It may be helpful to emphasize these points: Keep in mind that kleptomania is a mental health disorder, not a character flaw, so approach the person without judgment or blame. If you suspect a close friend or family member may have kleptomania, gently raise your concerns with that person. Or they've already been arrested, and they're legally required to seek treatment. Some people seek medical help because they're afraid they'll get caught and have legal problems. However, a mental health provider usually doesn't report your thefts to authorities. Many people who may have kleptomania don't want to seek treatment because they're afraid they'll be arrested or jailed. If you can't stop shoplifting or stealing, seek medical advice.

Urges to steal may come and go or may occur with greater or lesser intensity over the course of time.

Items also may be donated, given away to family or friends, or even secretly returned to the place from which they were stolen.

The stolen items are usually stashed away, never to be used.

Often, the stolen items have no value to the person with kleptomania, and the person can afford to buy them.

Some may steal from friends or acquaintances, such as at a party.

Most people with kleptomania steal from public places, such as stores.

Episodes of kleptomania generally happen suddenly, without planning and without help from another person.

They steal simply because the urge is so powerful that they can't resist it.

Unlike most shoplifters, people with kleptomania don't compulsively steal for personal gain, on a dare, for revenge or out of rebellion.

People with kleptomania usually have these features or characteristics:

Return of the urges and a repetition of the kleptomania cycle.

Feeling terrible guilt, remorse, self-loathing, shame or fear of arrest after the theft.

Feeling pleasure, relief or satisfaction while stealing.

Feeling increased tension, anxiety or arousal leading up to the theft.

Inability to resist powerful urges to steal items that you don't need.Although there's no cure for kleptomania, treatment with medicine or skill-building therapy that focuses on dealing with urges may help to end the cycle of compulsive stealing.

Many people with kleptomania live lives of secret shame because they're afraid to seek mental health treatment. If you have an impulse control disorder, you have difficulty resisting the temptation or powerful urge to perform an act that's excessive or harmful to you or someone else. Kleptomania is a type of impulse control disorder - a disorder that involves problems with emotional or behavioral self-control. It can cause much emotional pain to you and your loved ones - and even legal problems - if not treated. Kleptomania is rare but can be a serious condition. Often the items stolen have little value and you could afford to buy them. Kleptomania (klep-toe-MAY-nee-uh) is a mental health disorder that involves repeatedly being unable to resist urges to steal items that you generally don't really need.

Treatment for kleptomania