![]() ![]() ![]() “It’s common to experience a sense of emptiness and want to find ways to distract from that empty feeling by filling ourselves up with things, food, and other impulsive choices,” explained Hinkle. ![]() For example, one of her clients recently realized that some of her impulsive eating and shopping behaviors were a result of trying to fill a larger void. Hinkle emphasizes that it’s important to explore the deeper issues that might be causing someone to be impulsive. Take our free mental health test Don’t Shy Away From Discomfort Taking a moment to pause - along with breathing and other relaxation skills - can also help with increased self-control. Hinkle recommends practicing mindfulness as a way to learn how to ground yourself in the moment, which can sometimes offer enough relief for the impulse to pass. Hinkle finds it’s important to educate her clients about neuroplasticity and provide them with hope that it’s always possible to make these changes. In essence, you are training your brain to default to self-control rather than impulse. “We can want something and then with a click or two, have it at our doorstep in a very short period of time.” This is a negatively reinforcing cycle.īy consciously practicing self-control, though, you can create new neural pathways in your brain through a process called neuroplasticity that makes it easier for you to ignore impulsivity in the future. “All things associated with having a computer in our pockets have contributed to acting on our impulsive thoughts and feelings,” said Hinkle. She acknowledges that practicing self-control can be difficult in our digital age with distractions like social media, Amazon, and iPhones that deliberately teach us to value - and expect - instant gratification. ![]() One of the ways Hinkle suggests ignoring impulsivity is to practice self-control through your actions. The Roles Of Self-Control And Neuroplasticity She adds that for alcohol and substance use in general, decreased impulse control can be a feature of using in the first place. “We can all relate to an impulsive choice to buy something we later regret or doing something like drinking more alcohol than we planned,” said Hinkle. While impulsivity can show up as a symptom of a larger issue, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Bipolar Disorder, Hinkle makes it clear that we can all be a little impulsive here and there. We Can All Be ImpulsiveĪccording to Hinkle, impulsivity is a common experience for all humans. To better understand the concept of impulsivity and how to train your brain to ignore it during these uncertain and unsettled times, I consulted an expert, Talkspace therapist Elizabeth Hinkle, LMFT. These impulsive decisions were a way of avoiding underlying issues in my life - work stress, relationship struggles, or simply being anxious about a big decision or my future. In the past, I’ve taken year-long breaks from drinking alcohol due to concern about my impulsive decisions to drink. Although I’ve had instances of other impulsive behaviors such as eating and shopping, drinking alcohol has always seemed to have the greatest hold on me. Before the coronavirus outbreak, which now has me impulsively checking the news, drinking alcohol used to be my impulse of choice. ![]()
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