Struggling with regret and guilt from stealing

[BeBlueAnt]

When I was a teen and at uni I would often take things that didn't belong to me.The first memory was taking money from a classmates blazer, I did put it back but that was the start of it. Another time was when I took money from a classmates blazer and kept it.When i went to uni it was small things like a flatmate left makeup out or when in their room and they were doing something snooping through things I shouldn't have.The worst one was taking a £20 note and playstation game from my flatmates room. I actually feel disgusting and so disapointed that I did this, such a scumbag thing to do.When I lived in shared flat I would snoop constantly and just look at people's rooms (I never took anything) but I don't know why I did this.This was around 7 years ago and I haven't done anything like it since. I'm so mad at my actions and they replay in my mind sometimes and it makes me feel horrible (as it should).If anyone has any experience in similar instances, what has helped you deal with the guilt and regret?I'm not looking for sympathy, I realise it was a horrible scumbag thing to do and I am totally ashamed of my previous actions.I don't know what brought it on me, I didn't grow up in poverty but I also didn't grow up in a financially stable household either.

We all do things when we're young that we look back on with guilt, embarrassment or shame. The simple fact that feel those emotions means you'll never repeat those actions. It's 7 years later, let it go and live your life without beating yourself up.

What would happen if you forgave yourself?

If the worst thing you’ve done in life is steal £20 and a PS game you’re really not a bad person at all. If you can remember the person you took it from give £50 to a charity that you think they would have supported and forgive yourself and move on.

The are far, far worse things you could have done. You need to forgive yourself. You haven't done it for 7 years and you recognise it was wrong.

You can't go back and replace the money or the items you took but perhaps you could make a donation to charity instead. At least you will feel that some good came out of it?