What is Kleptomania? Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment

Kleptomania is a mental health condition where you feel an overwhelming urge to steal things you don't need or want. This isn't about taking something because you can't afford it or because you're angry. Instead, it's a genuine psychological disorder that creates intense impulses you struggle to control.

People with kleptomania often feel deeply ashamed about their behavior and confused by their own actions. The condition affects less than 1% of the population, but it can cause significant distress and problems in your personal and professional life.

What are the symptoms of kleptomania?

The main symptom is an irresistible urge to steal items that have little personal or monetary value to you. You might find yourself taking small objects like candy, pens, or trinkets from stores, even when you have money to pay for them.

Before you steal, you'll typically experience mounting tension and anxiety that feels almost unbearable. This pressure builds until the only way to find relief seems to be taking the item. The act of stealing temporarily reduces this intense feeling.

After stealing, you might feel a brief sense of relief or satisfaction, but this quickly turns into guilt, shame, and fear of getting caught. Many people with kleptomania describe feeling disgusted with themselves afterward.

Here are the key signs that distinguish kleptomania from other reasons for stealing:

• You steal things you don't need, want, or can't use
• The stolen items often have little monetary value
• You experience intense urges that feel impossible to resist
• You feel tension before stealing and relief during the act
• You're not motivated by anger, revenge, or financial need
• You don't steal as part of a group or due to peer pressure
• You often give away, return, or throw away stolen items

The behavior typically happens spontaneously rather than being carefully planned. You might walk into a store with no intention of stealing anything, but then feel the sudden urge to take something.

What causes kleptomania?

The exact cause of kleptomania isn't fully understood, but researchers believe it involves a combination of brain chemistry, genetics, and psychological factors. Your brain's reward system might not function typically, making it harder to resist impulses.

Some studies suggest that kleptomania might be related to imbalances in brain chemicals like serotonin, which helps regulate mood and impulses. Low serotonin levels are also linked to other impulse control disorders and depression.

Family history appears to play a role, as kleptomania sometimes runs in families. If you have relatives with addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or other impulse control problems, you might have a higher risk of developing kleptomania.

Stressful life events can sometimes trigger the onset of kleptomaniac behavior. Major changes, trauma, or ongoing stress might make you more vulnerable to developing impulse control problems.

Brain injuries, particularly those affecting the frontal lobe area that controls impulses and decision-making, have also been associated with kleptomania in some cases. However, this is relatively uncommon.

When to see a doctor for kleptomania?

You should seek professional help if you're experiencing uncontrollable urges to steal, especially if it's causing problems in your life. Many people wait until they're caught or face legal consequences, but getting help earlier can prevent these complications.

Consider reaching out to a mental health professional if you notice that stealing has become a pattern in your life, even if you haven't been caught yet. The shame and secrecy around kleptomania can make it hard to ask for help, but treatment is available and effective.

If your urges to steal are getting stronger or more frequent, don't wait to seek support. Early intervention can help you develop coping strategies before the behavior escalates or causes serious problems.

You should also consider getting help if kleptomania is affecting your relationships, work, or overall quality of life. The stress of hiding this behavior and living with constant worry about getting caught can take a significant toll on your mental health.

What are the risk factors for kleptomania?

Several factors might make you more likely to develop kleptomania, though having these risk factors doesn't mean you'll definitely develop the condition. Understanding them can help you recognize when you might be more vulnerable.

Being female appears to increase your risk, as about two-thirds of people diagnosed with kleptomania are women. The condition typically begins during adolescence or early adulthood, though it can start at any age.

Having other mental health conditions significantly increases your risk. These commonly co-occurring conditions include:

• Depression and anxiety disorders
• Substance abuse problems
• Eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Other impulse control disorders

Family history of mental health conditions, particularly addiction or impulse control problems, may increase your vulnerability. This suggests there might be genetic factors that contribute to kleptomania.

Head injuries or brain trauma, especially involving the frontal lobe, can sometimes lead to changes in impulse control. While this is a less common cause, it's worth noting if you've experienced significant head trauma.

What are the possible complications of kleptomania?

Kleptomania can lead to serious consequences that extend far beyond the act of stealing itself. The most immediate risk is legal trouble, including arrest, criminal charges, and potential jail time, even for stealing inexpensive items.

Your relationships often suffer significantly when kleptomania isn't treated. Family members and friends may feel betrayed, confused, or angry when they discover your behavior. The secrecy required to hide stealing can create distance and mistrust in your closest relationships.

Professional consequences can be severe and long-lasting. You might face job loss, difficulty finding new employment, or damage to your professional reputation. Many careers require background checks, and theft charges can eliminate job opportunities.

The emotional toll of kleptomania often includes:

• Chronic guilt and shame about your behavior
• Constant anxiety about getting caught
• Depression from feeling out of control
• Social isolation due to fear of judgment
• Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness

Financial problems can develop from legal fees, fines, and potential civil lawsuits. Some people also develop shopping addictions alongside kleptomania, leading to debt and financial instability.

In rare cases, kleptomania can escalate to more serious criminal behavior or lead to dangerous situations if you steal from the wrong person or place. Getting treatment early helps prevent these more serious complications.

