I donāt usually ever talk about things like this, especially to strangers and I will probably delete it eventually butā¦.
Iām 21. And from like age 8-20 I had a problem with stealing. And it was not because I necessarily needed to but I would usually just take candy from stores. And as stupid as sounds, thatās literally the only reason why I did itā¦because I wanted candy. Only time I took something I actually needed were some batteries and a phone charger but nothing beyond just that. I also took money from my classmates lockers and I even once almost took someoneās iPod, but I was so afraid that I ended up giving it back the next day. But whatās even worse is the fact that I have taken some of my brotherās birthday/Christmas money that he keeps in a stash. Rough estimate at least $250. Could be less. And yes I do feel horrible about it all. And I wish I could go back in time and have never done it to begin with. Fast forward to now I have successfully fought off the urge to shoplift because I know how bad it can be for your career if you get caught. Iām currently a full time college student so I donāt work. My dad gives me a certain amount of spending money every week to kind of help me. And I have been putting a bit of it back in my brotherās stash as restitution. And no I havenāt told my brother because we do have a good relationship and heās one of the closest people to me. I appreciate any advice. Feel free to call me a pos as well.
Edited Update: thanks for the advice and support. So basically after going back and forth about it I decided to tell my mom pretty much what I told this thread. I didnāt go too deep into detail in terms of listing every single thing I took but I told her enough to know whatās going on. Surprisingly, she didnāt get angry about it. Disappointed, yes. But I know she was glad I told her. She reminded me in her humorous fashion that she āreserves the right to get mad.ā So this weekend we plan on going to the bank to get money out of my savings and give it to my brother. Right now, heās at school in a difference city and wonāt be back until Spring break. Thatās when I plan on telling him and giving him the money and will offer to buy him lunch afterwards. I do feel better now that my mom knows but the mission isnāt accomplished until my brother knows. Like I said, him and I are fairly close and we rarely fight over anything besides petty stupid stuff, so I donāt know how he will react. Prayers and good luck would be appreciated as well as any additional advice.
if you are really worried about it have a session with a mental health professional. Kleptomania is a type of OCD and can and should be treated
I heard about kleptomania but I donāt have the desire to steal as much as I did when I was a kid.
Doesnāt hurt to talk to someone about it, maybe youāve aged out of it, maybe itās slowly manifesting itself in a different way, there are professionals that can tell the difference.
Nobody is going to hold a young adult accountable for minor things they did as a child, especially not a psychiatrist. Itās better to get checked when you have the awareness that something night not have been right, because when things are very wrong you wonāt have the desire to get checked.
Yeah, but Iād aggree with MissJinx. Lots of teenagers occasionally shoplift. But stealing a significant amount of money from your brother is imo defintly a big red flag.
Still, going open with it is a really great step imo. But Iād also say, that if you ever again feel that urge, professional help would be a good idea.
The thing is not the amout of times or money, itās feeling sorry and āthe urgeā. doing it because you have no morals or because you feel he owes you wouldnāt be because of an urge nor you would feel sorry
Yeah, but you still have to differentiate between teenagers trying out their borders and pathological cleptomania.
Id say easily half of my high-school class had a shoplifting phase.
yes, I canāt do that but thatās why I believe it would be good for him to have a professional.assessment.
That might be true, but in this post you say you were doing it only a year ago and still fight the urge to shoplift so itās probably still worth looking into.
Just because you grew doesnt mean itās gone. Do it. The worst it can happen is you not getting anything out of this