Not necessarily only a problem with children and teens, impulse behavior can be a struggle for adults as well. Impulsive behavior refers to the tendency of people to act without thinking. If you regularly make hasty decisions without considering the consequences or you act in the moment based on your feeling and emotions, you may be struggling with impulsive behavior.

Everyone may act impulsively from time to time, but there are also cases where people consistently are unable to control their behavior patterns. This could give rise to problems in their relationships, with their jobs and even have an effect on their mental and physical well-being. Some examples of serious impulsive behaviors include shopping without control, driving recklessly, indulging in promiscuous sex, binge eating, losing your temper and destroying property.

There are also a specific group of impulsive behaviors that have been categorized as psychiatric disorders under the DSM-IV- TR known as Impulse Control Disorders. Behaviors such as Kleptomania, Pyromania, Trichotillomania, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, and Pathological Gambling may be different in many respects but all of them are marked by a person’s inability to resist an impulsive act. In such cases, action is rarely premeditated and may often be harmful to the self or to others. Impulse control disorders are usually associated with other existing mental or psychological conditions such as anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, personality disorders and substance abuse.

Impulsive behavior

While there is no known cause for the different types of impulse control disorders, theories range from problems with neurotransmitters in the brain to head injury or trauma that may have affected the normal control of impulse and action. Studies on the treatment of impulse control disorders are few and far between. However, research so far seems to point in the direction of medication and psychotherapy as the best methods to treat such conditions. Depending on the severity of symptoms, medications can range from anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, and anti-seizure medications. The most effective form of psychotherapy treatment to treat impulsivity is CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In addition to these forms of treatment, family therapy and support groups may also help patients handle the challenges of recovering from such mental disorders. There are a number of different ways to control human behavior such as:

1) Education:
Once you accept you have a problem with impulsivity, your next step is to identify your triggers. There will be certain situations that cause you to overact or ignore your rational mind. Once you identify these problem areas, you can start to plan how to change your reactions and reduce impulsive behavior.

2) Yoga and Meditation:
Yoga and meditation improves a person’s powers of concentration and calms the mind down. With regular meditation and practice of yoga, you can actually settle your nervous system and change the way you respond to stress and tension.

3) Stop:
Training yourself to stop and think is tougher than it sounds. It takes a whole lot of practice and conscious effort before it becomes a habit.

4) Ask for Help:
If spending sprees are your problem, don’t go shopping without a friend. If your anger spirals a situation out of control, sign up for anger management classes or counseling. Asking for help and reaching out for support are the best ways to help make it through one day at a time. Support groups are available online that allow you to share your experiences and improve your coping skills. Impulsive behavior can destroy your relationships and be potentially harmful as well. If you notice your behavior veering out of control, it may be time to accept that you have a problem and ask for help before its too late.