Stealing is a common problem in society. Even though some people only stole once or twice, there were some people who simply couldn't resist the urge to steal. Some people steal because they don't have the money to buy the things they want, but there are also those who steal to feel the tension and pleasure of committing the theft itself. In addition, there are also people who take pride in getting what they want without having to pay. Stealing carries a myriad of negative consequences, such as the detention or provision of a criminal record for the perpetrator of the theft. Although not yet categorized as a type of addiction, Kleptomania is an impulse control disorder that encourages the perpetrator to steal, so that in the end the perpetrator feels ashamed and guilty. To deal with the problem of stealing like this, it is important for you to identify problems related to the habit of stealing, ask outsiders for help, change your mind about stealing, make a prevention plan (if at any time the habit recurs), look for alternative activities to stealing, and find out more. lots of information about the habit of stealing.
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Method 1 of 6: Recognizing Problems With The Habit Of Stealing
Step 1. Understand that you need help
It's important that you realize that you deserve help because there are many people who feel guilty (as well as ashamed of stealing) that they don't deserve help. It was feelings like that that held them back from seeking help. Remember that you deserve help and understanding, and you are not alone.
Step 2. Identify your stealing behavior
In order to start changing this habit, it is important that you first identify the specific reasons that prompted you to steal.
- Do you steal out of high emotions? Do you feel tense at first, then feel a rush of excitement before stealing and a sense of relief after? Do you feel guilty, ashamed, and sorry after stealing? These aspects are a sign that you have a problem with stealing.
- Do you steal as a way to escape reality? When you steal, do you feel different, like you're not being yourself or you're not in reality? This is a fairly common emotional state experienced by those who steal.
Step 3. Write down your feelings
Once you know what drives your stealing behavior, try to write freely about your desire or urge to steal. Don't hide your feelings. Everything you think or feel is important to note.
Make sure you describe and correctly name the feelings, such as anger, fear, sadness, loneliness, horror, exposure, vulnerability, etc., that come along with the urge to steal
Step 4. Determine the consequences of your stealing behavior
By thinking about the consequences of stealing, you can reduce the urge to steal. If you've almost been caught stealing, or have been caught (or caught several times), write down those experiences. Also, write down your feelings afterward, such as shame or guilt, and what you did to overcome those feelings or regret or even self-hatred, such as drinking too much alcohol, hurting yourself, damaging stolen property, or other destructive actions.
If you have been caught, how strongly did you feel when you were caught? Why do you feel that being caught stealing is not enough to fight the urge to steal? Write these things down in your notes
Method 2 of 6: Seek Outside Help
Step 1. Try following therapy
While you can break your addiction to stealing with your own efforts and persistence, treatments such as therapy can also help to break the addiction. One of the most effective forms of assistance is counseling with a psychologist or psychiatrist. Therapy combined with medication can effectively treat and treat kleptomania and compulsive stealing.
Convince yourself that therapy for kleptomania or compulsive stealing can help you stop the disorder very effectively. However, you should also remember that the ultimate outcome of therapy will depend on how strong your urge to steal is and how strong your efforts and persistence are to break the habit or behavior
Step 2. Get to know the treatment options available
The most common types of therapy to treat stealing behavior include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and group therapy/12-step therapy program. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps change a person's thought patterns so that the person can change their feelings and behavior. Dialectical behavior therapy focuses on training stress tolerance, emotional control, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. In psychodynamic therapy, past events as well as your nature or character will be analyzed to identify the causes of existing problems and find ways to solve these problems. While a 12-step therapy or program focuses on dealing with substance addiction (e.g. illegal drugs), there are also 12-step programs specifically dedicated to dealing with stealing.
- You can discuss these options with your doctor or mental health professional.
- You can also try to find out on your own about the types of therapy available through self-help steps. For example, in cognitive behavioral therapy, patients are guided to change their thought patterns so that they can change their feelings and behavior.
Step 3. Identify the choices of drugs you need to take
Several types of drugs are also used in the treatment or management of kleptomania, such as Prozac and Revia.
Talk to your psychiatrist to get additional information or determine which psychotropic options you can take
Method 3 of 6: Changing Your Mind About Stealing
Step 1. Identify and challenge your thoughts about stealing
In cognitive behavioral therapy, changing thoughts as a first step to changing feelings and behavior is a major component of therapy. This therapy is a common type of therapy to treat stealing and kleptomania. Watch and be aware of the thoughts that often arise. This way, you can change your behavior.
- Think of the things that come to your mind when you want to steal something. For example, maybe thoughts like “I really want that thing,” or “I'm taking that thing away” cross your mind.
