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Do I Have Impulse Control Disorder? What to Know

From uncontrollable anger outbursts to compulsive shopping, it may feel as if your emotions are taking control of your life. When it feels like managing these impulses is out of reach, it may be a sign of an impulse control disorder (ICD).

In this article, we’ll explore what impulse control disorders are, the different types, and the common symptoms associated with these conditions.

What is an Impulse Control Disorder?

An impulse control disorder is a mental health condition characterized by the inability to resist urges or impulses. Some reactions may lead to behaviors that are harmful to you or others. About 10.5% of the general population have an impulse control disorder.

People with impulse control disorders often feel an overwhelming urge to perform specific actions. After carrying them out, there is often an intense sense of satisfaction.

Despite potential negative consequences, having an impulse control disorder can make it challenging to stop these behaviors. Over time, this can become disruptive to daily life.

What are the Different Types of Impulse Control Disorders?

There are six different types of impulse control disorder. The following are the most common types of impulse control disorders.

Intermittent explosive disorder (IED)

People with IEDs have recurrent episodes of sudden and intense aggression that tend to escalate the situation. These outbursts are impulsive rather than premeditated and can involve verbal or physical aggression.

Kleptomania

Kleptomania involves a compulsive urge to steal things. It’s usually items that do not have a lot of value or importance. Unlike typical theft, kleptomania is driven by an impulse rather than financial gain or necessity.

This condition often involves stealing small or inexpensive items like trinkets, clothes, or food without having an immediate need for them.

Pyromania

This impulse control disorder is characterized by an intense fascination with fire and a compulsion to set fires for pleasure or relief of tension. 

Setting fires isn’t done for financial gain, revenge, or any other external motivation.

Pathological gambling (gambling disorder)

Pathological gambling involves a persistent and compulsive urge to gamble despite negative consequences, including financial, social, and personal harm.

The person will often gamble repeatedly or lie to hide the extent of their gambling. This can continue even if the person is consistently losing. They may also excessively borrow or steal money to gamble.

Compulsive sexual behavior (hypersexuality)

Compulsive sexual behavior — sometimes referred to as hypersexuality or sexual addiction —  involves recurrent and intense sexual urges, fantasies, or behaviors that cause distress.

People with this condition often use pornography excessively, engage in risky sexual encounters, masturbate excessively, and spend a lot of time seeking sexual encounters.

Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)

Trichotillomania is characterized by an irresistible urge to pull out your hair, leading to noticeable hair loss and distress. It may occur with hair on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or other body parts.

People with trichotillomania often find relief after pulling out their hair to cope with stress.

What Conditions Co-Occur with an Impulse Control Disorder?

ICDs often co-occur with other mental health disorders. This can make diagnosis and treatment more complex, as overlapping symptoms and underlying causes often interact. 

Below are some of the most common disorders that frequently co-occur with ICDs:

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)

This disorder often co-occurs with ICDs in children and adolescents. While ODD itself isn’t classified as an impulse disorder, it shares some overlapping symptoms, such as a tendency toward defiant and challenging behaviors.

Both ODD and impulse control disorders involve difficulties managing impulses, particularly in reaction to frustration and stress. This disorder often manifests as a defiant response to authority figures.

Personality disorders

Personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) may co-occur with an impulse control disorder.

Impulsivity is a core feature in several personality disorders, especially BPD and ASPD. People with BPD may engage in impulsive behaviors as a way to cope with intense emotions, while those with ASPD might show impulsivity through disregard for rules or norms.

Mood disorders

Mood disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and dysthymia, often co-occur with ICDs. Dyshymia is a disorder where depression symptoms are consistent. Impulse behavior can stem from or exacerbate feelings of depression or mood instability. 

For example, someone with intermittent explosive disorder may experience anger outbursts that increase depressive symptoms or vice versa.

Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be linked with ICDs. 

While OCD is characterized by repetitive behaviors driven by compulsions rather than impulsivity, people with OCD may also exhibit impulsive traits.

Additionally, people with anxiety disorders might engage in impulsive actions to find relief from anxiety.

Substance use disorders (SUDs)

Substance abuse and ICDs frequently co-occur, with one condition often intensifying the other.

For example, a person with pathological gambling may also have a substance use disorder, where impulsive actions extend to both gambling and substance abuse. 

Substance use can also increase impulsivity, which can exacerbate compulsive or impulsive behaviors.

What are the Symptoms of an Impulse Control Disorder?

There’s no one way for an impulse control disorder to occur. While each has its own signs, common symptoms across these conditions include:

• Intense urges and tension before the act: People with ICDs often feel an overwhelming urge to perform a specific action. There’s usually a buildup of tension or anxiety that only ends after acting on the impulse.

• Inability to resist the impulse: A key feature of impulse control disorders is the inability to resist the urge, even when the person is aware of the negative consequences.

• A sense of relief or pleasure after the act: After acting on the impulse, people may experience a sense of relief, pleasure, or gratification. This temporary feeling reinforces the behavior, making it more likely to happen again.

• Engagement in repetitive and risky behaviors: Individuals may engage in harmful or risky behaviors repeatedly, regardless of previous consequences.

• Distress and impairment in daily life: Many people with ICDs feel distressed or impaired by their inability to control their behavior, which can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression.

• Preoccupation with the behavior: Some people may become preoccupied with planning, thinking about, or preparing for the act. This can lead to fixation on the behavior and reduced focus on daily activities.

• Emotional volatility: Emotional outbursts, irritability, and difficulty managing frustration are common symptoms of ICDs. Many people with these disorders experience sudden and intense emotional reactions that they find challenging to control.

What are the Risk Factors of an Impulse Control Disorder?

ICDs have several risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing these conditions. Here’s a look at some of the most common ones:

• A family history of mental health disorders: People with a family history of mental health conditions are at an increased risk for developing an impulse control disorder.

• Imbalances in neurotransmitters: Imbalances in serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine — neurotransmitters in the brain — are often linked to ICDs. Low serotonin levels are associated with aggression and impulsivity, while dopamine plays a role in the brain’s reward system, potentially reinforcing impulsive actions.

• Comorbidity with other disorders: As mentioned above, ICDs frequently co-occur with other disorders. Having one of these conditions can heighten the risk of developing an ICD, often due to overlapping symptoms.

• A history of trauma: Experiencing trauma, abuse, or neglect during childhood increases the risk of developing ICDs. Childhood trauma may lead to difficulties with regulating your actions and impulse control later in life.

• Conduct disorder: Children diagnosed with conduct disorder ODD are more likely to develop ICDs as they grow older.

• Lack of coping skills: Limited experience with managing stress or lack of emotional regulation skills can increase the chances of developing an ICD. Without healthy ways to handle tension or frustration, people may turn to impulsive actions for relief.

When to Seek Help for Impulse Control

You should seek help from a healthcare professional when your behavior starts to negatively impact your life or the lives of those around you. The following situations can be a sign that you need additional support:

• Your actions become physically harmful to you or others

• An increase in conflict, mistrust, or isolation from family and friends

• Your impulsive behavior leads to arrests, fines, lawsuits, or financial strain.

• Persistent guilt, shame, or regret after acting on impulses interferes with your everyday life

• Finding coping strategies on your own feels impossible

Where Can I Learn More About Mental Health?

If you have any concerns or questions about your health and well-being, LifeMD can help.

We can connect you with a team of healthcare professionals who can provide guidance, treatment options, and tips on managing different mental health conditions.

Schedule an appointment with a licensed healthcare provider today.

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