I know you had posted replies, on this subject, to other members' posts in the sexual addictions forum as well as the sexual & gender issues forum. I'm glad to see this reply was turned into its own thread.

Based on what you've written, it sounds as though what you're dealing with might be classified as a fetish. And I'm certainly no expert with regard to them. What I have been able to glean, mostly from reading posts here on PC, is that the general consensus of opinion seems to be fetishes can be nearly impossible to eliminate. So the best thing to do to manage your fetish may be to find ways to indulge it in as safe a manner as possible.

You wrote you're scared your addiction may get you into trouble. And, of course, this is the big concern here. What may be necessary is for you to figure out some way to stop stealing lingerie from women you visit. I don't know if it would be possible for you to substitute buying your own lingerie items rather than to take them from women's homes. There's nothing wrong with your wanting to own lingerie. But you're certainly correct that taking them could potentially get you into some hot water, so to speak, I would guess.

Here's a link to an "Ask the Therapist" column, from Psych Central's archives, where a young man wrote in asking for help with his lingerie wearing fetish. I've linked other PC members who've had similar concerns to this particular column. The particulars of the writer's situation are different from yours. But I found the therapist's reply to be especially thoughtful:

Can't Accept My Fetish - Ask the Therapist

And then here is a link to a second "Ask the Therapist" column where the writer wrote in about wearing women's panties. Here again, the particulars of the writer's circumstances are different from yours. But I think there may be some useful information in the therapist's reply none-the-less.

Panty Wearing Among Males - Ask the Therapist

My best wishes to you.