- Think about who benefits from the theft. Does the theft only benefit you? Or also family, friends, or other people you know? What kind of benefits can you or others get from this stealing behavior? If you feel that some of the urges to steal are because you want to show your position or status, or feel comfortable in the circle of your friends or family if you can 'buy' their attention by giving them things, you should start looking at these urges. as a form of insecurity or anxiety that exists within you.
Step 2. Train yourself to think differently
Once you recognize your mindset, start thinking alternatively. In this case, you need to pay attention to negative thoughts that encourage stealing behavior, then actively change those thoughts.
For example, if you think something like this: "I really want the ring, so I'm going to steal it," change that thought to something else, such as "I want the ring, but stealing it is wrong, so I'll focus on saving so can afford it.”
Step 3. Reflect on your life
When you feel a stronger urge to steal and an intention to steal, take some time to reflect on what you have been doing and what has happened to you in the past that might have prompted you to steal. It is important that you take time to reflect on the past because you may feel that your life is pointless, or you may feel that you have no control over your own life.
For some people, stealing is a form of passive rebellion against situations that make them powerless. By reflecting on situations or things like this, you can begin to develop your own life goals and limit the emergence of bad behaviors that are preventing you from achieving those life goals
Step 4. Be prepared to be more assertive, whether in defense of yourself or your rights
If you are not firm in defending yourself or you always feel ignored, ridiculed or put down, you can easily get your revenge on people who are thought to have hurt or neglected you by stealing their belongings. You may also commit theft as a way to calm your feelings. However, if you're not assertive and don't value yourself (and instead choose to steal), you run the risk of losing your future and allowing what other people are doing to encourage you to hurt yourself even more. Remember that what really hurts you is yourself. Your behavior may really upset those who love you, but remember that you're not really letting them down and punishing them; You punish and disappoint yourself.
For more information or steps, read articles on how to stand up for yourself, be assertive, and communicate assertively
Method 4 of 6: Create a Stealing Prevention Plan
Step 1. Get to know the 'history' or record of incidents related to your stealing behavior
Creating a prevention plan is important in controlling the urge to steal, and preventing you from stealing in the future. The first step in creating a prevention plan is to identify or identify any problems you've had with stealing.
- When creating a prevention plan, you can refer to the information you wrote earlier (as described in the previous method).
- Write down the 'history' or things that have happened related to the behavior of stealing. Write down as many thefts as you can, starting when you were a child (if the behavior started as a child). Pay attention to the situations that occurred at the time and what influenced you to steal.
- Give a scale for the desire to steal on each incident. Use a scale from 1 to 10 to indicate how strong the urge to steal was for each incident you recorded.
Step 2. Identify and fight the things that trigger you to steal
These triggers are usually thoughts or feelings about certain situations that can trigger stealing behavior. Write down any thoughts or feelings related to wanting to steal.
- Understand situations where there is a high risk of triggering your stealing behavior. Understanding situations where there is a risk of triggering these urges and avoiding them is the key to controlling urges to steal.
- How do you feel when you steal? Find out if there are things that cause or trigger the urge to steal, such as how people treat you, someone's anger at you, downturns and feelings of unlovedness, rejection, and the like.
- Observe and note the relationship between the triggers for the urge to steal and the scale you gave to the urge to steal in each of the incidents you wrote down earlier.
- Safely keep this list, journal or notebook.
- Stay away from trigger situations that encourage or make it easier for you to steal. Some examples of trigger situations include when you are with friends who also like to steal, or when you visit shops that have a low level of security. As much as possible avoid these situations so that you are not tempted to steal.
Step 3. Prepare or make a plan to control the urge to steal
In this control plan, you need to talk to yourself before moving on to the next step. Try following these steps:
- Stop yourself. Immediately stop yourself, and do not follow the urges that arise.
- Take a breath. Stand up straight and take a breath,
- Observe what happens. Think about what's going on. Also think about how you feel or think, and what made you respond.
- Resist and pull yourself away from the temptation. Try to look at the situation objectively. Think about other ways to look at the situation at hand. Try to imagine what you do after you steal (eg when you hold the stolen item and think about what you are going to do with it, and find ways to deal with the feelings of guilt that arise).
- Do what can prevent you from stealing behavior. Decide on something else you can do besides stealing. Whenever you are tempted to steal, make a plan to change your behavior. Some examples of things that are useful in preventing stealing include telling yourself who you really are and what your values are, imagining yourself as a good person and someone who is respected, trying to calm yourself down, and imagining certain things to calm tension.
Step 4. Continue to monitor your behavior
Once you've managed to control your urges to steal and reduce your stealing, you still need to monitor your existing prevention plans and adapt them to your situation.
