This is why it might be helpful to ask the supportive people in your life to offer their perspectives on your impulse control. Knowing yourself and recognizing what triggers your impulsive reactions is essential, and it can be tricky to identify all of them on your own. Only by honestly recognizing your triggers for bipolar impulsivity can you find a solution for avoiding-or at least preparing for-such events. Think hard about when you regret your behavior most often, then make note of the circumstances. Are there situations that make impulsive behaviors harder to resist? Or maybe a particular person who brings out your wild side? Perhaps it’s when you open an online shopping link, or if you make rash decisions when partying on the weekends. Instead of denying the pain we cause to ourselves and others, it is crucial that we acknowledge the specific issues we have with impulsivity and identify our weak points. In the moment of temptation, working hard to remember how our past actions led to hurtful consequences may help us to choose differently this time around. When our impulsivity takes over, it’s not uncommon for us to leave a list of angry, hurt, and disappointed people in our wake-which leads to guilt and regret, especially when we harm those dearest to us. The by-products of our reckless behavior can be destroyed relationships, legal troubles, overwhelming debt, and impaired health. The first step in approaching a game plan to tackle impulsivity is taking a hard look at the repercussions of our actions. In other words, the lure of excitement and instant gratification can more easily override thoughtful decision-making. This may be because the part of the brain responsible for logical reasoning tends to have a weaker grip on emotional circuitry, resulting in a more sensitive reward system. Yet research suggests that even in times of stability, lower impulse control is characteristic of those of us who live with bipolar. Mood extremes (either elevated or depressed) go hand in hand with impulsivity. ![]() #1 Understand Impulsivity with Bipolar Disorder Even so, there are different ways to rein in these urges and head off potentially harmful risks. Often, the aftermath leaves us filled with regret. Bipolar impulsivity is characterized by feeling unable to resist emotional impulses when faced with feel-good rewards-like spending money, gambling, or using drugs. Rash, in-the-moment decisions-usually made during periods of hypomania, mania, or depression-come in all forms: going on shopping sprees, posting angry social media comments, engaging in risky sexual behavior, or making significant life changes. Here are some strategies to dial back reckless urges and prevent their often-negative consequences. Impulsivity, a common symptom of bipolar disorder, can be tricky to manage.
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