![[im]pulse [control disorder]](http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/48960581_256bcb2851.jpg "Impulse Control Disorders")
Impulse control disorders are mental health disorders. They are disorders defined by a lack of control, rather than obsessive control. As such, the actions relating to impulse control disorders can happen without a person thinking, and can cause much distress in their lives.
Types of impulse control disorder:
- trichotillomania (hair pulling)
- dermatillomania (skin picking)
- intermittent explosive disorder (hot-headedness)
- kleptomania (stealing)
- pathological gambling
- pyromania (starting fires)
*For more information on any of these conditions please click on them to be referred to the Wikipedia article.*
Whilst these disorders may seem very different, they are based around the impulse that the sufferer has to perform certain actions.
Impulsivity
Impulsivity is what links all of these disorders together which leads to sufferers seeking short term gain or feelings with the result of a long term loss. For example, the short term relief of pulling hair is met with the long term loss resulting in feeling bad about yourself, baldness and so on.
Sufferers act on impulse rather than on thought. This happens to everyone to some degree in everyday life, but more people are prone to certain impulses than others for a variety of different reasons. Boredom can also lead to an increase in impulsive behaviour, as can the desire for certain sensations even if they may have negative long-term results.
Impulsivity is also linked to obsessive compulsive disorders and addiction.
OCD
Impulse control disorders are within the spectrum of obsessive compulsive disorders. Whilst OCD is commonly characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsion, both OCD and impulse control disorders involve rituals. In the case of trichotillomania these may include eating the hair, pulling ‘bad’ hairs and more.
Conclusion
This is an extremely brief overview of impulse control disorders. I am planning to learn and write more about all of these disorders, but there is a lot of information available online. Please see some of the links above for information on individual conditions.
What do you think?
Do you see the link between OCD and impulse control disorders? If you have one or more of the listed disorders, do you think it is similar to any of the others? Does your disorder involve rituals?
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My name's Penny, and I started OnTrich (a trichotillomania blog) to try and raise awareness about hair pulling, and also as a way to help me deal with my own pulling. I'm a 22 year old girl from the UK and I've been pulling for 12 years. Get in touch if you want to chat or need any help - I love meeting people here.
I hope you don’t mind that I have never come here before. As I mentioned before, I have to be in the mood for learning about new things… and I finally am in the mood to read about this. hehe
I have slight OCD but I know I’m definitely not full blown. I’ve also have a little of the hair pulling and fire obsession thing… but again nothing to say that I have the disorder.
If I were a hypochondriac however, I probably would think so. LOL
Totally understand Reg! It is pretty heavy-going stuff which is why I put it in a separate blog.
I think people probably have a lot of these tendencies, it’s just that some may be more ‘normal’ than others and therefore more acceptable. Thanks for visiting and glad you understand about these things
The presence of major depression is a strong risk factor for the development of pathological gambling and for later relapse. Comprehensive treatment of depression or other coexisting psychiatric problems is essential, as is treatment for any other addictions that might be present, such as alcoholism.
Informative post. You have a new subscriber:) All the best, Wesley
Obsessive compulsive disorder can be managed by increasing the brain serotonin level. This can be done by taking food supplements that contain L-Tryptophan.