Uncontrollable impulses: signs to identify it and possible causes

Surely more than once you have tried not to do something that you really wanted at a certain moment, like eating that chocolate chip cookie or going to that concert instead of staying home studying.

All of these are normal and perfectly acceptable temptations, the consequences of which do not cause any notable problem; however, there are people who develop problems to contain some impulses in situations in which this can lead to more significant problems. In the most extreme cases, this tendency comes to constitute a true psychopathology, since it harms one's own quality of life and/or that of others.

When the person fails to control certain negative or antisocial behaviors, we can talk about a case of mood control disorder. impulses, a psychological alteration that can cause great wear and tear on a person's mental health and, in many cases, on their relationships social.

In today's article we will briefly see the main signs that allow us to identify the lack of impulse control, as well as the possible causes that explain this phenomenon. This will allow you to quickly detect these cases and do everything possible to seek psychotherapeutic help as soon as possible.

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What is impulse control disorder?

Impulse control disorder is a type of psychological disorder that affects people of all ages and is characterized by the impossibility of controlling the impulse to carry out certain behaviors that are harmful to oneself and/or to others.

It is important to note that any of these behaviors that are perceived as impossible for the affected person to inhibit They usually provide temporary pleasure or relief, although the consequences in the medium and long term are always negative.

This impulse control disorder usually appears in childhood or adolescence, and is characterized by a lack of control in spontaneous and low-complexity behaviors that affect directly to their classmates, their group of friends, their teachers or their relatives, violating the most basic rights and liberties of the people who are around them. around.

These negative consequences, derived from the person's uncontrollable impulses, are usually well known by the individual suffering from said disorder, and even so, he continues to carry them out with total normal.

Impulse control disorder is also characterized by an emotional disturbance in the person, who feels that they lose control over their body and their most intense emotional experiences, so they either stop resisting those tendencies, or end up seeking professional help.

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Types of Impulse Dyscontrol Disorders

Impulse control disorders are varied and have various well-defined characteristics. Below we highlight the main types that exist and their signs, traits and nature.

1. intermittent explosive disorder

Intermittent Explosive Disorder is characterized by short episodes of aggression or violence towards people, objects of all kinds and also property of others.

These impulses are triggered by heightened states of anger in which the person completely loses control of their actions, also ignoring, during the episode, all the negative consequences that their conduct.

After these outbursts of violence, the person usually has feelings of sincere regret and self-reproach that generate great emotional discomfort.

• Related article: "Intermittent Explosive Disorder: Causes and Symptoms"

2. Kleptomania

Kleptomania is an impulse control disorder characterized by the urge to steal objects with or without any specific value, unintentionally.

The person with this disorder is unable to resist the urge to steal and every time he does so he feels a great transient and momentary satisfaction, which pushes him to continue committing this type of crimes.

3. Pyromania

Pyromania consists of a need to set fires in different places, a fact that generates great fascination and satisfaction in the person every time they do it.

This irrepressible behavior endangers both the life of the person suffering from the disorder and that of those who are immersed in the arson.

4. trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a Impulse control deficits to pull hair and scalp, causing great pain in the person and even injuries of all kinds.

This disorder can occur in people who do not have any social or affective problems and who function completely normally in social settings.

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5. dermatillomania

Dermatillomania is based on an irrepressible urge to scratch, tear, or pick at one's own skin of the body compulsively and obsessively.

It is a disorder that in the long run also causes all kinds of affectations or serious injuries to the person's skin, as it progresses over time.

6. Onychophagia

Onychophagia is based on the need and obsession for Compulsively biting, cutting, or eating your nails at any time of the day.

This disorder is not simply the habit some people have of biting their fingernails. hands, but said activity must be done daily and following some clinical assumptions determined.

7. dermatophagy

Dermatophagia is the disorder that people have who compulsively bite the skin around their nails.

Again, it is a disorder that causes great psychological discomfort in the person and also causes all kinds of skin lesions that can be more or less serious.

8. Trichophagia

Trichophagia is similar to trichotillomania, but in this case it consists of the need to systematically and irrepressibly pulling out hair and eating it.

It is a disorder that can cause physical or organic problems in the person and that can be related to other mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression or stress.

9. impulse buy

People with impulse buying disorder cannot avoid the overwhelming urge to buy all kinds of products at any time of the day.

These purchases are made spontaneously and not premeditated, and again generate great well-being in people who suffer from the disorder.

10. Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome

The Compulsive Hoarder Syndrome It is characterized by the need to compulsively accumulate all kinds of objectswhether they have value in themselves or not.

The accumulation of all kinds of objects indiscriminately can lead the person to live in unhealthy or unhygienic situations depending on the nature of the accumulated objects.

Causes

The causes of impulse control disorders can be varied, and these are the most common.

1. Biological and genetic causes

Scientific research at the neurological level and neuroimaging techniques have shown that many people with impulse control disorder present notable differences in their brain structure or in the functioning of their neural activity.

Some impulse control disorders can be facilitated by genetic predispositions, just like other mental health disorders or disorders. Of course, the simple fact of having certain gene variants is not a sufficient cause to develop these psychopathologies, and must be combined with other factors.

2. Environmental and psychosocial causes

According to psychology professionals, the context and physical environment of the person they can also exert enough influence for a person to develop these types of disorders.

Certain traumatic experiences, a certain parenting model on the part of the parents or certain types of relationships with family or friends can end up developing all kinds of mood control disorders. impulses.