Kleptomania facts for kids
Kleptomania is a type of impulse control disorder. This means it's a condition where a person finds it very hard to resist a strong urge to do something, even if they know it's wrong or harmful. For people with kleptomania, this urge is to steal things.
It's important to know that kleptomania is a mental disorder. People with this condition often feel a powerful need to take items, even if they don't need them or can afford to buy them. They might not even realize they are stealing at the time.
What is Kleptomania?
Kleptomania comes from two Greek words: kleptein, meaning "to steal," and mania, meaning a strong urge or obsession. It's not about stealing for money or because someone is poor. Instead, it's about the intense feeling of tension or excitement before the theft, and then a sense of relief afterward.
People with kleptomania often:
- Steal things that have little value.
- Feel a lot of tension before they steal.
- Feel relief or pleasure after they steal.
- May feel guilty or sad about their actions later.
They might take many of the same item. Sometimes, they keep the stolen things, give them away, or even throw them out.
Who gets Kleptomania?
Kleptomania is more common in females than in males. It often appears in people who also have other mental health conditions.
Some of these conditions can include:
- Depression: A mood disorder that causes a lasting feeling of sadness and loss of interest.
- Panic attacks: Sudden periods of intense fear that come with physical symptoms.
- Bulimia nervosa: An eating disorder where a person eats a lot of food quickly, then tries to get rid of it.
- Anorexia nervosa: An eating disorder where a person tries to keep their weight as low as possible.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): A disorder where a person has unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and feels the need to repeat certain actions (compulsions).
It's important to remember that kleptomania is a serious condition. People who have it often need help from doctors or therapists to manage their urges and feelings.
Images for kids
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Portrait of a kleptomaniac, Théodore Géricault, 1820, Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent
See also
In Spanish: Cleptomanía para niños
