Impulse control disorders are mental health conditions defined by the inability to control potentially dangerous impulses that can cause harm to oneself or others and lead people to experience challenges in their essential day-to-day function.
The consequences of these self-destructive behaviors can trickle into school, work, friendships, and other vital relationships. While they provide a sense of release at the moment, the behaviors ultimately cause them to unravel financially, socially, and legally.
Causes of Impulse Control Disorders
Both external and internal factors can trigger impulse control disorders. However, the consensus tends to be that the root causes for these conditions are a mixture of both nature and nurture. In other words, you may have some genetic vulnerability to developing the disorder while environmental stressors fan the flames.
Males, for example, are much more likely to develop an impulse control disorder than females. Substance abuse, trauma, and exposure to violence are also big triggers for these conditions. Still, you can also be susceptible due to a chemical imbalance in your brain or comorbidity with another mental health disorder such as Bipolar disorder.
Common Types
Impulse Control Disorder is a broad umbrella term for various mental health conditions with typical symptoms. Continue reading below for some prevalent impulse control disorders, but also stop by BetterHelp to explore a more in-depth look at these conditions.
Pyromania
People with pyromania will purposely start fires without regard to the harm it may cause to others or destroy important property. Pyromaniacs, in particular, can also experience personality disorders such as antisocial personality disorder. This impulse control disorder can generally be treated with a combination of medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy that targets the underlying mental illness.
Kleptomania
Kleptomania is characterized by the impulsive urge to steal things that do not belong to you. Interestingly, people with kleptomania will often steal something just to steal, and not because they necessarily carry any sort of monetary or sentimental value. You’re more likely to see kleptomania be comorbid with other mood disorders such as OCD. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and mood stabilizers are effective treatments for this condition.
Intermittent Explosive Disorder
When a person has had multiple instances where they’ve behaved aggressively or committed impulsive aggressive acts such as assault, one could say that this person may have Intermittent Explosive Disorder. These behaviors, however, are typically associated with initial triggers that do not match the violent reaction, and they can also be related to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania involves the impulsive urge to pull out one’s hair from their scalp or anywhere else on their body, even when it causes the individual pain. However, these intense urges and desire for relief far outweigh any concern for pain. This disorder actually used to be considered an impulse control disorder but has recently been re-categorized as a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and therapy are typically quite effective in managing the symptoms of this condition.
Pathological Gambling
Also a disorder that has been categorized, pathological gambling is now considered a process addiction but was widely known as an impulse control disorder in previous years. Individuals with this condition cannot combat the urge to gamble. In addition to therapy and medication, pathological gamblers can benefit from self-help groups similar to alcoholics, such as Gamblers anonymous.