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This article was co-written by Trudi Griffin, LPC, MS. Trudi Griffin is a licensed professional counselor in Wisconsin. She received her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University in 2011.
There are 15 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 13,888 times.
Theft is a common problem in society. Some people only steal once or twice, while others can’t resist the urge to steal. Some people steal because they can’t afford the items, others may take pleasure in stealing, while some feel entitled to have what they want without paying. . Theft has many consequences such as imprisonment and criminal record keeping. Although not yet considered an addiction, phobias – a form of lust control disorder related to theft – can leave you feeling ashamed and guilty. To deal with a stealing addiction, it is important for you to: identify you have a stealing problem, seek outside support, change your thinking about stealing, develop a prevention plan prevent recurrence, find alternatives to stealing, and educate yourself about stealing.
Steps
Identify you have a theft problem
- Do you steal for emotional gratification? Do you feel the tension first, then the thrill of joy before the theft, and the relief after the theft? Is it followed by guilt, shame, and regret? Those are some of the signs that stealing is a problem for you.
- Do you steal to escape? When you are stealing, do you have a strange feeling as if you are not yourself or that you are not in the real world? This is a fairly common feeling among people who have a habit of stealing.
- Remember to name those feelings, such as anger, fear, loneliness, feelings of stealth, exposure, weakness, etc., that accompany the need to steal.
- If you’ve ever been caught red-handed, how strong were your feelings at that time? Why do you feel that it is not enough to help you overcome the desire to steal? Record all of that.
Find outside help
- Remember that obsessional/impulsive-stealing therapy can be very successful in helping you overcome this disorder, but don’t forget that the results also depend on your determination to be strong. stars and how willing you are to do it!
- You can discuss these options with a mental health professional.
- You can also explore these therapies on your own with self-help measures. For example, CBT involves changing your thoughts to change your feelings and behaviors.
- Consult a psychiatrist for more information or to discuss options for psychiatric treatment.
Change your mind about stealing
- Think about the thoughts that come up when you are about to steal something. For example, you might think, “I really want to do it,” or, “I’ll get away with it.” [11] X Research Source
- Think about who benefits from this. Is the beneficiary just you, or is it your family, friends or someone else? In what way does it benefit you or others? If you feel part of your urge to steal is to strengthen your position or to find a sense of security in your circle of friends or family through “buying” affection or in return for attention. their intentions with items, then you need to start seeing that motivation as your inner insecurity.
- For example, if you find yourself thinking, “I really want that ring, and I’m going to steal it,” think differently, “I want that ring, but stealing is wrong, so I will focus on saving money.”
- For some people, stealing is a form of passive rebellion against situations that make them feel helpless. Looking at your broader concerns will help you begin to develop your own goals for your life and at the same time help you draw boundaries with the bad behaviors that are preventing you from achieving your goals. its goal.
- Read How To Stand Up For Yourself, How To Be Assertive, and How To Communicate With An Assertive Attitude for more details.
Make a plan to prevent recurrence
- You can use the information you wrote down in the exercise above to start a plan to prevent a relapse.
- Write down your theft history. List as many cases as you can, starting when you were a child. Take note of any circumstances that occurred during that time and the factors that influenced your decision to steal.
- Rate the degree of desire to steal in each case. Use a scale of 1 to 10 to describe how motivated you are to steal in each of the cases you’ve just recorded.
- Learn about high-risk situations. The key to overcoming the urge to steal is understanding risky situations to stay away from. [14] X Research Source
- How do you feel when you commit the theft? See if you can identify particular triggers, such as someone annoying you, someone yelling at you, feelings of sadness and unlovedness, rejection, etc.
- Note the correlation between the stimulus to the desire to steal and the degree to which you have assessed the feeling of desire to steal.
- Keep this list, diary or notebook carefully.
- Avoid situations that may prompt or facilitate you to steal, such as among a group of friends who have a habit of stealing, or going to stores with lax security. Avoid these situations at all costs so as not to be tempted.
- Stop . Instead of acting on impulse, stop immediately.
- Breath. Stand still and give yourself space to breathe.
- Observe. Think about what’s going on. How do you feel? What are you thinking? What are you reacting to?
- Back. Try to look at the situation with an objective eye. Is there a different way of thinking about the situation? Think about a post-stealing situation where you are holding the item in your hand and ask yourself what to do with it and how to get over the guilt.
- Do things that are effective. Choose for yourself what you want to do instead of stealing. Make a plan to change your behavior each time the urge to steal arises. Some helpful things include: Telling yourself who you are and what your values are, telling yourself that you are a good and valuable person, practicing self-calming and self-image techniques. Use peaceful scenes to lower your heart rate and relieve stress.
- Back to the present. Keep a daily record of thefts you currently commit, if any. As above, write about your feelings and levels of desire to steal.
- Balance your notes. Remember to jot down your accomplishments, the things that make you proud, and the things for which you are grateful. Try to gradually make these the main focus of journaling to build your self-esteem.
Find an alternative to stealing
- Take note of new ways to amuse, entertain, or amuse yourself. What kinds of thoughts and actions have you discovered that can help lift your mood?
Educate yourself about stealing
- Phobias of stealing affect 3-6% of the population. In other words, one in every 200 people qualifies for a diagnosis of obsessive-stealing disorder as a disorder.
- 11% of people have “stuck” at least once in their life. That is more than one in 10 people shoplifting once in their life. However, one or two thefts is not considered disorder.
- The obsession with stealing is a desire control disorder; was associated with a feeling of “high” when committing the act of stealing, along with a feeling of guilt after stealing. The disorder is also characterized by an inability to restrain or stop stealing despite repeated attempts. [21] X Research Source
- Theft is not considered an addiction, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), a reference guide for psychologists and psychiatrists in diagnosing mental disorders. .
Advice
- If you can’t afford something but want it, think of a less expensive way to exchange items. Perhaps simply borrowing an item from someone else temporarily will help you overcome your desire to own it.
- Talk to a close friend or family member about your problem. They can give you good advice and will be a great source of support. Sharing your problem with a loved one can be of great help.
- If you feel you can’t talk to someone like a doctor, talk to a trusted family member.
Warning
- Returning stolen items can cause legal trouble. If there’s a way to return an item you’ve stolen without liability, do so – perhaps you should leave the item in front of the store when it’s unopened, or ship with a card. apology letter or note.
Things you need
- A notebook or diary to record your feelings as well as triggers and solutions – you can make your own with cheap paper or BUY a cheap one; you have to pay or earn by being honest, or else you have destroyed the purpose even before starting, and this is extremely important.
This article was co-written by Trudi Griffin, LPC, MS. Trudi Griffin is a licensed professional counselor in Wisconsin. She received her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University in 2011.
There are 15 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This entry has been viewed 13,888 times.
Theft is a common problem in society. Some people only steal once or twice, while others can’t resist the urge to steal. Some people steal because they can’t afford the items, others may take pleasure in stealing, while some feel entitled to have what they want without paying. . Theft has many consequences such as imprisonment and criminal record keeping. Although not yet considered an addiction, phobias – a form of lust control disorder related to theft – can leave you feeling ashamed and guilty. To deal with a stealing addiction, it is important for you to: identify you have a stealing problem, seek outside support, change your thinking about stealing, develop a prevention plan prevent recurrence, find alternatives to stealing, and educate yourself about stealing.
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