Impulsivity#

Distress ToleranceWeek 3

What is it?#

- Acting without thinking about the consequences of your actions.
- Usually occurs in reaction to an event that caused an emotional response (either positive or negative).
- Associated with undesirable outcomes.
- Reactions do not make someone a bad person.
- Impulsivity does not make someone a bad person.
Not all impulsive behaviours are negative.
For instance, going out for a meal when you don’t feel like cooking (and you can afford to) could be impulsive & enjoyable. Joining a friend on a last-minute bungee jump could be impulsive, or booking a last-minute weekend away.
Examples of impulsive behaviour#
- Going on spending sprees
- Driving recklessly
- Promiscuous sex
- Binge eating
- Yelling, shouting or screaming at others
- Threatening to harm others
- Self-mutilation
- Destroying property
- Shoplifting
- Getting into physical fights with people

The pros & cons of impulsivity#

Acting on impulsive urges#

Pros	Cons
Enjoying experiences you would otherwise avoid	Possibly harmful
Makes life more exciting	Not considering the consequences
Collecting positive experiences	Lack of forethought or planning
	Could have a knock-on effect in other aspects of life
	Shame
	Could enforce dangerous patterns

Resisting impulsive urges & tolerating distress#

Pros	Cons
Boosts confidence & self-esteem	Missing out on fun impulsive experiences
Make better decisions	Time & effort to pursue long-term joy instead of short-term gratification
Positive impact on core beliefs	Pushing out of comfort zone
Positive impact on relationships
Better understanding of triggers that lead to impulsive urges
Forces alternative ways to cope with difficult emotions