is kleptomania an addiction or just a crime?

so i'm bipolar, and in my manic episodes i would steal stuff. but then i started to do it all the time, regardless of where my mood was. i just don't know how to tell anyone, because i feel so bad and guilty about it. but i can't stop. i know it's awful and a crime. but i can't stop

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Comments

Former Member

Hey @Past User

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling bad and guilty, sounds really tough. To answer your question on addition vs crime, from what I've read and understand - it is an addiction and is classified as a mental health symptom. Here's an article from Addictions UK https://addictionsuk.com/shoplifting-addiction/

Do you think you could talk to your GP about it, given that it forms part of your mental health?

- Lucy

Former Member

Hello, @Past User

How are you feeling today?

It sounds really hard, that you are feeling guilty about some of the things that you have been doing. I agree with @Lucy307 with maybe going to your GP? they could help you to understand things a little bit better,

Butterfly x

Siena

Hey welcome to site

That sounds really frustating and addiction not crime. You said its hard to tell anyone. Well done for sharing here!

i hope youre able to seek help for it as sounds like you really dont want to carry on doing it

here to support you too

Former Member

An addiction. I had it