Impulsivity: How to Take Control of Our Actions?

Do you constantly regret your actions? Can’t suppress your impulses? Maybe you are an impulsive person. Discover how to detect and deal with impulsivity.

Generally most people have the tendency to think before acting. Although it is true that sometimes they are carried away by emotions (impulse) more than by reason (conscience), they tend to take stock before acting in one way or another. On other occasions there is not enough time for reflection, and without realizing it one is saying something or acting in the wrong way. impulsive or dissolute manner, which can lead to problems sometimes. But what do all these behaviors have in common? What leads human beings to do them?

What is impulsive or dissolute behavior?

In general, compulsive behavior is defined as behavior that a person performs without taking into account its consequences. In this way, an impulsive person can do something, for example, take drugs or eat compulsively, without reflecting on the effects of that action. The consequences can sometimes be very negative both for himself and for others; However, this aspect is not taken into account or is not accepted given the immediate well-being that its impulsiveness In this sense, all those that escape rational control can be considered impulsive behaviors.

Therefore, it could be said that a impulsive person It is defined in general terms as that which takes actions without warning that are usually risky and inappropriate for the situation. So much so that this impulsiveness or dissolute behavior ends up harming them both personally and professionally.

When can it be considered an impulsive disorder?

The problem of impulsive people It appears when impulse control is poor and she lets herself be carried away by what she feels without any control, without filters. This is when the person can be said to have an impulse control disorder.

According to the diagnostic manual of mental disorders, they define this disorder as constant difficulty or lack of resistance to committing an act, which will cause harmful or detrimental consequences for the person. Although she is aware that if she performs the act it will have negative consequences, she cannot avoid doing it because of her impulses

This impulsive symptoms It usually follows a chronic and increasing course if adequate treatment is not performed. In addition, the symptoms usually interfere greatly in different areas of the person’s life (economics, social relationships, work, health, etc.). The disorder usually appears in adolescence and becomes increasingly worse in adulthood.

Impulsiveness test: Symptoms of an impulsive person

When it develops impulsiveness, most people end up being affected in various areas of their lives. Despite this, they cannot control their impulsivity and therefore develop behaviors such as those presented below.

Attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD): In most cases, a impulsive personality It comes hand in hand with attention deficit disorder. It is very common for people with ADHD to be impulsive in their actions and decisions.
Bipolarity: There are some cases in which impulsivity shows one of the facets of bipolar disorder. In these cases, impulsive people should go to a mental health specialist since it is a disorder that must be treated.
Antisocial: When the impulsive people They see all the social effects of their impulsivity, it is very common to develop antisocial thinking and isolate themselves from the rest. This is because they do not like people judging the actions that have happened due to their impulsiveness.
Feeding problems: In many cases where impulse control in adolescents is deficient, problems related to eating disorders may appear. Although it is more common in adolescence, because they become accustomed to having low self-esteem, it can also happen in cases where they are adults. the impulsive
Risk behaviors and addictions: Impulsivity can lead to risky behaviors such as practicing unprotected sex or consuming highly addictive substances. In these cases the physical health of the impulsive person can be greatly affected.

If you detect many of these symptoms in yourself, it is very likely that you have a impulsivity disorder In these cases it is vital to go to a mental health specialist to treat it if this condition is limiting your life.

How does an impulsive person behave?

Impulsive people usually have the same attitude when faced with an impulse. So much so that, in order to have impulse control, it is vital to know how it is produced. this impulsiveness

Before carrying out the impulsive act the person feels an uncontrollable desire, emotional tension and great activation.
During the impulsive act the person is released you feel great relief and even pleasure when saying or doing what you want.
After the impulsive act the person feels bad, guilty for having acted that way and regretting for not having controlled what she said.
The compulsive act is usually performed to relieve a personal discomfort, due to lack of emotional management. For example, the person who bites his nails does it more accentuated when he has a lot of work or when he has suffered a romantic breakup.

