What is Impulse control disorder and its Symptoms?
September 20, 2023 | by Sravani Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's
Impulse Control Disorders (ICDs) are a group of mental health conditions characterized by difficulty in resisting urges, impulses, or behaviors that may be harmful to oneself or others. Some common impulse control disorders and their symptoms include:
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED):
- Frequent episodes of extreme anger, aggression, or violent outbursts that are disproportionate to the situation.
- Difficulty controlling impulses during angry episodes, resulting in verbal or physical aggression.
- Kleptomania:
- Recurrent impulses to steal items that are not needed for personal use or monetary gain.
- A sense of relief or gratification following the theft, but often accompanied by guilt, remorse, or anxiety.
- Pyromania:
- Compulsive urge to set fires deliberately, often out of fascination or relief derived from fire-setting.
- Feeling a sense of pleasure, gratification, or emotional relief after setting fires.
- Pathological Gambling (Compulsive Gambling):
- Uncontrollable urge to gamble, leading to excessive betting or gambling with increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired excitement.
- Preoccupation with gambling, engaging in gambling to escape problems or distress, and continued gambling despite negative consequences.
- Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder):
- Recurrent urges to pull out one’s own hair from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or other body areas.
- Tension before pulling and relief or gratification afterward, but distress and impairment follow due to hair loss.
- Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder:
- Repetitive and compulsive picking of the skin, resulting in lesions or wounds.
- Attempts to stop or reduce skin picking are unsuccessful, and it causes significant distress or impairment in daily functioning.
- Compulsive Buying (Oniomania):
- Frequent and uncontrollable urge to shop or make purchases, often resulting in financial difficulties or debt.
- Feeling a temporary sense of pleasure or relief after shopping, but later experiencing guilt, regret, or remorse.
Individuals with impulse control disorders often struggle with feelings of guilt, shame, and frustration due to their inability to control impulses, which can have a detrimental impact on their relationships, work, and overall quality of life. It’s important to seek professional help if you suspect you or someone else may be experiencing symptoms of an impulse control disorder. Treatment may involve therapy, medication, or a combination of approaches to manage and control impulsive behaviors.