Kleptomania is an obsessive impulse to steal. Often a kleptomaniac person takes things he could have bought easily or things that are not at all expensive. The person steals just for the excitement or the rush. Kleptomania can be the result of emotional problems during childhood. The disorder could also be caused from stress, depression, or family problems. People who suffer from the disorder often find themselves caught in a vicious cycle. They steal for a temporary high, but when it wares off they need to steal again. These people have an irresistible inclination to steal. Often they throw away the stolen goods. They are mostly interested in the rush of the stealing itself. Although psychiatrists consider kleptomania as a disease, this is not a legal excuse in court. Kleptomania is rather easy to treat. It is important to find something else to replace the stealing activity. Instead of putting themselves in a position to steal, often people with the disorder should chose to be with their family or friends to avoid the activity. It is also very important to make the patient realize that they are harming others by shoplifting. Not only are they harming the ones they steal from, but they are also hurting the ones they love. .
I believe this disorder is one to be taken seriously. The problems within these people go deeper then just items being stolen. They need to seek professional help to get to the root of the problem. There is a difference between people who steal to get attention and people who feel they need to steal. I believe that stealing is a superficial problem compared to what the person is really going through.
