I have a problem with stealing, and that's the first time I've admitted it.
I have been swiping things from shops since I was about 12 years old. It started off with a packet of textas, and now it is a twice-daily habit. I am now 23 years old and just started as a lawyer in a top tier law firm. Money is not a problem for me and most of what I steal I don't even need. I feel no remorse for stealing and I've even taken jewlery from my own grandmother. I must have stolen hundreds of dollars from my parents over the years and even take friends' make up.
Well, things came to a head this weekend. I was at a party with all of my friends and got really drunk. On my way out, there were 2 wallets sitting on the counter so I took them. On the way home I took the money out and threw the wallets out. I did not think twice about it. The next afternoon I got a call from the girl who held the party. She said that she had spoken to everyone at the party and they had deduced that I had taken the wallets. There was simply no other explanation. She said that our friendship was terminated. I went into denial mode immediately, but she hung up on me. The rest of that afternoon was spent calling friends and all of them turned away from me. I have had some of these friendships for 10 years. I have no other social circle.
The funny thing is, I don't regret taking the wallets. Somehow I see this as THEIR problem. I am devestated beyond belief that all of my friends hate me now (some said to go back to them when I could be honest about taking the wallets and seek therapy, but I continued the denials), but at the same time I am counting the money I made ($150).
Please let me know what the hell is wrong with me!
Go get treated for your illness. Worry about you right now, and the obvious problem you have. Get this under control before it really ruins your life.
After you get this treated and are in therapy you may wish to make amends for your friends that you've wronged. And you have. Even if you did steal the money, what kind of total and complete *sshole chucks the wallet in the garbage? Not ONLY did you take money from them but they all now have to replace credit cards, driver's liscence (which in some places costs 50-60 bucks to do) but any photos they had in there too. Should have tossed it in a mailbox instead. At least it will be returned.
Obviously this is not the first time things have gone missing with you around. Get treated for your mentall illness, then you can perhaps go back and say "hate the illness not the person"
kleptomania. form of obsessive complsive disorder (OCD) - it's a compulsion; becaus eyou have no remorse though, this may also be a personality disorder -- do you have other problems in your private relationships??
see a psychologist or a psychiatrist.
I believe paxil is used also to treat OCD, but you also need talk therapy, ASAP. You work in a law firm so you should know. People get busted over the stupidest mistakes sometimes. the next one could be yours.
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Being in law school myself, I know that entrance to the bar is very strict. If you have committed a crime it can be very difficult. Are you saying that you've been stealing twice a day your whole life and you've never been caught?
Also, you are 23 and just started as a lawyer at a law firm. That would mean that you graduated last year at the age of 22. That is 2-3 years before possible unless you skipped that many grades in school.
Are you perhaps a pathological liar too? Just trying to get to the bottom of it.
HoldOn, your post is typically American-centric. I live in Australia - we go straight to law school from high school. I skipped a year in high school, and finished my law degree (which is 5 years) last year, when I was 22. That is not unusual here.
No, I have never been caught. But I doubt I would stop if I was.
A kleptomaniac lawyer? Well, that makes perfect sense to me. You certainly picked an appropriate profession, if you are being honest. As another pointed out, you seem a bit young to be all done with a legal degree, and the qualifications needed to practice law.
As far as kleptomania is concerned, I still do not think it should be used as any form of excuse to evade prosecution. Mental illnesses simply describe human behavior in its myriad forms. Although these illnesses help to explain what problems are happening, and how it might be best to tackle them, quite a good many of them are just crutches people use to make life easier on themselves.
We all know you have a problem. However your post was with regards to losing your friends over this.
If you want to keep your friends, you have to admit your mistake and tell them it wasn't the first time and that you couldn't help yourself.
Before you can do this, you have to admit to yourself that you have this problem. Your friends, if they are as true as you would like to think, will try to help you.
That will only work if you want to help yourself (no pun intended).
Please note: The suggestions and advice offered on this web site are opinions only and are not to be used in the place of professional psychological counseling or medical advice. If you or someone close to you is currently in crisis or in an emergency situation, contact your local law enforcement agency or emergency number.
I've lost my friends because I'm a thief
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