At some point in our lives, we have all been tormented by having to make a complicated decision, which generates high levels of anguish and uncertainty. Now let’s imagine that this sensation accompanies us constantly, in each and every one of the activities we do.
This discomfort is what is experienced with aboulomania a very rare mental disorder in which the person feels unable to make any type of decision, no matter how simple, and which is also accompanied by obsessive thoughts about these decisions.
Aboulomania consists of a strange mental disorder that affects a person’s will, weakening it and generating a feeling of constant and pathological indecision. As a consequence, the person feels absolutely incapable of making any type of decision, not even in the activities that he or she carries out throughout the day.
Furthermore, this disorder It is highly related to pathologies such as anxiety, stress, depression and feelings of anguish; Therefore, it also greatly interferes with the person’s ability to initiate and maintain social interactions. In the most severe cases, it can lead to suicide.
Although feelings of doubt, indecision or uncertainty are not usually abnormal when experienced punctually and with a normal degree of intensity, in cases of aboulomania these feelings become obsessions that generate high levels of anguish in the person experiencing them. suffers from them since, furthermore, these doubts flood absolutely all the patient’s contexts and activities.
Therefore, when making a decision, regardless of its significance, The person with aboulomania feels the need to constantly reevaluate their decisions, which tends to be rated negatively. As a consequence, this uncertainty and negative over-analysis of situations ends up becoming a typical picture of obsessive disorders.
Aboulomania and abulia: differences
Abulia is another disorder related to will and motivation, similar to aboulomania, in which the person also experiences a decrease in motivation, energy and will with the main difference that in this case these sensations are not They become an obsession for the patient; which acts almost automatically, as if by inertia.
Unlike apathy, In aboulomania this inability to make decisions becomes obsessive and generates recurring and intrusive thoughts in the person, who is unable to avoid constant rumination about them.
What symptoms does it present?
The main symptom experienced by a person with aboulomania is, as mentioned above, a total inability to make any type of decision. This disability is constant and continuous, and extends to all areas of the person’s life.
Besides, This uncertainty generates very high levels of anguish and anxiety since on many occasions the person remains in a situation that is harmful or unpleasant for them only because they are not able to decide whether to stay in said situation or not.
Rumination, recurring thoughts and obsessive ideas about the decisions you must make are other symptoms that belong to a clinical picture of aboulomania. In the same way, just as this disorder presents emotional and cognitive symptoms, a series of behavioral symptoms may also appear such as:
At the moment, the exact cause of aboulomania has not been determined. However, it is hypothesized that factors related to the psychological development of the person, together with biological factors can trigger this type of will disorder.
Regarding the organic root of aboulomania, a possible involvement of the prefrontal cortex is speculated. The reason is that this brain area is directly associated with making conscious decisions.
Some studies point to the idea that this organic basis, together with certain authoritarian or overprotective parenting styles, can play a very important role in the development of this disorder.
Researchers theorize that parenting styles in which overprotection and intrusive behaviors on the part of parents predominate can encourage the child’s dependency so if the child has an organic susceptibility it will be quite likely that he will develop a will disorder such as aboulomania.
However, these researchers treat this issue with great caution, specifying that the person must go through many other negative experiences for this disorder to appear. These experiences can include everything from very traumatic abandonments or breakups to situations in which the person has felt publicly humiliated or embarrassed. Besides, They can also generate numerous doubts and great uncertainty in the person, who is not capable of carrying out any type of activity correctly, nor is he capable of assuming responsibilities or leading an independent life.
How can it be diagnosed?
The first step in diagnosing aboulomania is to completely rule out the existence of an organic basis that produces it. To do this, the medical professional must perform all kinds of tests and physical examinations, as well as a complete medical history.
Once the possibility of organic damage at the brain or neurological level has been eliminated, The patient should be referred to a mental health specialist Next, the psychologist or psychiatrist in charge of the case must take a complete medical history of the patient. For this purpose, the health professional can use the following diagnostic tests:
Is there a treatment?
As a general rule, the number of people suffering from aboulomania who decide to seek help or treatment is very small. However, due to the symptoms related to anxiety and depression that accompany this disorder, certain patients end up requesting some type of psychological assistance
If the mental health expert manages to bring the problem of aboulomania to light, symptomatic treatment for anxiety or depression problems can be carried out together with training in skills that facilitate the development of the person’s autonomy.
Training in assertiveness techniques and social skills It can be very effective in reducing the symptoms of aboulomania, as well as helping the person establish healthy personal relationships with other people.
