Impulsive Behavior: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment - Healthline

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Is Impulsive Behavior a Disorder?

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — Written by Ann Pietrangelo on May 12, 2020

Is it a disorder?
Symptoms & examples
In children
Causes
Risk factors
Seeking help
Treatment
Summary

Impulsive behavior can be part of an impulse control disorder or other mental health disorder but is not a disorder on its own. Some physical conditions can also cause impulsive behavior.

Impulsive behavior meaning

An impulsive behavior is when you act quickly with no thought to the consequences. There’s nothing on your mind beyond that exact moment.

We all engage in impulsive behavior from time to time, especially when we’re young. As we mature, we learn to control our impulses for the most part. It’s not necessarily part of a disorder.

Frequent impulsive behavior can be associated with certain mental health conditions.

Is impulsive behavior a disorder?

By itself, impulsive behavior is not a disorder. Anyone can act on impulse once in a while.

Sometimes, impulsive behavior is part of an impulse control disorder or other mental health disorder. This may be the case when:

there’s a pattern of impulsive behavior
you’re unable to gain control over impulses
there are other signs and symptoms of mental illness

Impulsive behavior symptoms and examples

Acting on impulse is spontaneous. There’s no consideration to how it could affect others. There’s no wondering how you’ll feel about it later. It’s just about the here and now.

Examples of this include:

bingeing: overindulging in things like shopping, gambling, and eating
destruction of property: destroying your own or someone else’s things in a moment of anger
escalating problems: taking minor situations and making them more urgent and important than necessary
frequent outbursts: losing your cool far too often, even when it’s clearly uncalled for
lots of starting over: abruptly joining and quitting groups or wiping the slate clean in search of a fresh start
oversharing: talking without thinking and sharing intimate details
physical violence: overreacting by getting physical in the spur of the moment
higher risk sex: engaging in sex without a condom or other barrier method, especially with a person whose STI status is unknown
self-harm: hurting yourself in the heat of anger, sadness, or disappointment

Examples in children

Young children are often impulsive. That’s because they don’t yet realize how their own behavior can affect others. They may not understand that their actions have consequences beyond their immediate wants.

Some examples of this are:

ignoring danger: running into the street without checking traffic or jumping into a pool even though they can’t swim
interrupting: frequently butting into conversations
getting physical: pushing another child or throwing something when upset
grabbing: Taking what they want rather than asking or waiting for a turn
getting vocal: screaming or yelling in frustration

Causes of impulsive behavior

How we make decisions is a complex process. The cause of being impulsive may not always be evident.

People may also indulge in risky behavior for reasons other than impulsivity. It’s also not uncommon to see impulsiveness in young children who haven’t developed self-control.

Studies show that impulsivity may have something to do with the prefrontal lobe. Other research suggests an association between impulsivity and brain connectivity.

Researchers have a long way to go to fully understand the links between impulsivity and:

personality
brain connectivity
brain function

Physical conditions, such as brain lesions and stroke, can also lead to symptoms such as impulsive behavior.

Risk factors for impulsive behavior

Anyone can become frequently impulsive, but it can sometimes be a sign of an underlying disorder.

The following are some disorders that may lead to impulsivity. The exact causes for these disorders are unknown. They may develop due to a combination of factors that include:

genetics
environment
brain function
brain injury
physical changes in the brain
childhood trauma

Borderline personality disorder

Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition involving emotional instability. Symptoms include:

impulsivity
poor self-image
dangerous behaviors
self-harm

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition marked by extreme shifts in mood, often mania or depression.

In a manic episode, someone may have the symptom of impulsive behavior. Other symptoms include:

high energy
agitation
racing thoughts and talkativeness
euphoria
less need for sleep
poor decision-making

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

People with ADHD can find it hard to pay attention and control impulsive behavior. Symptoms can include:

restlessness
forgetfulness
interrupting others
trouble focusing or concentrating

Substance use

Certain substances, such as alcohol, can break down inhibitions. This can lead to impulsive behavior.

On the other hand, impulsivity may contribute to the development of substance use disorders. It may not be possible to determine which came first.

Antisocial personality disorder

Antisocial personality disorder involves impulsive and manipulative behavior. Other symptoms are:

quick to anger
arrogance
lying
aggressiveness
a lack of remorse

Intermittent explosive disorder

In intermittent explosive disorder, a person experiences frequent episodes of impulsive or aggressive behavior. Examples of this are:

temper tantrums
physical violence
road rage

Kleptomania

Kleptomania is a rare condition in which you can’t resist the compulsion to steal. People with kleptomania tend to have coexisting mental health disorders. These can include anxiety and depression.

Pyromania

Pyromania is a rare mental health disorder — a type of impulse control disorder — in which you can’t control the impulse to set fires.

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is another rare condition. It involves a powerful desire to pull out your own hair.

This condition is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder, though it was formerly classified as an impulse control disorder.

Brain injury or stroke

Brain injury or stroke can lead to changes in behavior. This includes:

impulsiveness
poor judgement
short attention span

When to see a medical professional

Even if you don’t have a diagnosis of a mental health condition, frequent impulsive behavior is something you should address.

Impulsive behavior can lead to other inappropriate behaviors with potentially serious consequences. Research shows a relationship between impulsivity and:

suicide in people who have borderline personality disorder
drug misuse in those who use multiple drugs
manic episodes
depressive episodes

Other research shows a link between impulsiveness and violent behavior.

If you or your child frequently behave on impulse, see a doctor. You can start with a primary care physician or pediatrician. If necessary, they can refer you to a mental health specialist.

How to control impulsive behavior

How to approach this behavior depends on the cause. In many cases, the person is not at fault. They may not have the ability to change.

When it’s your child, you can:

make them aware of their impulsivity and how it affects them later
explore alternative behaviors by role-playing
teach and practice patience

You can deal with your own impulsive tendencies by:

mentally walking through potential scenarios and practicing how to stop and think before acting
dealing directly with your usual impulsiveness by making it harder to binge, splurge, or dive headlong into things

If you feel that you can’t gain control on your own, a healthcare professional can provide helpful resources.

Takeaway

Everyone behaves impulsively sometimes. Most of the time, we can work to limit those behaviors on our own.

Sometimes, impulsive behavior is part of an impulse control disorder or other type of mental health condition. These disorders can be treated.

If you have major problems due to impulsive behavior, help is available. Take the first step and see a doctor.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — Written by Ann Pietrangelo on May 12, 2020

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