The Impacts of Chronic Impulsivity

Everyone has the capacity to react impulsively, however, this becomes problematic when reactions are impulsive more often than not. Impulsivity can cause difficulties in a variety of life areas. If you find that you often react impulsively, know that you aren’t alone. You can learn skills to help you react in ways that you are proud of later. Therapy can help. 

The Havoc of Untreated Chronic Impulsivity

Chronic impulsiveness becomes dysfunctional when uncontrolled impulses are not sufficiently regulated by rational thought, causing harm to you and others. When left untreated, chronic impulsivity can have long-term effects. these effects may include the following:

  • Poor academic performance, leading to suspension or expulsion from school
  • Failure in career ventures
  • Extreme difficulty in establishing and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships
  • Engaging or participating in self-harming activities
  • Legal problems
  • Low self-esteem
  • Severe inattentiveness
  • Self-harming thoughts or behaviors

Chronic impulsivity has the potential to give rise to other physical concerns, such as heart palpitations, headaches, and muscle tensions. It can bury you deep into debt and put you in serious legal situations. Being chronically impulsive can take away your ability to focus, causing you to have difficulty completing tasks and achieving your goals.

What to Expect from Treatment

Many with chronic impulsivity will report experiencing urges that are hard to ignore. There is often tension and discomfort that is felt until one acts on their compulsion. This can occur with other mental health conditions such as anxiety, OCD, Bipolar Disorder etc. 

Therapy and medication management have been found to be effective in treating chronic impulsivity. Counseling can help you to figure out what triggers impulsivity for you and assist you in learning different skills to cope. 

Finding Help to Set You Free from Chronic Impulsivity

Impulsivity is an important dimension of human behavior that is why everyone tends to be impulsive at some point in time. For many of life’s challenges, it is vital to have the agility to take risks and embrace what is uncertain and potentially dangerous. Sometimes, however, doing and saying things without careful reasoning can be disastrous. For example, you buy things you cannot afford; you jump into situations without considering the implications and consequences.

Chronic impulsivity can lead to poor outcomes. Your uncontrolled impulses can hurt not only yourself, but those around you. Even if you regret your words or actions, you cannot go back in time. It may not be easy, however, you can regain control with counseling. Call CCS – Fayetteville today to get started.

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