Disinhibition (Impulsivity) in BPD

Disinhibition (Impulsivity) in BPD BPD Print Disinhibition (Impulsivity) in BPD By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. Learn about our editorial policy Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on June 23, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on August 18, 2019 Digital Vision / Getty Images More in BPD Diagnosis Treatment Living With BPD Related Conditions Disinhibition is saying or doing something on a whim, without thinking in advance of what could be the unwanted or even dangerous result. There’s also another way to think of disinhibition: as reduced control over your impulses, or urges, which means being unable to stop, delay, or change (“inhibit”) an action that is not appropriate for the situation you’re in. Disinhibition is the opposite of inhibition, which means being in control of the way you respond to what’s going on around you. You Know More About Disinhibition Than You May Think Do the definitions provided above sound familiar, even if you haven’t heard the word ”disinhibition” before? If you have borderline personality disorder (BPD), chances are you’ve seldom, or possibly never, been called “disinhibited.” But you’ve likely heard the word “impulsive” many times. That’s right: Disinhibition and impulsiveness (also called impulsivity) are essentially the same thing. Disinhibition is common in people with BPD. Not all states of disinhibition are due to mental health disorders, such as BPD. For example, a traumatic brain injury can lead to disinhibition. Of course, everyone has moments when their “uninhibited” behavior does no harm and even contributes to having a good time, such as energetic dancing at a party. In contrast, disinhibition, as the word is used by mental health professionals, is always harmful to some degree to the person behaving impulsively. What Does Disinhibition Look Like? Disinhibited or impulsive actions often have unwanted or even harmful outcomes. Why? Because they range from behavior that’s simply inappropriate, such as suddenly grabbing food off someone else’s plate, to unnecessarily risky and even dangerous, such as stealing, setting fires, explosive attacks of rage, or self-injury. Stages  of Disinhibition You can think of disinhibition as occurring in stages even though only a few seconds may pass between thinking of the impulsive act and doing it: Stage 1: You feel a sense of increasing tension or arousal, an urge.Stage 2: You commit the impulsive act. During it, you may feel pleasure, relief, and/or a sense of fulfillment or satisfaction.Stage 3: After the act, you may feel guilt or regret. You also may blame yourself for doing what you did. Do Addictions Involve Disinhibition? Yes. Disinhibition is a key feature of many if not all addictions. Examples include addictive gambling, sex addiction, shopping addiction (especially if you cant afford it), and substance abuse.