Learn to stop impulsive Decision-Making and Behaviors

Dr. Larry Cohen, Therapist and Life Coach, Voorhees, NJ (856) 352-5428 Contact NJ Therapy & Life Coaching

Impulsive decision-making can become a major stressor in your life. Impulsivity is a hallmark symptom of specific mental health disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder. However, anxiety, depression, and other disorders can also lead to impulsive decisions. For example, making impulsive financial decisions can wreak havoc in your life - often leading to great anxiety and sometimes depression if you begin feeling like there is no escaping your debt.

How do I combat this problem and regain control? The place to start is becoming aware of your triggers. By understanding what triggers your impulsivity, you can learn to anticipate and avoid what triggers you. Being mindful and aware is essential in reducing impulsive behaviors.

The Importance of Feelings Recognition

Cognitive therapy will focus on recognizing how you feel from moment to moment. When you gain insight into and understand what triggers you, you will learn to pause, recognize your feelings, and choose your behavior. Being aware of this internal process can change your life dramatically. When you learn to recognize your feelings and begin choosing how to behave, you will gain insight into stopping impulsive decision-making and behaviors.

Finding a Way Out

Your therapist or life coach can help you find your way out of the consequences of impulsive behaviors. To deal with financial problems, something as simple as creating a budget (and deciding to stick to it) can help you change your perspective on money problems, which leads to lowered anxiety. You can also look toward your future by setting long-term financial goals. Creating a plan will help you stop impulsive decision-making. It leads you to fight off what triggers your impulsive behaviors.

By becoming mindful and identifying your feelings and triggers, you will learn how to make decisions and not act impulsively. Setting goals and committing to taking the steps necessary to achieve them will help you stay on track. Over time, this will help you change your behaviors and free yourself from impulsivity.