Print What is impulsivity?
Impulsivity refers to the tendency to act hastily without considering potential consequences. You struggle to restrain yourself or suppress certain impulses, leading to quick anger outbursts, imprudent decisions, or unnecessary risk-taking. This can also result in disrupted social relationships or difficulty completing certain tasks, such as work. As a result, it may feel like failure and can cause you to become more insecure.
There is no direct identifiable cause of impulsivity. However, research has shown it can arise from emotional neglect or trauma in childhood or have a biological basis, such as in ADHD. In addition to ADHD, impulsivity is also present in other conditions like addiction issues, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders.
How to cope with impulsivity?
To better manage impulsivity, it is important to know yourself well and be aware of situations or circumstances that trigger impulsive behaviour. It is also important to pay attention to the amount of stimulation and seek calm moments. The following tips can help you
- Try to become aware of situations that can provoke impulsive behaviour and avoid them if you’re not certain you can prevent risks.
- Learn from impulsive mistakes and actively think about what you would like to do differently next time.
- Try to be cautious when others propose ideas or reconsider a decision if you later regret it. You don’t have to say ‘yes’ to everything.
- If you make a wrong decision and it affects others, offer your apologies or make amends with them.
- Pay attention to the amount of stimulation you’re exposed to by limiting distractions or overwhelming situations.
- Make use of quiet spaces, take sufficient breaks, or take a moment for yourself when you notice you’re feeling overstimulated.
- Practice and apply mindfulness to become more aware of your feelings and reactions.
- Utilize timeouts or STOP! moments. Regularly pause and take a minute to evaluate if you might be acting impulsively.
Sources
- Vink, S. (2021). Cognitieve gedragstherapie bij volwassenen met AD(H)D. Handleiding voor therapeuten. BSL.
- https://www.verywellmind.com/impulsive-behavior-and-bpd-425483
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1087054715625301
