[tecomsin]

I realized this is a significant factor affecting the quality of my life. It isn't just during manic periods although that is when it is most noticeable. I'm also impulsive when depressed it is just that I do less and am less likely to act out in a visible way because I hide from the world.

Has anyone had a good experience dealing with this issue?

[Wild Coyote]

I don't experience a lot of impulsivity. When I do, I make a deal with myself to engage in a waiting period on things. I might choose to wait 24, 48, 72 hours, depending. On some things, I might choose to wait a week or longer, again depending upon the matter or decision at hand.

I would think that a lot of impulsivity might be very difficult to reign in?

I'm sorry, I am not the best resource on this. I do want to respond to your post though.

As always, I wish you the best!

WC

[leomama]

Originally Posted by tecomsin

I realized this is a significant factor affecting the quality of my life. It isn't just during manic periods although that is when it is most noticeable. I'm also impulsive when depressed it is just that I do less and am less likely to act out in a visible way because I hide from the world.


Has anyone had a good experience dealing with this issue?

First off how do you define impulsiveness?

Originally Posted by tecomsin

I realized this is a significant factor affecting the quality of my life. It isn't just during manic periods although that is when it is most noticeable. I'm also impulsive when depressed it is just that I do less and am less likely to act out in a visible way because I hide from the world.

Has anyone had a good experience dealing with this issue?

Yes. I get reckless impulses that will probably kill me one day, out of plain stupidity.

Keeping a journal helps

[~Christina]

I do what WC does. I HAVE to or I’d blow money or color and cut my hair in a style I will hate 5 mins after it’s done.

I’m sorry your struggling

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by leomama

First off how do you define impulsiveness?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impulsivity

It's complicated but primarily it seems like an attribute of my existence to be confronted with sudden urges that I want to act out that make no sense.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I would think that a lot of impulsivity might be very difficult to reign in?


WC

It can be. I think a lot of it is a distraction to painful awareness or to alleviate boredom. Sometimes the more day to day impulsiveness seems like a knee jerk reaction. I'm thinking of several issues I struggle with each day but one of them is reaching for a toke of weed. I used to impulsively reach for a cigarette. I also feel urges to break things but don't do it.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by 2ISAB

Yes. I get reckless impulses that will probably kill me one day, out of plain stupidity.

Keeping a journal helps

That's interesting about journaling. Do you have any insight into why it helps?

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I do what WC does. I HAVE to or I’d blow money or color and cut my hair in a style I will hate 5 mins after it’s done.

I’m sorry your struggling

I will try to implement a strategy to breath deeply and wait 5 minutes to see if I can get through the urge without reacting in my usual way. That is a good idea.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by tecomsin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impulsivity


It's complicated but primarily it seems like an attribute of my existence to be confronted with sudden urges that I want to act out that make no sense.

Can you be more specific

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by leomama

Can you be more specific

Some of the urges that sometimes seem to overwhelm me are out of character, embarrassing and the kind of thing that I wouldn't share on a public forum. I've had urges to break things in my house or bang things, which I've resisted but at the moment it just seems like I have to do it.

Reaching for a toke of weed also has an impulsive quality to it. i get a thought or a feeling that makes me feel angry, 'bad' or anxious and then want to alleviate the feeling because it seems unbearable.

This urge to break things is a new symptom btw.

Impulsivity has been a major issue for me, but less so when stable, especially things like anger outbursts, and other inappropriate behavior. I can also get worked up easily (excitement or anger) and do impulsive things. What has helped is to identify triggers or triggering places and either avoid or rehearse in advance how I SHOULD act when faced with such situations. It doesn't always work, but it now does often. One thing I've really improved on is preventing any road rage or aggressive arguments, but occasionally it slips out.

It took me a while to control my urges to drink, but I can now, though sometimes other things take its place.

I have more insight to my mania now than in the past. More often now I can have moments when I ask myself, "Is this normal behavior?" and figure out the answer. But again, sometimes impulsive behavior happens so quickly that it's too late.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by tecomsin

Some of the urges that sometimes seem to overwhelm me are out of character, embarrassing and the kind of thing that I wouldn't share on a public forum. I've had urges to break things in my house or bang things, which I've resisted but at the moment it just seems like I have to do it.


Reaching for a toke of weed also has an impulsive quality to it. i get a thought or a feeling that makes me feel angry, 'bad' or anxious and then want to alleviate the feeling because it seems unbearable.


This urge to break things is a new symptom btw.

Ok those are good and what do you do when you are faced with those urges

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by leomama

Ok those are good and what do you do when you are faced with those urges

When the urge involves weed I often just grab my bowl and get a hit or two. Then I realize a little bit later that it doesn't help. About breaking things, sometimes i can just let it pass and sometimes I go over and pretend I'm about to break it. It might take 5 minutes of pretending. There are some other things i just give in to and regrettably do.

Originally Posted by tecomsin

That's interesting about journaling. Do you have any insight into why it helps?

Nothing special, but I use it as a check point. As soon as I start to feel out of place, I check the week vs month for day to day until it makes any sense. I believe in using your best grammar suit makes it all worth reading. I visualize someone reading it one day and that motivates me to keep updating my journal.

I suggest you start with this app, this way it's always with you.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...?id=net.daylio

Well it's not a science, but it seems to be working along side the support I can get.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by tecomsin

When the urge involves weed I often just grab my bowl and get a hit or two. Then I realize a little bit later that it doesn't help. About breaking things, sometimes i can just let it pass and sometimes I go over and pretend I'm about to break it. It might take 5 minutes of pretending. There are some other things i just give in to and regrettably do.

Ok have you learned anything in therapy to oppose those urges? Is sobriety a goal?

