Impulsive and compulsive disorders involve repetitive behaviors, but the reasoning behind them is different. Compulsive behaviors are performed to soothe anxiety, while impulsive behaviors provide a pleasant feeling to cope with stress. OCD is a well-known compulsive disorder, while impulsive disorders are often related to harmful actions such as addiction or violent behavior.
While they may look similar, an impulsive disorder and a compulsive disorder are often dramatically different in that the reasoning behind a person’s actions is different for each type of disorder. Both types of mental illness involve repetitive behaviors that appear to be performed almost beyond the person’s control. The difference is that compulsive behaviors are usually performed in an attempt to soothe the anxiety or to prevent some sort of perceived consequence from occurring. Impulsive behaviors usually provide the person with some kind of pleasant feeling and are used to cope with stress or tension.
Based on this description alone, the differences between an impulsive disorder and a compulsive disorder may not be immediately apparent. Some experts argue that the two forms of the disease may be somehow connected. Both are typically related to an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, and genetics can also play a role in both types of disorder.
Despite these similarities, there’s no denying the differences between an impulsive disorder and a compulsive disorder once you get into more detail about what each type of disorder actually entails. The best known compulsive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), involves the use of compulsive rituals and behaviors. These actions are usually performed in an attempt by the person to relieve anxious feelings. Anxiety is often conceived in the person’s mind and is typically not related to any real threat or danger.
Someone with OCD may wash their hands repeatedly, for example. The act of hand washing is usually repeated over and over again until the anxiety subsides. This anxiety may be due to a belief that there are deadly germs that need to be killed through constant scrubbing, or it may not be due to any specifically defined threat. Hand washing would only subside once the anxiety was diminished or relieved altogether. Many OCD sufferers say they continue with certain rituals in this manner until it “feels good.”
Impulsive behaviors are similar to this, but are not performed in a premeditated manner as with compulsive behaviors. People with OCD may spend a lot of time thinking about their rituals in an attempt to rationalize them or to determine when they are done performing a specific action. People who have impulsive disorder don’t think about their actions before they do them.
There are various types of impulsive disorders. Some sufferers may act spontaneously as soon as a thought enters their mind. Others may impulsively engage in risky behavior in an attempt to self-medicate. Many addictions could be classified as impulsive disorders because those who have them continue to engage in addictive behaviors, even when they are detrimental to one’s health.
Impulsive disorders are often related to illegal or harmful actions. Drinking, drug use, risky sexual behavior and gambling can all be considered impulsive behaviors. Those who lashes out violently or sexually may also have impulsive conditions. This illustrates one of the major differences between an impulsive disorder and a compulsive disorder, as most compulsive individuals engage in rituals that are more psychologically, rather than physically, harmful.
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