Impulsivity disorder is a chronic psychiatric disorder in which the sufferer is not able to control his emotions and behavior. The person tends to act impulsively without realizing its appropriateness and consequence. A certain amount of impulsiveness is present in any individual, but when it is present in excess this may lead to adverse consequences.
Cause of Impulsivity Disorder:
The exact cause of impulsivity disorder is yet to be identified, but psychiatrists believe multiple factors work together in its development. This broadly includes genetics, environmental and physical.
Genetics: Genetics is linked with impulsivity disorder. According to researchers children and adults are more prone to develop this problem when they have any family member having mental disorder.
Physical: According to professionals, it is believed when certain part of brain that controls emotions, memory, planning starts dysfunctioning it gives rise to problems related with impulse control.
Environmental: People suffering from impulsive disorder usually have history of growing up in surrounding where explosive behavior, violence, abusive behavior mental and physical are common. This may be at home or in the surrounding where he lives.
Signs and Symptoms of Impulsive Disorder
The signs and symptoms of impulsivity disorder will depend on the age of person, environment in which he is surrounded, and gender of the patient. Here are few important signs and symptoms of impulsivity disorder:
- Has habit of compulsive lying and stealing. The habit of stealing and lying tends to gratify the person.
- Increased urge for sex which compels the person to indulge in selecting risky sexual partner. This can increase risk of sexually transmitted disease.
- The person has tendency to play with fire. This condition is called pyromania. Often such person may present with burns when experimenting or playing with fire.
- Obsessive thoughts, agitation, aggressiveness, impatience, are some of the traits of person having impulsivity disorder.
How to Manage Impulsivity Disorder
Impulsivity disorder is a psychiatric chronic illness and needs to be treated. Management includes psycho-social approach and medicines. Certain anti psychotic medicines have helped in improving conditions such as compulsive gambling, trichotillomania, constant skin pricking, impulsive aggression etc.
Psycho-social therapy consists of cognitive behavioral therapy. It has shown excellent results in certain problems such as sexual addiction and compulsive gambling. CBT in case of pyromania is difficult to control in adults but children the therapy is effective in children.
Certain natural remedies are useful too since they are beneficial for proper brain functioning.
Fish oil: This consists of omega 3 fatty acids. The EPA and DHA in fish oil are useful for brain functioning. They also act as anti inflammatory agents. Hence taking fish oil supplements in such patients is useful to reduce symptoms.
B- vitamins: Person must eat more vegetables and foods that are rich in B complex vitamins. It helps in secretion of serotonin a chemical that is necessary for proper brain function.
Poultry: It contains high amount of essential amino acid called tryptophan. This amino acid is extremely important for production of serotonin which plays significant role in stabilizing emotions.
Eat breakfast: Person suffering from impulsivity disorder must always eat their breakfast. This helps to regulate balance of blood sugar and reduces imbalance of hormones.
Foods to be avoided impulsivity disorder: Too much of coffee, tea, caffeinated products, sugary food, eatables that contain food colors, processed and canned food, artificial sweeteners etc.