Causes of impulsivity

There is not enough evidence to know the exact causes of an impulsive disorder. Even so, psychological professionals have estimated some common causes of impulsive people

Biology and genetics: There are some genetic factors that can trigger you to become a impulsive person In addition, there is a type of personality that enjoys seeking sensations that are risky. So much so that on many occasions they coincide with impulsive symptoms.
Depression: People with depression can search their impulsive behaviors the lack of dopamine they have due to their condition. In this way, the body encourages us to carry out impulsive behavior such as overeating, excessive drinking or other reckless behaviors since in this way it finds the dopamine that it needs so much to be happy (even if it is for a few moments and with counterproductive effects).
ADHD: People with ADHD are more predisposed to suffer from impulsivity This is due to the hyperactivity they constantly have.
personality disorder: The impulsiveness It is one of the most common symptoms in certain personality disorders. Among them, we can find borderline personality disorder or bipolar disorder.
Lack of confidence and low self-esteem: Many times impulsivity is enveloped by low confidence and self-esteem. This is because people who feel these two complexes in some cases try to act with more confidence and control to appear in front of others. Through this they aim to avoid rejection from others.

Types of impulsivity

There are several types of disorder impulse control with which people suffer from their impulsivity. The most common types of impulsivity are the following.

Kleptomania: It consists of the uncontrollable desire to steal, anything and without what is stolen being something that the person needs. Although he tries to control himself, he ends up stealing the product and subsequently experiences a great feeling of shame. guilt and discomfort
Trichotillomania: It’s about the uncontrollable need for pulling out hair, eyelashes or eyebrows. When the person performs the act he feels a release and calms her anxiety. Sometimes it is accompanied by hair ingestion, but other times it is not.
Pyromania: The imperative need in this case is to start fires. The objective of performing this act is to feel relieved by doing it, although it can also end up with great discomfort for having caused something that you know is wrong.
Gambling addiction: In the case of gambling addiction, the need is to play gambling machines. compulsive way The person experiences a pleasant sensation while playing and no matter how much he tries to control his actions (since he knows that it can cause serious family, marital and economic problems) he cannot do so.
Onychophagia: Although the name is not well known, it is surely the most widely spread socially. It is the uncontrolled urge to bite and even swallow your nails. Even if the person wants to stop doing it, they surprise themselves by constantly biting their nails and cannot stop until they are completely bitten and there may even be times when they hurt themselves.
Compulsive buying: In this case the need is to acquire products that are not needed. When the person is in the purchasing process, he feels a pleasure that disappears as soon as he gets home, but he cannot help but buy when he passes in front of a store.
Compulsive eating: It’s about the uncontrolled food intake, not because of hunger but because he feels the need to do it without further ado. The person does not stop until everything in the refrigerator is gone or until he feels physically ill.

A impulsive personality You may have one or more of these types of impulsivity. That is why when you suffer from an impulsive disorder it is vital to go to a specialist to treat it before it can get worse.

How to control impulsivity in adults?

There are some psychological tricks with which you can exercise certain impulse control in people with impulsivity. Although these methods can be very effective, it is always necessary to see a mental health specialist.

Analyze your behavior: Becoming aware of your actions can be a good method to combat impulsivity and your dissolute behaviors. To do this, evaluate your thoughts and feelings in situations and try to consider each of their consequences.
Replaces impulsive behaviors: If on many occasions you want to make a impulsive act that harms you, it is vital to replace this action with an activity that is healthier. For example, instead of compulsively eating every time you feel impulsive, try going for a run to remedy it.
Practice meditation: Meditation is a good way to become aware of our body and emotions. Therefore, this practice will help you pay more attention when these impulsive attitudes in your life.
Do deep breathing exercises: Deep breathing not only helps us deal with stress, but it can also be an effective way to let go of stress. impulsivity This is because through breathing we can train our consciousness and detect when impulsivity arises.

Treatment of impulsivity

There are different ways to address these difficulties, but what has been shown to be most effective is a combined treatment, between pharmacological and psychological treatment.

Symptoms rarely disappear on your own, as they usually subside when the cause is worked on emotionally, and without professional help it is usually very complicated. Sometimes symptoms fluctuate, but this will depend on the person’s mood and external situations, not the locus of control.

During the psychological treatment, the focus will be on detecting dissatisfaction or what is wrong in the person’s life in order to work on it and give them resources to develop it without resorting to the compulsive act

Even though the impulsiveness It can be normalized in most situations in your life, the reality is that these types of attitudes must be corrected in most cases. Don’t let your impulses limit your

By citing this article, you acknowledge the original source and allow readers to access the full content.

PsychologyFor. (2024). Impulsivity: How to Take Control of Our Actions?. https://psychologyfor.com/impulsivity-how-to-take-control-of-our-actions/