The idea that a person might need chronic impulsivity counseling can seem surprising. Everybody is a bit impulsive from time to time, after all. You might wonder what makes impulse behavior disordered and concerning. An individual may require chronic impulsive behavior counseling if they show some of the following four signs.

Frequency

Yes, it's normal and even fun to do some things impulsively. However, there is a point where the frequency of the behavior is inherently problematic. Constant impulsive behavior can lead to conflicts, decreased quality of life, sexually-transmitted diseases, physical injuries, or destruction of property. Many impulsive behaviors are connected to overindulgence in activities like eating, gambling, and spending. Frequent impulsions that tend in these directions can derail someone's health, finances, and personal relationships.

Comorbid Disorders

Numerous individuals who show up for chronic impulsivity counseling also have other potential mental health concerns. For example, highly impulsive people may feel depressed because they can't structure their lives to achieve goals. Similarly, folks who are aware of impulsive conduct may develop anxiety in situations where they might act out. There are also associations with substance use disorders.

There can also be a negative feedback loop. Impulsivity can inhibit success and relationships, and that drives other negative feelings that make a person feel less in control and more likely to act without thinking.

Medical conditions can also change a person's impulse control. Someone who suffered a traumatic brain injury, for example, may have never previously displayed impulsive tendencies. After the injury, though, they might struggle to control their conduct because they need help to redevelop a part of their brain that was hurt.

Severity of Consequences

The severity of the consequences of impulsivity can be sudden or cumulative. Someone might steal a car and wreck it on impulse, for example. However, another person might decide to eat half a bag of cookies instead of just four cookies. The impulsive eater might only see the consequences accumulate over decades while the person who stole the car could end up in front of a court immediately. Both people, though, should consider chronic impulsive behavior counseling to get control of their lives.

Family Histories

Mental health issues often run in families for multiple reasons. Especially when it comes to impulsive behavior, children of impulsive parents may not have good models. Likewise, they may have genetic predispositions. Chronic impulsive behavior counseling can help them develop mental models for controlling conduct while also exploring possible options for treating disorders like substance misuse, depression, and anxiety.