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Kleptomania is classified as an impulse control disorder.
As the title implies, those who suffer from this condition are unable to restrain an urge or impulse that could hurt them or other people. They don't steal money, for vengeance, on a dare, out of defiance, or as an act of dare. Instead, people buy goods that are worthless or of very little value.
Those who get seriously addicted to shoplifting describe it as a very powerful addiction that they wish they could stop, even if they are aware that it hurts their life.
Symptoms of kleptomania
What is a kleptomaniac? How can we identify one from another?
Kleptomaniacs rarely use the goods they take, unlike other thieves. Typically, they hide them, discard them, give them to someone else, or even covertly give them back to the owner. They simply steal out of a strong impulse that drives them to do so.
It's possible that people steal or shoplift, as it gives them a rush. It sort of activates the reward center in the brain, which is located in the ventral tagmental region and connects to the nucleus accumbens. When we experience pleasure, certain brain chemicals are released, and this center in the brain keeps reminding us that we want to repeat the experience.
According to the hypothesis, the reward circuitry in addicts is sort of turned up; it acts as the accelerator for our motivation and behavior. You also rely on areas of the frontal lobe of the brain, which functions as the brain's brake system and serves as a general warning to not do it.
What seems to happen in addiction is that for many people, the gas pedal is simply too strong and floored, so their experience of reward is much more intense, or their euphoria is much greater than people who don't become addicted.
The following are symptoms that may help you identify your condition:
- You can't resist the intense desire to take things.
- Overwhelming desire to take something you don't need or can easily afford
- Heightened stress, anxiety, and/or arousal feelings prior to the theft
- Relief, satisfaction, and/or pleasure experienced during the theft
- Emotions of extreme guilt, worry about being arrested, disliking oneself, regret, and/or disgrace following the theft
- Recurrence of these cravings in a consistent pattern
- Additional disorders present, like as eating, substance abuse and anxiety
- Occurrence of sudden, unplanned and uncoordinated episodes of kleptomania
Treatment of kleptomania
Despite your fear and embarrassment, getting help is crucial, as the condition is extremely difficult to beat on your own.
It's prone to develop into a chronic (long term) condition without assistance. Medication, psychotherapy or a combination of the two are typically used to treat this condition:
1) Therapy
One popular method of treating kleptomania is seeking therapy.
Apart from receiving one of the three types of therapy, like family counseling, cognitive behavior therapy, or behavior modification therapy, individuals are evaluated for their psychological issues.
A type of psychotherapy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is frequently used to treat kleptomaniacs. It aids in the replacement of dysfunctional thoughts, behaviors and habit patterns with constructive ones. The following are some of the methods employed in cognitive behavioral therapy:
Covert sensitization technique: Through this technique, you can imagine yourself stealing and then experiencing negative effects and consequences, like getting caught. That will gradually make you less likely to steal.
Systematic desensitization: You will work on relaxation skills and imagine yourself restraining your urges to steal during this technique.
2) Medication
In a study, researchers were able to treat participants with a drug. After six weeks of treatment, those who received the actual medication had lessened or stopped shoplifting altogether.
They felt more in control of their life once more, and had fewer urges to shoplift. The rush and high that comes from shoplifting is what medicines are really intended to combat.
It's advised to consult a psychiatrist right away if the person is aware of their propensity for kleptomania to learn how to handle the situation. It's crucial to give the person confidence and avoid treating them like criminals.
The patient might open up to the therapist once the worry about potential legal repercussions subsides. Instances of kleptomania may decline as a result of this greater engagement.
Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a Master's degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.
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