In order to know the meaning of the term kleptomaniac, it is necessary, first of all, to discover its etymological origin. In this case, we can state that it is a word of Greek origin, composed from the sum of three elements of that language:
-The verb form “klepto”, which can be translated as “I steal”.
-The noun “mania”, which is equivalent to “madness”.
-The suffix “-o”, which is used to indicate “agent”.
Precisely starting from all this we can establish that it is used to refer to one who “suffers the uncontrollable desire to steal.”
A kleptomaniac is an individual who suffers from kleptomania – an inclination that leads him to compulsively steal. It is a disorder that prevents the subject from controlling his impulses, in this case linked to the fact of appropriating objects that do not belong to him.
The kleptomaniac, feeling this urge, begins to feel an increasing level of anxiety that is only relieved by committing theft. Because theft provides comfort, the behavior is reinforced and repeated over and over again: so the act of stealing becomes an addiction.
All kleptomaniacs have common characteristics such as the following:
-They have habitual thoughts that incite them to undertake the crime in question.
-After having stolen any object, they may have not only feelings of remorse but also guilt.
-We cannot ignore the fact that they feel powerless before the impulse to commit theft or theft.
It is important to note that, in kleptomaniacs, taking possession of other people’s property is not linked to a desire to increase material wealth or to the intention of satisfying an economic need. The stolen object, in fact, may lack monetary value and even utility.
For the kleptomaniac, his compulsive propensity to steal can be the cause of all kinds of problems. From legal related to the penalties with which a robbery is punished, to social, labor and family. Many people fail to understand or accept that a kleptomaniac is someone who steals out of an impulse that they cannot control.
Generally, kleptomaniacs suffer from other disorders related to anxiety and mood. Your own behavior contributes to increased stress and the development of various negative feelings, such as guilt.
Treatment of kleptomania usually includes therapy with a psychiatrist or psychologist and the provision of drugs such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers.
However, we cannot ignore the fact that other tools such as the following may also take center stage in this treatment:
-Relaxation techniques, so that they can have more control when they suffer from anxiety or stress.
-Techniques so that the kleptomaniac can proceed to learn to express the internal tension they feel but in a way that is constructive for them.
-Behavioral techniques, which will help the individual to strengthen self-confidence as well as their ability to control.
