when you are considering stealing something. For example you may think, “I really want that,” or, “I will get away with it. ” [9] X Research source Think about who it benefits. Does it only benefit you when you steal? Or your family, friends, or someone else? And in what way does it benefit you or others? If you feel that some of your compulsion to steal is about validating your position or feeling secure within your group of friends or family by “buying” their affection or rewarding their attention with items, then you’ll need to start seeing these drives for the insecurity within you that they represent.
For example, if you find yourself thinking, “I really want that ring, so I’ll steal it,” instead think, “I want that ring, but it is wrong to steal so I will focus on saving my money instead. ”
For some people, stealing is a form of passive rebellion against situations that make them feel powerless. Reflecting on these bigger picture concerns will help you to start developing your own goals for your life and will help you to set boundaries on poor behaviors that don’t help you reach your goals.
Read How to stand up for yourself, How to be assertive and How to communicate in an assertive manner for more details.
You can use the information you wrote down during the writing exercise above in order to begin your relapse prevention plan. Write down a history of your stealing. List as many stealing episodes as possible, starting from when you were a child. Note any situations that were going on during that time or what influenced your decision to steal. Rate the need to steal for each episode. Use a scale of 1 to 10 to show how much you felt compelled to steal on each occasion you’ve noted.
Learn high-risk situations. The key to controlling your impulses is understanding risky situations and avoiding them. [12] X Research source What were your feelings when the stealing took place? See if you can identify particular triggers, such as someone being nasty to you, someone yelling at you, feeling down or unloved, being rejected, etc. Note the correlation between what triggered your need to steal and the rating you’ve given the feeling that you needed to steal. Keep this list, journal or notebook very safe. Remove yourself from triggering situations that might encourage you or make it easy for you to steal. Some examples of these types of triggers include being around friends who steal, or going into stores that you know have low security. Avoid these situations at all cost so you will not be tempted.
Stop. Instead of acting on impulse, stop yourself immediately. Take a breath. Stand still and give yourself breathing space. Observe. Think about what is going on. What am I feeling? What am I thinking? What am I reacting to? Pull back. Attempt to look at the situation objectively. Is there another way of thinking about the situation? Project yourself to after the theft when you’re holding the item and wondering what to do with it and wondering how to overcome the guilt. Practice what works. Choose for yourself what you would rather do instead of stealing something. Plan to change your behavior every time the craving to steal comes over you. Some examples of what might be helpful include: telling yourself about who you are and what your values are, reminding yourself that you are a good person and a person who is valued, self-calming techniques, and imagining peaceful scenes to calm your racing heart and tension.
Turn to the present. Keep a daily account of your current stealing exploits, if any. As before, keep writing the feelings and rate the desire to steal. Balance the writing. Be sure to write down your accomplishments, the things that you’re proud of and the things that you’re grateful for. Try to make these things become the main focus of your journal keeping over time, in order to help build your self-esteem.
Make notes of new ways to distract, entertain and amuse yourself. What sorts of new thoughts and actions are you discovering you can use to make yourself feel better?
Kleptomania exists in about . 3-. 6 % in the general population. In other words, about 1 in 200 people may meet the criteria for kleptomania as a disorder. 11% of people shoplift at least once in their lives. That is, over 1 in 10 people have shoplifted at least once. However, shoplifting once or twice does not constitute a disorder. Kleptomania is an impulse control disorder; it is associated with a “high” when engaging in stealing, followed by guilt after stealing. It is also characterized by an inability to control or stop the stealing despite repeated efforts. [19] X Research source Stealing is not considered an addiction according to the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), which is a reference guide for psychologists and psychiatrists in diagnosing mental disorders.
