Everyone acts impulsively from time to time and it can lead to many good things  but when this type of behavior becomes either frequent or serious (e.g., dangerous/damaging), is it considered problematic and the issue needs to be seriously addressed - especially as the choices we make have consequences and sometimes lifelong implications; so taking control of impulsivity is essential!

 

Impulsive behaviour is one BPD trait that many people who have the disorder have issues with in one way or another.

 

 Some research suggests that it is related to a specific deficit in the way the brain regulates dopamine signaling, and also serotonin levels. Orbitofrontal cortex dysfunction may also contribute to impulsitivity in borderline personality disorder. 

 

 Some examples of impulsive behaviors include:

 

Gambling

Substance abuse

Going on spending sprees

Driving recklessly

Promiscuous/unprotected sex

Binge eating

Yelling, shouting, or screaming at others

Threatening to harm others

Destroying property

Shoplifting

Getting in physical fights with people

Self injury/suicide attempts.

 

 

Making hasty decisions based on your feelings in the moment rather than on a long-term plan or acting without thinking through the consequences can have far-reaching, often devastating consequences in many areas such as:

 

 

Personal: Shame, regret and embarrassment, maybe even public humiliation.

 

 Emotional: Self-esteem takes a huge hit. 

 

 Relational: You lose friends and sabotage family dynamics. 

 

 Social:  Other peoples reactions to what you said or did.

 

 Vocational:  Upheaval in the workplace / risk losing your job.

 

 Financial:  Funding to fuel your addictions which often leads to huge debts.

 

 Physical: You may contract an STD or liver disease, depending on your behavior.

 

When you don’t learn to control impulsivity, it can absolutely come to control you. And,thinking there’s nothing you can do about it only increases the likelihood that the situation will remain “as is.”

 

 

 So why do so many of us continue to partake in such behaviour knowing how damaging it can be?

 

 

Impulsive behaviour for people with BPD are often a way to cope with underlying issues in the hope it may provide relief from their reality, a way to vent their intense emotions and attempt to restore some sense of well-being.

 

Impulsive behaviors are especially dangerous when people are in brief psychotic states, because they may be much more likely to act impulsively if their judgement is impaired. This is a huge concern if they have self harming tendancies as it may result in a suicide attempt.

 

 The main contributing factors are:

 

 Urgency: in a hurry to 'feel better'.

Lack of premeditation:  acts before thinking or planning.

Sensation seeking:  seeking fun/excitement without thinking of consequences.

 

In a study of impulsiveness males had higher scores for sensation seeking and females for urgency. 

 

However, the results/desired effects of the impulsive act are rarely long lasting and will often leave you feeling low or anxious  - so now, not only do we have to wrestle with the aftermath of our behavior and our accompanying shame and embarrassment, but we must do so while in the midst of a depressed state which can the lead to a vicious circle. 

 

 

 Making changes and taking control.

 

Managing impulsivity often requires putting particular precautions in place. It helps to have an agreed-upon plan with family/friends or with your doctor/therapist. Depending on your impulsive tendencies, you may have to restrict or closely monitor Internet usage, arrange for safekeeping or supervision of credit cards, ATM cards or even car keys, or even put a Power of Attorney into place to make it harder to act impulsively.  

 

In addition to seeking professional help, you can take control of impulsivity in other ways:

 

 

Acknowledge and accept. First and foremost, you must admit that a problem exists and must be addressed.

Seek support. Attend a support group based on what you’re confronting.

Tame triggers. Guard against / plan for, what you know provokes the impulsive behavior.

Adjust attitude. Adopt a new, healthy and positive mindset toward tackling the problem.

Repair and replace. Repair past damage, and replace old habits and bad relationships with healthy ones.

Tackle therapeutically. Take an active role in therapy, be open, honest and comittedget to the root of underlying issues. 

Staying Busy. Keeping yourself busy to a schedule with activities that are mentally distracting can also help.

Positive people. Be aware of spending too much time around negative people, instead surround yourself with those you trust and who will support you in your quest for change.

 

Practicing self help techniques such as those taught in  Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) or Mindfulness, can have huge benefits for people with BPD and not only with the impulsitivity but on all aspects of the disorder so well worth trying!

 

 

Whatever it is that you find yourself struggling to control, remember, you aren’t alone and that there are ways to improve things :) Take the first step and even if you stumble, stay strong and keep going...it will be worth it!