Message: ===== Peace be upon you, I have an issue that has caused trouble with people close to me and they are angry with me because of it, which is that I take things that are trivial but do not belong to me and I do not know why, but when I take them I feel a strange pleasure and regret after I take them when I get over the pleasure, for example a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, a pen, and I have the same thing and do not need it and do not know why? … What is the solution? Answer: === Dear… What you are suffering from is a psychological disorder called “Kleptomania” and its symptoms – as you mentioned in your letter – involve an uncontrollable desire to steal things that often do not represent any importance and are not needed by the individual and will not bring him material gain of any kind, but he wants to get them and feels a compulsive urge and severe tension that pushes him to steal them no matter the dire consequences and his anxiety does not subside until he gets this thing. The patient often feels great remorse and guilt every time, but he cannot stop this pathological behavior, and “kleptomania” is considered one of the disorders that “compel” the patient to do things that may bring him more harm than good, but despite this, he cannot stop, which reflects negatively on his life and social relationships. The patient often suffers in silence because he is embarrassed to talk about his issue, and if he does not try to resort to psychotherapy, he often ends up in prison accused of a theft case because although he suffers from a mental disorder, he is conscious and fully responsible for his actions. The underlying cause of kleptomania remains uncertain. However, scientific hypotheses attribute it to certain changes in the brains of patients and an imbalance of neurotransmitters between brain cells. For example, some research confirms that there is a deficiency of serotonin in the brains of patients, and it is known that serotonin deficiency is responsible for mood swings and compulsions. The treatment of kleptomania is divided into several axes: – First, obtain a medical history of the case and find out if a family member has a similar experience with this psychiatric disorder or any other similar psychiatric disorders that share an organic basis with it. – Taking the necessary medical measures and prescribing appropriate medications to control the compulsive urges that the patient suffers from and pushes him to steal. – Design an integrated psychotherapy program derived from the patient’s complaint and commensurate with his condition to reduce the severity of the symptoms “quantitatively and qualitatively”, provided that this program is designed by a psychotherapist specialized in such cases and after the patient undergoes pharmacological treatment for a period of not less than two months or as prescribed by the treating doctor. Wishing everyone a happy and positive life

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