From the preface
It's
this incredible rush! It's like
getting something for nothing!
Statistics
reveal that most people who
shoplift do so not out of economic
need or greed but in response
to pressures and emotional issues
in their lives. "Something
for Nothing" is a disease
that affects millions. Whether
this is a particularly American
phenomenon begs to be studied
but this problem pervades the
planet.
We are living in the age of
Winona Ryder and Enron. Anger
and skepticism toward thievery
abound. But this is not a book
about Winona or Enron. There
is something else going on besides
simple greed. People try to
get ahead at any cost. People
feel it's never enough. It's
beyond money. It's beyond dollars
and cents. It's beyond sense.
It seems we, individually and
collectively, feel an increasing
emptiness.
The simplistic notion that shoplifting
and stealing are merely legal
or moral issues is wrong.
There
appears to be more dishonesty
than ever these days; yet, tougher
laws, more sophisticated security
systems, and endless moralism
haven't reduced these offenses.
In fact, they're on the rise.
Stealing, particularly shoplifting,
can and often does become addictive.
Starting
Points ...
I'm
aware many feel we've gone overboard
in labeling everything an addiction,
a disease, an illness over which
people have limited power and
control. Most people understand
and accept alcohol and drug
addictions. They acknowledge
gambling, sex, eating, or shopping
as addictions.
But people doubt anyone shoplifting
or stealing may also be crying
out for help. Because we have
no real understanding or acceptance
of this, those who suffer sink
farther into shame, ignorance
and denial, and get farther
from the sparse real help available.
The person, the family, businesses,
the economy, and society all
suffer for it.
Shoplifting is the primary form
of theft I will address in this
book but I will touch upon others
as well. I do not make excuses
for stealing, breaking the law,
or dishonesty in general. But
I do intend to challenge the
notion that most shoplifters
are "plain thieves."
This is the first book written
on this subject by recovering
shoplifter. I may be accused
of bias. So be it. During my
recovery, I found no literature
to help me. I felt alone. I
looked for self-help and support
groups. There were none. In
1992 I started a self-help group
called C.A.S.A., which stands
for Cleptomaniacs And Shoplifters
Anonymous. I changed the "K"
to a "C" to create the acronym
"Casa" which means "home" in
Spanish. I wanted to create
a safe place for people to share
and get help. I intended the
group's focus to be on shoplifting
but did not want to exclude
people who had other forms of
addictive theft; thus, I included
the term kleptomania as an implied
catch-all for stealing issues.
This is the first book written
on this subject which posits
shoplifting as an addiction
rather than an impulse control
disorder, kleptomania, or a
condition which must be treated
primarily with medication, therapy
or both. I am taking this subject
matter to the heart of mainstream
thinking, hopefully making it
more accessible and less shameful.
I hope this book will inspire
people to form self-help groups
throughout the country and the
world where shoplifting addicts
can receive and, ultimately,
give help. Currently there is
no national "umbrella" group
for shoplifters. I know of groups
only in Manhattan, Minneapolis,
San Francisco, and here in Detroit.
There are court-ordered educational
groups in most states which
address shoplifting and economic
crimes but most take place over
several hours and are of limited
value, especially to anyone
addicted to shoplifting.
Since starting an online presence
in 1995, I have received thousands
of e-mail messages seeking information
and support. Most people ask
if there's a group in their
town. Time and time again I've
had to tell them: "Not yet.
Start one like I did." But few
have. Why not? This is the cutting
edge. Substantial individual
and collective ignorance persists
about shoplifting as an addictive-compulsive
disorder. Those who know they
have a problem feel such overwhelming
shame they would never think
to tell anyone or seek help.
The fear and shame of attending
a shoplifting support group,
much less starting one, is enormous.
I've met people who feel too
ashamed to tell their own therapists
they shoplift. They fear judgment
so they stay silent.
Stories
& Intent ...
It may take
another generation before we
have shoplifting recovery groups
across the country. But it will
happen. There is a need which
will be met.
Neither my story nor the stories
that follow are intended to
make excuses for stealing or
shoplifting. I'm not suggesting
shoplifting addicts go unpunished.
Any illegal act, be it illegal
gambling, drug offenses, or
drunk driving, must have legal
consequences. However, our stories
illustrate how good but vulnerable
people try to cope with life
at pivotal times and how punishment
is not enough to stop shoplifters.
Our stories go more in depth
than previous stories in the
scant literature available on
shoplifting or kleptomania.
I hope this will provide clarity
and hope for those who have
little of either.
My main intent is to create
more awareness of and understanding
about shoplifting addiction
and offer more solutions so
people can get the help they
need. Not all people cope the
same way and addictions have
their similarities but also
their differences. People who
get hooked on shoplifting need
specialized treatment.
Thirteen years ago, I started
a new life when I decided I
wanted to stop shoplifting.
There are millions for whom
shoplifting remains "a cry for
help." I didn't know how much
of a problem it was in my life
until I woke up. I'm still waking
up every day. I got my life
back from the brink of suicide
and found it is worth living,
with all its challenges and
uncertainties, its pains and
frustrations.
As the second anniversary of
9/11 approaches, one may ask:
What does a book on shoplifting
addiction matter in the grand
scheme of things? I hope this
book will be part of a larger
solution. There really is no
such thing as something for
nothing. I hope you will join
me in some way to reshape the
world into a more honest, trusting,
and healed place. A place where
fewer people try to get something
for nothing and more give something
for nothing. "With true giving,
after having given, we have
more, not less."*
Terry Shulman
Southfield, Michigan
August 2003
*Quote by Peter
Rengel from Living Life in Love
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