[leomama]

Originally Posted by tecomsin

Some of the urges that sometimes seem to overwhelm me are out of character, embarrassing and the kind of thing that I wouldn't share on a public forum. I've had urges to break things in my house or bang things, which I've resisted but at the moment it just seems like I have to do it.


Reaching for a toke of weed also has an impulsive quality to it. i get a thought or a feeling that makes me feel angry, 'bad' or anxious and then want to alleviate the feeling because it seems unbearable.


This urge to break things is a new symptom btw.

Also does everything in your house belong to you and do you live alone?

[leomama]

As an aside, does anyone think this urge to break things is symptomatic of bipolar only or do you think it’s symptomatic of other disorders as well?

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by leomama

Ok have you learned anything in therapy to oppose those urges? Is sobriety a goal?

I don't drink alcohol or use any illegal drugs except weed and I'd like to be free of the need for it and not use it every day. Taking a break for a few months is what I am aiming for.

I might have learned somethings in therapy to help but nothing is coming up. I'll ask my psychiatrist about it. Do you have any suggestions?

Originally Posted by leomama

Also does everything in your house belong to you and do you live alone?

Yes and yes.

Originally Posted by leomama

As an aside, does anyone think this urge to break things is symptomatic of bipolar only or do you think it’s symptomatic of other disorders as well?

My pdoc is not sure if I have bipolar 1 with psychosis or schizoaffective. He also thinks I have generalized anxiety disorder. Anxiety is often co-morbid with bipolar. You have a good point though.

[Pookyl]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I don't experience a lot of impulsivity. When I do, I make a deal with myself to engage in a waiting period on things. I might choose to wait 24, 48, 72 hours, depending. On some things, I might choose to wait a week or longer, again depending upon the matter or decision at hand.

I would think that a lot of impulsivity might be very difficult to reign in?

I'm sorry, I am not the best resource on this. I do want to respond to your post though.

As always, I wish you the best!

WC

I do the same thing. In addition I bounce the idea off my hubby. If an urge includes tattoos, blue hair, driving with no hands, smoking (I don’t smoke) etc I hand in my wallet. I also take my prn’s.

[leomama]

Do you take medication and if so is it contraindicated with marijuana Both CBT and DBT can help with impulse control My t is starting to talk to me about impulse control as well In my case it has to do with not walking off the floor with someone hurts my feelings on the job for example My therapist used to talk to me about buying time That was one of the first CBT skills she taught me She is working with me now to take a break every hour to breathe Do you know what triggers you

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

More often now I can have moments when I ask myself, "Is this normal behavior?" and figure out the answer. But again, sometimes impulsive behavior happens so quickly that it's too late.

I relate to much of what you wrote, BirdDancer. Recently my awareness of this impulsivity has changed or it has become a bigger factor in my life when not manic. (I'm depressed and obviously irritable). I also ask myself if it is normal behavior and realize it is not. But this doesn't always stop it, just like what you wrote. It's like a little explosion goes off in my head and I need to release it with an impulsive (and nowadays repetitive) act.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by Pookyl

I do the same thing. In addition I bounce the idea off my hubby. If an urge includes tattoos, blue hair, driving with no hands, smoking (I don’t smoke) etc I hand in my wallet. I also take my prn’s.

It's great you have your hubby for support. I think I am sleep deprived so am going to take a prn to help me sleep for awhile. My cat has taken to jumping on me before 6 am and then I don't get back to sleep like I used to. I use lyrica to help me sleep but it tends to poop out after awhile so I can only use it for a short while. It also helps with anxiety. That is a good idea.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by leomama

Do you take medication and if so is it contraindicated with marijuana Both CBT and DBT can help with impulse control My t is starting to talk to me about impulse control as well In my case it has to do with not walking off the floor with someone hurts my feelings on the job for example My therapist used to talk to me about buying time That was one of the first CBT skills she taught me She is working with me now to take a break every hour to breathe Do you know what triggers you

Yes I take:
rexulti 2 mg (AP)
synthroid 50 mcg,
wellbutrin 300 mg XL (AD)
propanolol 10 mg (physical symptoms of anxiety)
olanzapine 1.25 mg (switching over from olanzapine to rexulti)
lyrica 50 mg prn for sleep.

Marijuana seems to be highly person dependent and probably also state dependent in terms of whether the benefits outweigh the risks. I'd like to just get off it and not feel the desire for the escape from being me. I had succeeded to stay off it for a few months not that long ago but slipped back into daily usage again.

I think my thoughts are what triggers me. I feel bad about myself and how far my life has spiralled downward. I feel angry about having a mental illness.

That's a great idea about buying time. I had CBT for a couple of years some time ago, so am just rusty and need to brush up and get motivated that it is possible to improve symptoms and not just decay relentlessly into an abyss.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by tecomsin

Yes I take:

rexulti 2 mg (AP)

synthroid 50 mcg,

wellbutrin 300 mg XL (AD)

propanolol 10 mg (physical symptoms of anxiety)

olanzapine 1.25 mg (switching over from olanzapine to rexulti)

lyrica 50 mg prn for sleep.


Marijuana seems to be highly person dependent and probably also state dependent in terms of whether the benefits outweigh the risks. I'd like to just get off it and not feel the desire for the escape from being me. I had succeeded to stay off it for a few months not that long ago but slipped back into daily usage again.


I think my thoughts are what triggers me. I feel bad about myself and how far my life has spiralled downward. I feel angry about having a mental illness.


That's a great idea about buying time. I had CBT for a couple of years some time ago, so am just rusty and need to brush up and get motivated that it is possible to improve symptoms and not just decay relentlessly into an abyss.

I would suggest ceasing marijuana use and brushing up on your CBT skills. Are you still with the t who taught you CBT?
How has your life changed?
I was never angry about having a mental illness but I was angry about how people treated me, and I still am angry at certain family and church members.