I'm 15 and I shoplifted some gloves from Nordstroms. I dont feel guilty though and I don't know why i did it

Question

I'm generally good I obey my parents do my homework etc and I thought that I would never steal but the other day I just did and I dont know why. I feel like my life is out of my control and I have depression too but still I wouldnt steal. I felt proud of doing it like I did something special but thats not true because stealings bad and its against the law. The thing is I want to do it again and I think I would do it again. I just love the feeling of being in control and of being able to do what I want and the thrill of it. I'm so scared I'll be caught though and I dont want my parents to go through that. I dont know what to do though because my hands just grabbed the gloves it was insane. What do you guys think?

another main worry is that I DONT FEEL BAD that just weird...

Answer 1

I'm sorry to hear about your situation.

Please be assured that many teenagers go through the same kinds of feelings and actions that you do. It is probably related to you developing as a person and wanting to take control and rebel.
Every new generation tries to rebel to some degree, this is partly why our civilisations develop and change. As there is (agruably) less to rebel against in some societies often things like shoplifting are an outlet.
Don;t get me wrong, just because many people do this, it is not right or a good thing to do. I'm sure you don;t feel bad because you don;t accept the reality of what you have done. What if it had been from a small shop, and the loss of the gloves was taken from an employees pay. Would that make you have any more feelings on this ? What if you were working in the shop and your boss said it was your fault and took the money from your pay ?
You need to think about the wider issues of your action. The fact that you don't seem to have done this to impress friends makes me think this is an deeper issue. You obviously are concerned about this and want to understand your actions. I'm sure that oftne people who feel depressed find ways of seeking attention and this kind of thing is a good example.

I am not a healthcare professional etc so my advice is just that.
Try to think of why you may have done this. Did you want to be caught ? did you want to appear rebellious ?
There are other more creative ways of doing this.
I would urge you to return the items, even my mail anonymously. This event will only stay with you otherwise.
If you feel you cannot talk to you parents about this do you have a school counsellor you could talk to ?
Have you been diagnosed with depression ?
There are things that can be done if you have clinical depression, but this is only something a professional can help you with. There is a big difference between feeling depressed and having depression. You probably know that if you laugh alot you body releases chemicals called endorphins which raise you mood. In the same way being depressed changes the balance of chemicals in you body and can make things worse.
If you have clinical depression it would help alot if you can talk to your parents and a professional about this sooner rather than later.

Good luck, and you should feel good knowing you had the honesty and courage to post the question here.

I hope you get some helpful answers here.

Answer 2

Whoa...you're on your way to spinnin' outta control. Why are you depressed and feel like you're life is out of your control? First of all, it's hard being a teenager..been there done that. You have your entire life ahead of you, so don't go screwing it up. Seriously. As fas as the shop lifting...technology is sooo advanced...you will get caught. There are cameras everywhere and there are undercover security guards, you are always being watched, trust me. Just because you got away with it this time, doesn't mean that you will the next time.

I got caught shoplifting a week before my 18th birthday with a bunch of my friends. That was a long time ago but it isn't something that I would like to relive. After my parents picked me up from the mall, my dad (who was the softer parent) sat me down and started crying in front of me. I had never seen my dad cry..I knew I was going to hell now! My dad started telling me how he goes to work everyday and busts his *** to make a living so that he can put food on the table for me and my younger brother and this was how I repaid him? I was absolutely silent. That was the worst feeling, making my parents disappointed. 2 days prior my parents had also bought me a brand new car for my birthday. Well, parents took that away in a heartbeat! Didn't get that back until 5 months later.

Don't take what's not yours. It'll catch up with you sooner or later.
We all have times when we feel down, I don't exactly know what your situation is so I can't offer suggestions for your depression or your sense of incontrol but it'll get better. Promise! =)

Answer 3

Be very careful. This is called cleptomania. You have to control it. You know what is right, so just do the right thing, and you will feel so good and on the other hand embarrassed for what you did, that the urge to steal will stop. Return them and say you took them by mistake. Remember, that shoplifting is stealing and you will end up in jail eventually and you will ruin your life over a stupid thing.

Answer 4

Oh boy. Do not get attention by stealing. It is no joke if you should get caught. I have a brother who used to be in loss prevention. They have no problem embarrsing you. Taking you to the back room. Taking your picture. If you argue and resist it does get physical. Believe me they are not under the rules you would imagine. It's all about protecting that store. Do not get involved. It is only getting worse and worse. I have personally witnessed young girls who shoplifted those people came out and beat them up right in front of us all. People started saying lawsuit this and that. It never happened because people have the right to protect their store. The department stores are bad too because they have film of every second you were in there. You can't get a break because the arrests are mandatory. Find a new set of peeps to hang out with. Find a new hobby.

Answer 5

no way it's stupid to go return it...........ur a thief only if ur caught.............the thing is u don't control ur life ur parents do..........for the right reasons offcoarse.....so sometimes u do things u can't explain..u get an adrinalin rush by shoplifting.......like u others get the same feeling doing much more worse things....like smoking....doing drugs..etc..basically the kinda stuff that's prohibited...maybe there is nothing really exciting happening in ur life other than...usual friends....homework nd ur parents...nd since ur so obedient.u wanna break the rules sometimes.....so u are on the verge of getting addicted to shoplifting which is probably the only fun thing at present...................
don't u see this cycle is gonna continue...but things will get sick the day ur caught......ppl always do.........coz i too used to do it like u... never got caught but my friend did..........
try to do productive stuff which wud make u feel gud....like learn a new instrument...or get involved in sports.or if ur the hit the book kinda person..join academic clubs.......n stuff.that way u r not gonna crave this weird excitement..nd stealing won't give the same kinda happiness.....trust me getting involved in other things which r productive will make u feel gud abt urself.....nd u won't even b depressed.........it will work for u.......i noe it's hard but try life will b gud again.....best of luck

Answer 6

You want to feel in control, but if you are caught you will loose all control because it will be taken from you, why don't you tell your parents, you are depressed so maybe they can arrange for you to talk to someone, if not is there someone at school you can talk to, please try to sort this out because to continue stealing is not the answer, once you have a criminal record your whole life ahead you will be judged on this and there will be no trust around you, please talk with someone.

Answer 7

I think you just want some control over your life. I suspect that you really resent being the good daughter, and want to lash out at your parents. There are better ways than to get arrested, though. start by extending your curfew past what they want by a few minutes, and by dressing the way you want , instead of the way they expect you to andnot doing your homework all the time, but watching tv once in a while. being a teen is a time of finding out what YOU want to be as opposed to what your parents want you to be. just step out of the box occasionally and see if you don't feel better.

Answer 8

Sometimes I steal things too and dont feel guilty - like cups from starbucks. I dont actively shop lift but sometimes I do take things that I shouldnt.

Answer 9

You have acknowledged it. Good. But stop it now before it snowballs into some jail time or worst.
I Cr 13;8a, Love never fails!!!!!
10-19-6

Answer 10

Return it. . .you won't get arrested if you explain the whole situation like you was peer pressured (if you were with others) or that you did it on accident. . .do not say you stole it for the "rush". . .