Kleptomania Support Group
Kleptomania is an inability to resist impulses of stealing. A person with this disorder is compelled to steal things, generally things of little or no value, such as pens, decorative pins, or wall decorations. They are often unaware of performing the theft until some time later. If you are suffering from kleptomania, join the group and get support.
I should preface this by: as many kleptomaniacs do, I also suffer from other, co-existing psychiatric disorders. I have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa Purging Type, and have recently been abusing marijuana, and feel that is quickly becoming another issue. I have spoken with my Psychiatrist about all of these. I do admit I have these problems. I am not fooling myself, or anyone else. I also am committed to recovery and health. I attend regular group sessions for these issues, and work on my DBT skills and workbook regularly.
My Psychiatrist also says I have many traits of Borderline Personality Disorder, but I have never been actually diagnosed as such.
Given that, I'm not sure if I'm being overly anxious, confused, and paranoid given what other disorders I suffer from, or if what I'm seeing, feeling, hearing, and experiencing is real and not just in my mind.
For the most part, I hadn't noticed anything for the past 5 months or so. August. I've gotten a good grip on my kleptomania, which I feel good about, since that's one less thing to worry about. I do admit to having slipped a few times, but as I've stated, I do not at all consider a slip to be anything near a relapse. I am still committed to my health and happiness and recovery of my kleptomania, as I have been recovering from my Depression and Anxiety (IMO) quite well now that I have the right Psychiatrist and on the right Medications. The Anorexia/Bulimia is still present. That's one I've struggled with the absolute most, and given how easy it is to hide, to lie, to deal with things, etc. I fear it will be my biggest challenge. The fact I can use it to calm myself, to starve away feelings of pain, anger, sadness, or even in times of happiness and celebration, over-indulging, then just purging it afterwards. IDK. I have been sober from Marijuana and other drugs for around a month. I do not know the last time I used, but it was in early November.
As said, I'm progressively getting better with my kleptomania, I feel. However, earlier today, I was kinda triggered...not to steal, and luckily I have not gone back to Marijuana, but I almost decided to buy a bunch of diet pills once more and start starving. I haven't eaten yet, but it's just due to not being hungry, and I didn't buy the pills.
I was in a store (which yes, I have stolen from in the past, but not there for nearly 6-7 months, it really isn't in my driving range, but it has the best alcohol dept. in our town, so I drove out), in the alcohol department (should mention, I don't have any issue with alcohol, though I don't know how that works @_@, given my history), looking to buy my Dad a holiday gift set they put out these times of year. I wasn't sure which to pick up, and was circling around for a few minutes. I turned around, and I saw the LP guy (clearly was an LP, given he was dressed in a dress shirt, tie, had his stupid little walkie talkie, and how he then trailed me for the rest of the time before I picked one out). "Can I help you sir?" He didn't even say "Can I help you FIND something, sir?", which maybe it's just my paranoia, but I thought he meant something by that. "I'm simply looking", I said.
Then, I again, was looking, and he tried looking all inconspicuous by trailing me, but pretending to fix things on the shelf, move things to the front, etc. when he was just shuffling them, moving them back and forth, etc.
Right, like I'm going to pocket something while I have an obvious LP following me, and doing a terrible job at it.
I realize they may have me on camera from when I did steal or something, even though I don't know how long they keep tapes. I've heard a variety of different situations and circumstances, where some claim they cannot detain you on a previous theft, which I'm pretty sure is the case 99% of the time, but I remember reading on another forum, someone was apparently arrested right on entry for a previous theft..? Does it vary from state to state? Upon how recent the crime was committed? I'm not sure.
I guess what I'm getting at is, and it's probably just an opinion question. As said, I don't know if I imagine it a lot of times (this time I know it was real, given how overt he was, and how he wasn't concealing himself in the least), but other times I have felt a bit off, like workers look at me funny, or keep closer eyes on me...I'm not sure.
