Treatment for Kleptomania – Alapan 1 Elementary School
When a person takes something that belongs to somebody without permission, that is stealing. A person who steals may lie, fight, and cheat. He might ignore rules and disrespect other people and their belongings. If stealing becomes a habit we call it kleptomania. When a series of losing valuables of teachers and even students took place in the school, it became a mystery that no one knows the answer but everyone wants to solve. But as the saying goes “Walang lihim na hindi nabubunyag”. The mystery came to an end when Mr. Arly Flores, a Grade 6 Math Teacher, and Mr. Ferdinand Pangan, head of the school security, finally stumbled upon the answer.
A student was responsible for all the theft that recently occurred and she admitted to all of them. Because of the number of incidents where she was not able to resist the urge to steal, the word kleptomaniac has often surfaced in association with her and the incidents. But what is really kleptomania? When do we say that a person suffers from it? A person with kleptomania feels an uncontrollable urge to steal. They get pleasure from stealing but do not steal out of necessity or for malicious intent. They often feel extreme shame after stealing but cannot control their urges to get something that belongs to other people.
Kleptomania is classified under the Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorder section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-5th edition. Kleptomania is very rare, however, according to the DSM-5, it occurs in approximately 0.3-0.6% of the general population. Women are more likely to suffer from this condition.
The exact cause of this disorder is still unknown. However, there are still factors that may play a part in the development of kleptomania such as high impulsivity in the immediate family, chemical imbalances in the brain, history of depression, childhood trauma, and low self-esteem.
If someone you know has kleptomania, you should encourage them to seek medical treatment. It is not curable, but a person can take medication or undergo therapy to help with the urges and symptoms. Remember, it is much better to help other people cope with what they are going through rather than bringing them down and labeling them as a kleptomaniac.
Kleptomania is very difficult to treat on its own, so getting medical help is a must for many who suffer from it. Treatment usually involves a combination of psychotherapy and medication, which can address the underlying causes and causes.
Medications may be prescribed to deal with related feelings or mental health problems, such as depression or forced anxiety. Your doctor may prescribe a serotonin reuptake inhibitor or an opioid addictive drug to counteract the brain chemical that causes the craving for theft.
Although kleptomania is treatable, it can be cured. Continuous treatment and vigilance are needed to avoid kleptomaniac recurrence. If you are doing well under treatment and begin to feel the urge to steal, see your doctor or support team as soon as possible.