How is kleptomania diagnosed?

Diagnosing kleptomania requires a thorough evaluation by a mental health professional, typically a psychiatrist or psychologist. There's no blood test or brain scan that can diagnose the condition, so the process relies on detailed discussions about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Your doctor will ask about your stealing behavior, including when it started, how often it happens, and what triggers the urges. They'll want to understand the emotional experience you have before, during, and after stealing episodes.

The diagnostic process involves ruling out other reasons for stealing. Your doctor will explore whether you steal due to financial need, anger, peer pressure, or as part of another mental health condition like conduct disorder or antisocial personality disorder.

To meet the criteria for kleptomania, your behavior must fit specific patterns:

1. Recurrent failure to resist impulses to steal unnecessary items
2. Increasing tension before stealing
3. Relief or gratification when committing the theft
4. Stealing isn't motivated by anger, vengeance, or personal need
5. The behavior isn't better explained by other mental health conditions

Your doctor will also assess for other mental health conditions that commonly occur alongside kleptomania. This comprehensive evaluation helps create the most effective treatment plan for your specific situation.

What is the treatment for kleptomania?

Treatment for kleptomania typically combines psychotherapy with medication, and the good news is that many people see significant improvement with proper care. The goal isn't just to stop stealing, but to help you understand and manage the underlying urges.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is often the first-line treatment approach. This type of therapy helps you identify the thoughts and feelings that trigger stealing urges and teaches you healthier ways to cope with these impulses.

Your therapist might use specific techniques like covert sensitization, where you learn to associate stealing with negative consequences, or systematic desensitization to reduce your anxiety around the urges to steal.

Medications can be helpful, especially if you have co-occurring conditions like depression or anxiety. Your doctor might prescribe:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression and impulse control
• Mood stabilizers if you have bipolar disorder
• Anti-anxiety medications for severe anxiety symptoms
• Naltrexone, which can help reduce the rewarding feeling from stealing

Group therapy can provide valuable support and help you realize you're not alone in dealing with this condition. Hearing from others who understand your experience can reduce shame and provide practical coping strategies.

Treatment usually takes time, and setbacks are normal. Your mental health team will work with you to adjust your treatment plan as needed and provide ongoing support throughout your recovery journey.

How to manage kleptomania at home?

While professional treatment is essential, there are strategies you can use at home to help manage your urges and support your recovery. These techniques work best when combined with therapy and medical care, not as replacements for professional help.

Learning to recognize your triggers is crucial for managing kleptomania. Keep a journal noting when you feel urges to steal, what you were thinking about, and what was happening in your life at that time.

When you feel the urge to steal building up, try these immediate coping strategies:

• Leave the store or situation immediately
• Call a trusted friend or family member
• Practice deep breathing or grounding techniques
• Remind yourself of the consequences of stealing
• Engage in a different activity that requires focus

Avoid high-risk situations when possible, especially during stressful periods. This might mean shopping online instead of in stores, bringing a trusted friend when you need to shop, or avoiding certain stores that trigger your urges.

Building a strong support system is incredibly important. Consider joining a support group for people with impulse control disorders or talking to trusted friends and family members who can provide accountability and encouragement.

Taking care of your overall mental health helps reduce the intensity of kleptomania urges. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, stress management, and avoiding drugs and alcohol all support your recovery efforts.

How should you prepare for your doctor appointment?

Preparing for your first appointment about kleptomania can feel overwhelming, but being organized will help you get the most out of your visit. Remember, your doctor wants to help you, not judge you, so try to be as honest and detailed as possible.

Before your appointment, write down specific details about your stealing behavior. Include when it started, how often it happens, what types of items you typically steal, and what triggers these episodes.

Keep track of your emotional state before, during, and after stealing incidents. Note any patterns you've noticed, such as whether stress, depression, or certain situations make the urges stronger.

Bring a list of all medications and supplements you're currently taking, including over-the-counter drugs. Also, prepare information about your medical history and any previous mental health treatment you've received.

Write down questions you want to ask your doctor:

• What treatment options are available for my situation?
• How long does treatment typically take?
• What can I expect during the recovery process?
• How can I manage urges while waiting for treatment to work?
• Should my family members be involved in treatment?

Consider bringing a trusted family member or friend to provide support and help you remember important information discussed during the appointment. Having someone there can also help reduce anxiety about the visit.

What's the key takeaway about kleptomania?

Kleptomania is a real mental health condition that causes genuine distress and isn't something you can simply "stop" through willpower alone. Understanding that this is a treatable medical condition, not a character flaw or moral failing, is the first step toward getting better.

The most important thing to remember is that help is available and treatment can be very effective. Many people with kleptomania go on to lead fulfilling lives once they receive appropriate care and develop healthy coping strategies.

Don't let shame prevent you from seeking help. Mental health professionals are trained to treat kleptomania with compassion and understanding. The sooner you reach out for support, the sooner you can start working toward recovery.

Recovery is a process that takes time and patience with yourself. Setbacks might happen, but they don't mean treatment isn't working or that you can't get better. With the right support and treatment approach, you can learn to manage your impulses and regain control over your life.