This post was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp.
Have you ever acted on impulse? Many people do on occasion, but if this is part of your regular behavior, this may indicate that you have impulse control disorder. Keep reading to find out more about this disorder and how it may affect you.
You can learn about Impulse Control Disorder at this site. There is information on multiple ways this condition may be expressed.
What is an Impulse?
An impulse occurs when you feel like you must act on something. For instance, if you see someone fall down, you may laugh immediately. It is okay for individuals to have impulses and act on them from time to time. However, when you are always acting on your impulses, this could lead to impulse control disorder and be detrimental to your health, in some cases.
Symptoms to Look For
There are a few symptoms that a person may experience when they have impulse control disorder.
- Avoiding friends and social activities
- Sudden shifts in moods
- Being unable to concentrate
- Having difficulties doing their job
- Engaging in dangerous behavior
- Not telling the truth
- Being aggressive
If you or someone you know is expressing any of these symptoms, it may be worth it to work with a therapist. They should be able to talk to you about this disorder or other conditions that might be causing these symptoms. Furthermore, they may start you on a treatment plan, so you can start acting like yourself again, as soon as possible.
Examples of Impulse Control Disorder
There are many ways that this disorder may be exhibited.
- Pyromania. If someone has this condition, it likely means that they start fires for fun or are obsessed with fire.
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder. This disorder is characterized by having sudden aggressive outbursts, where a person may yell or become violent.
- Compulsive Buying. When an individual is compulsively buying, this means they are shopping frequently and often spending more money than their resources allow.
- Kleptomania. A person that has kleptomania will frequently steal. They may not even care about what they are stealing.
- Trichotillomania. This illness involves pulling your hair out. In some cases, a person may pull their hair so frequently that their hair becomes thin or is missing in some areas.
Treatment Options
There are a couple of major treatment options available when you have been diagnosed with impulse control disorder. One is therapy. This approach may be able to help you determine why you are acting in a certain manner and teach you how to change unwanted behaviors as well.
A therapist may also prescribe medicines to assist in alleviating some of the symptoms you are experiencing. For some, impulse control disorder is only one of the mental health conditions that they experience. If this is the case for you, therapy is something you should take advantage of as soon as possible. It may also be necessary for a couple or a family to seek counseling together, depending on the symptoms that you express.
When someone you know is affected by this disorder, it may be advantageous to find out more about the condition. This can provide you with enough information to make informed decisions about care and treatment.
Conclusion
Impulse Control Disorder is a condition that may affect an individual in a number of different ways. The underlying parallel that connects all types of the disease is that a person will have difficulty not acting on their impulses, which may lead them to engage in dangerous or illegal activities. This is why it is important to understand the specifics related to this disease and to seek treatment as soon as you can.
