Do you feel compelled to do something without knowing why? Perhaps you took an action suddenly without giving it much thought. Or maybe you don’t even want to do something, but you think you must in order to fill an insatiable desire. Therein lies the dichotomy between compulsive vs impulsive behavior vs addiction.
Compulsive behavior and addiction are often interconnected, but they are two separate experiences. The same goes for impulsive behavior. Yet you may end up dealing with both impulsive and compulsive behaviors in addiction.
Compulsive vs Impulsive Behavior: Understanding the Difference
You may find impulsive vs compulsive behavior hard to differentiate, but there are important distinctions that separate the two:
What is Compulsive Behavior?
According to the journal Neuropsychology Review, compulsive behavior consists of actions you take repeatedly due to feeling like you have to perform them, yet these actions are not in line with your overall goal. These actions or behaviors are persistent, dysfunctional, and/or unwanted. As a result, you may feel like your compulsive behavior is outside your control.
Compulsive behavior often arises through constant, unwanted thoughts that lead you to feel anxious or distressed. And because these thoughts are persistent, they typically become obsessive. That’s why compulsive behavior, when unchecked, can lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental health condition.
In comparing compulsive behavior vs impulsive behavior, actions associated with compulsive behavior are performed over and over again in hopes of coping with the chronic distressing thoughts you have. In terms of substance use, you may ritually drink alcohol or take drugs as compulsive behavior when your anxious thoughts arise. Though you may not want to act compulsively, your rational thought and self-control are momentarily suspended.
What is Impulsive Behavior?
Looking at compulsive vs impulsive behaviors, compulsive behaviors are persistent. But on the other hand, impulsive behaviors happen once in the heat of the moment. In other words, impulsive behavior is acting without thinking, shares WebMD. It’s unplanned and spontaneous. Your actions are quick and without regard to the resulting consequences.
Impulsive behavior happens to anyone every now and then. And it occurs more often when we’re young and growing (have any teenagers?). The commonly experienced “impulse buy” is rooted in impulsive behavior. Retail stores understand this, which is why they offer specific items for sale at the checkout line.
However, impulsive behavior can be part of deeper mental health issues. This is more likely when there’s a pattern of impulsivity in your life, so much that you can’t control your impulses. Your tendency toward impulsive behavior can also turn problematic, such as the following examples:
- Bingeing in eating, shopping, or gambling
- Destroying property or possessions in a fit of anger
- Escalating minor issues into major ones
- Losing your cool with emotional outbursts
- Regularly starting over in life
- Oversharing
- Overreacting with physical violence
- Harming yourself in the moment
SOURCE: Healthline.com
Connecting Impulsive vs Compulsive Behaviors in Addiction
If you’re struggling with compulsive or impulsive behavior (or both), that doesn’t mean you have an addiction. However, those with addictions can act compulsively or impulsively.
When you have an addiction, you uncontrollably crave a substance or behavior due to the pleasurable feelings it provides. You’ll continue to feed your addiction even if it causes challenges in your life. Behind the scenes, your brain can develop a chemical dependency on the steady supply of dopamine an addiction generates. As you get used to these dopamine levels, you need to keep pursuing your addiction again and again to get it.
A key difference between addiction and compulsive behavior is that an addiction is pursued for its pleasure, while compulsions are kept up to find relief from uncontrollable anxiety or stressful thoughts. Compulsive behavior is also psychological, while addictive behavior is rooted in a physical disease as addiction impacts your brain and body. Impulsive behavior is also temporary, while addictive behavior takes place regularly.
With that said, a drug or alcohol addiction may drive you to act both compulsively and impulsively. You may feel compelled to take drugs or drink alcohol due to your intense cravings. The negative thoughts or feelings you have could compel you to take addictive, pleasure-inducing substances to cope. In recovery, you may act impulsively when you encounter addiction triggers, leading to a lapse or relapse in your addiction.
Comprehensive Healing at Sana at Stowe
What if you find yourself struggling with addiction, as well as compulsive vs impulsive behavior? It’s important to seek professional help that addresses both your substance abuse and your mental health struggles at the same time. At Sana at Stowe in Stowe, Vermont, our dual diagnosis treatment program can help you overcome your addiction, underlying anxious or stressful thoughts, as well as any compulsive or impulsive behaviors. If you’re ready to reclaim your life, call us today.
