"My angelic wife steals things only during her period" — civil servant husband vents, and others say, "She may need medication"

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[Financial News] A worker has shared a story about struggling with his wife's kleptomania.
On the 15th, a post appeared on Blind, an anonymous workplace community, from a civil servant identified as A, who said he was suffering because of his spouse's repeated theft.
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A said, "My wife is beautiful and kind, so she is like an angel most of the time," but added, "When she goes out, she has a habit of stealing small items."
He explained, "She is distressed by it herself. She does not want to do it, but it seems she cannot resist the impulse," and said the symptoms appear to worsen around her menstrual cycle.
He also said, "She has already been punished before, and we have tried hospital treatment and medication. I have tried getting angry, comforting her, and many other methods, but nothing has changed." He added, "She is someone I love, so this is even harder. I know I may be criticized, but I would like to hear about similar cases or possible solutions."
Pathological kleptomania is classified not as a simple moral failing, but as an impulse-control disorder involving a complex mix of psychological and neurobiological factors. It is characterized by stealing not out of need, but because the act itself brings relief from tension and a brief sense of pleasure. In cases like A's wife, hormonal changes caused by premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may weaken impulse control and lead to kleptomania.
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Experts point to several major causes, including abnormalities in the brain's reward circuitry, an imbalance of dopamine and serotonin, impulses that unconsciously seek to relieve psychological stress, anxiety, or depression, and childhood trauma or unstable attachment experiences.
Treatment usually combines medication and psychotherapy. Experts warn that if people view kleptomania as merely a matter of willpower and hide it on their own, the symptoms can become chronic. They recommend early consultation with a psychiatrist or a mental health counselor.
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter