I'm painfully aware what I do is wrong, yet I feel I have very little control. Things escalated after my partner left me for another woman. The feelings of rejection and anger created a void, one that I filled with more stealing. At my lowest, when I felt most depressed and detached, I would shoplift all day on autopilot.
I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder; the symptoms can include feelings of emptiness and impulsive behaviour. It is a relief at least to have an explanation for my behaviour. I've been caught three times, and on my last court appearance I was given a conditional discharge.
The magistrate said he would give me one more chance. If I'm caught again, I will go to prison, which I just can't face. I've started counselling now and have been given a mentor and a social worker. I'm working towards a maths qualification and for the first time I feel inspired to stop. I believe my addiction is treatable, even though I'll probably always have to fight the urge.
I've never been offered anything like this before and I'm learning that I'm not all bad. I can be helped. Do you have an experience to share? Email experience theguardian. Eat well-balanced meals and exercise to increase your strength and emotional well-being. If you nurture your mind and body during this time, you can more easily move beyond the negative feelings you are experiencing.
Lean on your support system. Turn to neighbors, family, friends, and your local community to recover from a theft. Be honest if there is something someone can help you do to feel more safe and secure in your home or community.
We'll be out of town Friday and Saturday and I've been uneasy since the break-in. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Watch what kind of people you hang out with. Hanging out with people that you don't really trust could lead to getting your belongings stolen. Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1. Be kind to yourself — a lot of thefts aren't personally attacking you, they are just an act of convenience, no matter whose home it was.
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. If it was too easy for them to break in, try to make your house more secure. Helpful 9 Not Helpful 5. Related wikiHows How to. How to. More References 6. About This Article. Co-authored by:.
Paul Chernyak, LPC. Co-authors: Updated: September 15, Categories: Psychological Disorders Theft. Article Summary X There are a lot of reasons why people steal. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. More reader stories Hide reader stories. Did this article help you?
Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Flying Amplitude Jun 8. Tami Rouse Jan 28, I know she has problems, and this article is helping me to step back and not want to throw her out. Bell Marea Feb 15, I did not know I could find such quick and easy information. Sometimes, a child may steal as a show of bravery to friends, or to give presents to family or friends or to be more accepted by peers.
Children may also steal because they might not want to depend on anyone, so they take what they feel they need. Parents should consider whether the child has stolen out of a need for more attention. In these cases, the child may be expressing anger or trying to "get even" with his or her parents; the stolen object may become a substitute for love or affection.
The parents should make an effort to give more recognition to the child as an important family member. If parents take the proper measures, in most cases the stealing stops as the child grows older.
Child and adolescent psychiatrists recommend that when parents find out their child has stolen, they:. If you need help preparing for this conversation, talk with your doctor. He or she may refer you to a mental health professional who can help you plan a way of raising your concerns without making your loved one feel defensive or threatened. The cause of kleptomania is not known. Several theories suggest that changes in the brain may be at the root of kleptomania. More research is needed to better understand these possible causes, but kleptomania may be linked to:.
Kleptomania is considered uncommon. However, some people with kleptomania may never seek treatment, or they're simply jailed after repeated thefts, so some cases of kleptomania may never be diagnosed. Kleptomania often begins during the teen years or in young adulthood, but can start in adulthood or later.
About two-thirds of people with known kleptomania are women. Left untreated, kleptomania can result in severe emotional, family, work, legal and financial problems.
For example, you know stealing is wrong but you feel powerless to resist the impulse, so you may be wracked by guilt, shame, self-loathing and humiliation.
And you may be arrested for stealing.
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