Impulse Control
What it can look like?
You can find it difficult to refrain from engaging in some behaviors despite the damage they cause your life. These behaviors are often pleasurable in some ways.
Some of these behaviors are:
- Gambling - Masturbation
- Hair pulling - Unmanageable anger
- Shopping - Stealing
How you benefit!
You can start controlling your anger and reduce conflicts with those around you.
Your financial well-being can start to improve as you can curb your spending or gambling habits.
Reduce the damage to your hair from excessive pulling.
Giving you back time to live your life and take care of your body by controlling your masturbation habits.
What we do
Because everyone’s mechanisms to these behaviors are different, we will first identify your unique mechanisms to these behaviors.
Once we know what they look like, we will incorporate a combination of evidence-based interventions to help you manage the urges and reduce the likelihood of engaging with the behaviors.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
What it is?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder can have a combination of two components: obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Unlike impulse control, people with OCD often engage in some behaviors to avoid pain.
Obsessive thoughts - Being preoccupied with thoughts, often the thoughts are related to something terrible will happen. This will then cause a feeling of uneasiness or stress.
Compulsive behaviors - The preoccupied thoughts will lead to a number of compelling behaviors that aim to prevent catastrophe and help reduce anxiety/stress.
Your benefits!
You can start to use the time you would otherwise spend on the compulsive behaviors to live your life.
You can learn to manage your fears and obsessive thoughts.
You can feel more at ease leaving the house, not having to step on every crack on the floor, or having to finish out the sequence of your thoughts before continuing with your life.
Saving your hands from further damage due to excessive washing/scrubbing.
What we do
What we will do first is get a clear understanding of your obsessive thoughts and their relationship with your compulsive behaviors.
We will then incorporate several different evidence-based interventions that will help you manage the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
In some cases, medication can help with treatment and we can discuss that in more detail when we meet.
