[BonnieG2010]

has anyone here ever had any experience with kleptomaniac?

I'd like to know what's best to do.

Pretending that I noticed nothing and that nothing happened is not correct.

Thanks for any help or suggestion.

[(JD)]

Kleptomania is a complex disorder characterized by repeated, failed attempts to stop stealing. It is often seen in patients who are chemically dependent or who have a coexisting mood, anxiety, or eating disorder. Other coexisting mental disorders may include major depression, panic attacks, social phobia , anorexia nervosa , bulimia nervosa , substance abuse, and obsessive-compulsive disorder . People with this disorder have an overwhelming urge to steal and get a thrill from doing so. The recurrent act of stealing may be restricted to specific objects and settings, but the affected person may or may not describe these special preferences. People with this disorder usually exhibit guilt after the theft.

Therapy focus is on impulse control, and identifying triggers that make them want to steal. The thrill they get could be a type of self-medicating, as they get an endorphin dump.

I had a roommate who I believe was one. She started taking my CDs from my room. Then she started taking odd things like blank journals, socks, my bras (??), and belts. I had noticed at this point and went into her room to look around (I am an only child and was beyond po'ed that someone had violated my space...however, I also could not believe she was TAKING my stuff until I saw it for myself.) Then when she came home from school one night I was typing a paper while sitting on the couch and I told her I wanted all my stuff put on my bed before I made my way back upstairs. She got all red and flustered and almost tried to deny it, but I didn't even let her speak. When I went upstairs my stuff was back on my bed. She moved out soon after.
I don't know what kind of relationship you have with the person, but assuming they are not violent, I would think confronting them would be ok. However, I also knew I would not have to deal with my roommate much longer.
I hope you can get this figured out in a way that works out best for you...I know how frustrating it can be!

[avlady]

My sister used to steal my new clothes and old ones, she moved out and i went to a party at her new apartment and all of my stuff was in her bedroom. I got so mad and confronted her, but she didn't say or do anything about it, just got mad at me for confronting her, She even had my id cards and wallet which really got me mad becuse i thought i was losing it and kept having to reorder my stuff in the wallet.

[BonnieG2010]

Thanks for the information, support and your stories.

This person comes to my house quite regularly. Used to, I should stay, starting the day I wrote the first post.

I'm not so keen about asking my stuff back, cause we don't have that strong connection as being of the same family, neither we are so young of age that you could think of something foolish.

More than this, in this person's family there is someone dealing with drugs, at some level. I don't know what kind of level and I don't want to know.
So I think I'll be cautious.
I'll take the 'casualties' (she did not take really valuable stuff, though she could have) as something that could always happen for one reason or another, I'll think of some good story to start postponing her next visits till one day she won't be asking anymore, and I certainly won't ask her.

What's bad about it is the feeling of the trust betrayed.
But if she's sick...... I better forget about it and enjoy my sanity, or what's left of it :-)))

Thanks again