What is Kleptomania?

Kleptomania is the recurrent inability to resist urges to steal items that you generally don't really need and that usually have little value. Kleptomania is a rare but serious mental health disorder that can cause much emotional pain to you and your loved ones if not treated.

David can't help it. He'd been told since a little child that to earn his keep, he needed to bring in items or money he nicked off of the streets. If he didn't bring enough, he was deprived of food or water or clothing and even bedding. As such, he began to strive to steal more, and more... Eventually, he couldn't help it. It became such am unconscious thing that he does it without thinking. When he was smaller, it would bring him immense joy, before and after the act.

However, now as a grown adult who has been diagnosed with Kleptomania and away from his family's influence, he's begun to realize how wrong what he's been doing is. He still feels pleasure when he does a good job in thievery, but guilt sapps at him almost immediately afterward.

When David is nervous, he automatically begins plotting ways to commit a perfect pickpocket as a calmer. Sometimes he doesn't realize the thoughts, but when he does, it increases his anxiety tenfold and he begins panicking.

When he's mad at a person, its common place something of theirs will be nicked by him.

He has a drawer of items he's taken and realized too late to give it back. (Usually, if possible, he will give stolen items back but uses a lie, such as "You dropped this!"

, this is compulsive. He'd stop if he could.

He doesn't want many people to know, as it breaks apart trust. However, Gwen found out by looking at his Camp Campbell application by accident, and ever since has been trying her best to aid the camp man in recovery.

When Gwen sees that David has taken a Camper's item, she will let him know discreetly or she will take the item back on her own. This is so David isn't always the one to 'find' lost objects: it shifts suspicion.

Gwen also carries jewelry and fake wallets in her pockets, as well as slips them into the Campers' pockets and belongings when they're not looking, because she understands David can't control it most of the time. Its not to encourage, but it helps David feel a little less guilty once he's realized the item he has stolen isn't worth anything.