- Focus on your current state. Keep a diary of your thefts (if any). Also, as described in the previous method, record your feelings and scale the urge to steal that arises in certain events or situations.
- Balance the things you write. Make sure you also write down your accomplishments, things you are proud of and things you are grateful for. Try to make these things the main focus of your journal or diary to help build your self-esteem.
Method 5 of 6: Finding Alternative Activities Other Than Stealing
Step 1. Divert your attention
Look for things other than stealing that can make you happy or focus more on the activity, without harming you. These can be hobbies, sporting or artistic activities, volunteer work, activities to help others, and craft activities. You can also try gardening, caring for animals, writing, painting, studying, being an activist for a particular issue, or other interesting things besides stealing. Regardless of what you choose, make sure you choose activities that are beneficial and don't have the potential to trigger other distractions or problems (eg to feel calmer, you drink alcohol).
Step 2. Be a more active person
If you steal to fill a void in your daily life, fill that void with other activities. Exercise, take up your hobby, or volunteer. Instead of stealing to fill your spare time, use your time to do more productive and useful activities. In addition to increasing self-esteem, these activities can also create new energy and relieve boredom. In addition, these activities can also stop the stealing behavior caused by a lack of other more useful activities, or a sense of uselessness that (perhaps) has been haunting you for a long time. Make sure you keep yourself busy with useful activities, and you will begin to see positive things emerge in your life.
Step 3. Find a job, increase your benefits or salary, or review your expenses
If you steal to survive or feel deprived and get an emotional boost, having a steady and steady income can help reduce the desire or 'need' to steal. Also, if you don't have a job yet, keep in mind that the routine and well-being you get from work can restore the sense of responsibility and self-worth that you've (perhaps) been missing from your life. This step may not be as relevant or important if you already have enough money and a job (or, at least, if you don't have financial problems). However, if you have financial problems, having a steady income can help you solve those problems (and, later on, reduce the desire or urge to commit theft).
Step 4. Find other ways to vent your emotions
Use the knowledge gained from writing therapy to begin venting (and fighting) the emotions and feelings that drive you to steal. Fight your anger, confusion, sadness, anxiety and sadness, and other negative feelings. Get to know your true feelings and find new ways to handle or vent them, without stealing.
Take notes on new ways to distract and entertain you. Write down any thoughts or actions you can take to make you feel better
Method 6 of 6: Learning More About Stealing Behavior
Step 1. Understand the difference between stealing and kleptomania
To deal with your stealing behavior, it's a good idea to first find out if you are exhibiting stealing, or if you have a specific disorder. It's a good idea to talk to a mental health professional about your behavior.
- About 0.3 – 0.6% of people in the general population have kleptomania. This means, there is a 1 in 200 chance that people will show signs of kleptomania.
- According to research, 11% of the general population has committed a store burglary at least once in their lifetime. This means, more than 1 person out of 10 people have committed theft, at least once. However, theft that is committed once or twice cannot simply be categorized as a mental disorder.
- Kleptomania is an impulse control disorder that is associated with feelings of pleasure during the theft, followed by feelings of guilt after the theft. This disorder is also characterized by the inability to control or stop the behavior of stealing, even though efforts to stop the behavior have been (repeatedly) made.
- According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), which is a reference guide for psychologists and psychiatrists in diagnosing mental disorders, stealing is not categorized as a type of addiction.
Step 2. Identify other causes that encourage stealing behavior
Symptoms such as stealing behavior may be indicative of a different mental disorder. For example, conduct disorder, bipolar disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder have criteria or characteristics that also include behaviors related to stealing. You can also get an assessment for other mental disorders that may involve kleptomania or habits, such as dissociative disorders, stress disorders, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders.
Step 3. Do research on stealing behavior
Ask for more information or references about stealing at your local public library or bookstore. In this era of the internet, it will be easy for you to get more information about health, both physically and mentally. Make sure you get this information from trusted sites, such as health department sites and sites managed by doctors and psychologists, with references and verification from experts. Apart from that, you can also read posts or join forums that embrace people with the same disorder. On these forums, you can share your thoughts, feelings, anxieties, and other feelings. This way, you will realize that you are not alone.
Tips
- If you can't buy something, but you want it, find out if you can buy it for a lower price on trade-in forums. Or, you can also borrow the item from someone else to satisfy your desire for the item you want, at least temporarily.
- Tell a close friend or family member about any problems you have with your stealing behavior. They may be able to give you good advice and help you. By sharing your problems with people you care about, you can feel more helpful.
- If you feel unable to speak or tell your doctor how you feel, try talking about your problem with a family member you trust the most.