What do you guys think? Have you ever been in stores and felt people somehow know you once stole from there? Or still do? Even if never caught? Or is that just part of the illness? Maybe I'll never feel safe in another store, given my past. I don't fear relapse, and I actually don't remember when my last slip was, but I just wonder if somehow I have a bad reputation around my town.
I'd really like to up and move. I don't like where I live anyway, and a new place would mean a new start. Sadly, I'm not in a financial situation to do that.
My Psychiatrist also says I have many traits of Borderline Personality Disorder, but I have never been actually diagnosed as such.
Given that, I'm not sure if I'm being overly anxious, confused, and paranoid given what other disorders I suffer from, or if what I'm seeing, feeling, hearing, and experiencing is real and not just in my mind.
For the most part, I hadn't noticed anything for the past 5 months or so. August. I've gotten a good grip on my kleptomania, which I feel good about, since that's one less thing to worry about. I do admit to having slipped a few times, but as I've stated, I do not at all consider a slip to be anything near a relapse. I am still committed to my health and happiness and recovery of my kleptomania, as I have been recovering from my Depression and Anxiety (IMO) quite well now that I have the right Psychiatrist and on the right Medications. The Anorexia/Bulimia is still present. That's one I've struggled with the absolute most, and given how easy it is to hide, to lie, to deal with things, etc. I fear it will be my biggest challenge. The fact I can use it to calm myself, to starve away feelings of pain, anger, sadness, or even in times of happiness and celebration, over-indulging, then just purging it afterwards. IDK. I have been sober from Marijuana and other drugs for around a month. I do not know the last time I used, but it was in early November.
As said, I'm progressively getting better with my kleptomania, I feel. However, earlier today, I was kinda triggered...not to steal, and luckily I have not gone back to Marijuana, but I almost decided to buy a bunch of diet pills once more and start starving. I haven't eaten yet, but it's just due to not being hungry, and I didn't buy the pills.
I was in a store (which yes, I have stolen from in the past, but not there for nearly 6-7 months, it really isn't in my driving range, but it has the best alcohol dept. in our town, so I drove out), in the alcohol department (should mention, I don't have any issue with alcohol, though I don't know how that works @_@, given my history), looking to buy my Dad a holiday gift set they put out these times of year. I wasn't sure which to pick up, and was circling around for a few minutes. I turned around, and I saw the LP guy (clearly was an LP, given he was dressed in a dress shirt, tie, had his stupid little walkie talkie, and how he then trailed me for the rest of the time before I picked one out). "Can I help you sir?" He didn't even say "Can I help you FIND something, sir?", which maybe it's just my paranoia, but I thought he meant something by that. "I'm simply looking", I said.
Then, I again, was looking, and he tried looking all inconspicuous by trailing me, but pretending to fix things on the shelf, move things to the front, etc. when he was just shuffling them, moving them back and forth, etc.
Right, like I'm going to pocket something while I have an obvious LP following me, and doing a terrible job at it.
I realize they may have me on camera from when I did steal or something, even though I don't know how long they keep tapes. I've heard a variety of different situations and circumstances, where some claim they cannot detain you on a previous theft, which I'm pretty sure is the case 99% of the time, but I remember reading on another forum, someone was apparently arrested right on entry for a previous theft..? Does it vary from state to state? Upon how recent the crime was committed? I'm not sure.
I guess what I'm getting at is, and it's probably just an opinion question. As said, I don't know if I imagine it a lot of times (this time I know it was real, given how overt he was, and how he wasn't concealing himself in the least), but other times I have felt a bit off, like workers look at me funny, or keep closer eyes on me...I'm not sure.
What do you guys think? Have you ever been in stores and felt people somehow know you once stole from there? Or still do? Even if never caught? Or is that just part of the illness? Maybe I'll never feel safe in another store, given my past. I don't fear relapse, and I actually don't remember when my last slip was, but I just wonder if somehow I have a bad reputation around my town.
I'd really like to up and move. I don't like where I live anyway, and a new place would mean a new start. Sadly, I'm not in a financial situation to do that.
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