Chronic Impulsivity: What Is It?

Do you often find yourself in trouble because of an impulsive decision or action? This may not be something you want to ignore. If this kind of behavior is continually bringing about undesirable outcomes, you may be experiencing chronic impulsivity.

Chronic Impulsivity Isn’t Healthy

Spontaneity can be great; chronic impulsivity not so much. People occasionally make spontaneous decisions, this is a part of life and sometimes these decisions even work out for the better. Spontaneity can be fun as a way of changing the predictability in your life. It can bring about positive results under certain circumstances and work positively for you.

There is, however, a thin line between spontaneity and impulsivity. If hasty decisions or actions rule your life, it is a different matter. While spontaneous decisions or responses could be necessary, even healthy, under certain circumstances, chronic impulsivity tends to result in negative consequences.

What is chronic impulsivity?

Impulsivity generally means “a tendency to act quickly, often without thinking or caring about the consequences.” According to Open Path Collective, chronic impulsivity “is a severe lack of self-regulation. This can take form as an inability to regulate immediate reactions or having trouble concentrating. When suffering from impulsiveness it is difficult to consider the consequences of your actions, as well as, the ability to complete routine tasks quietly, or refraining from interrupting conversations. Lack of self-control can also lead to impulsive spending or eating”.

Spontaneous or impulsive behavior is usually a result of our emotions or our thinking. Thus, it can be common among children who still have maturing brains. They may impulsively reach for hot food on the stove, throw things when they are angry, use crayons on every kind of surface, or let their anger out in inappropriate ways. These childish behaviors are usually outgrown as their brains mature and their capacities to understand and appreciate the consequences of their behaviors improve.

As children grow older, they develop the skill of impulse control. This is called “self-control or self-regulation.” Therefore, teens and adults are expected to be less hasty in their behaviors and actions.In its extreme form, failure to exercise self-control or self-regulation can bring about major consequences and risks.

The “Spur of the Moment” Risks

Those with chronic impulsivity often have difficulty with their feelings and behaviors. They have the tendency to be irrational and to base their decisions and actions purely on their overriding thoughts and feelings, usually without regard for what may happen or how it may affect them or others. 

The tendency to be overly impulsive can persist beyond childhood, and past adolescence. If adults fail to develop their self-control, they can run the risk of inappropriate behaviors that can lead to unwanted consequences. They may impulsively utter unkind remarks, not complete tasks, or have difficulty paying attention. They may also disturb or physically hurt others when overwhelmed emotionally. These behaviors can damage relationships and bring about further difficulty. 

Behind Chronic Impulsivity

What causes chronic impulsivity? It is important to remember that such behavior isn’t healthy. This can be a symptom of a behavioral health condition. One possible cause is anxiety, to be more specific, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which affect over 1 million people in the United States. These conditions can cause us to reach more impulsively and out of instinct at times.

Experts also say that chronic impulsivity could be a symptom of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), borderline personality disorder, or the manic phase of bipolar disorder. It can similarly be a symptom of any of the impulse-control disorders as well. 

In addition, impulsivity may arise from poor modeling of appropriate behaviors or emotional management while growing up. This means that a child may have patterned their behaviors after an influential figure in their life, such as a parent with poor self-regulation or control. It may also be developed as a response to a traumatic experience.

Treating Your Impulsivity

Therapy can improve chronic impulsivity. Counseling can provide the tools to help you cultivate self-control and modify your behavior, resulting in a better awareness of impulses and the development of more appropriate responses. Therapy can also assist you in unraveling the underlying cause of impulsivity, to address the consequences of your hasty actions and decisions, and to further build healthier self-esteem.

You can curb your chronic impulsivity and the complications it brings with it, Carolina Counseling Services can help. You can cultivate the necessary skills to develop healthy self-control and self-regulation. Call CCS in Southern Pines, NC today to schedule your first appointment.

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