Are you impulsive or compulsive?

Impulsivity is when you WANT to do something and feel like you can't stop yourself. Compulsivity if when it feels like you NEED to do something (usually to ward off uncomfortable feelings) and you don't think you can stop. The same behavior can serve either a compulsive or impulsive purpose, depending on the person doing it. So here's a quick trick to balance yourself out if you struggle with either impulsivity or compulsivity.

[yt]

I loved your cat's reaction to "compulsive people".

[lolzforlunch]

this is why i need to get my own therapist stat. This pertains to me but i have so many questions about how it relates when both options seem beneficial to you, how to deliberately perform actions, etc. etc.

[davidflores]

Dr. Ana and Dr. K dropping gems on my YouTube feed. Thank you!

[connorholmes]

You’re like the respectfully cool teacher in a subject unreachable to people who literally can’t afford it IMHO - definitely relatable

[kyubizu]

Thank you for this. When I was little, I felt the need to do many compulsive things like touching the rug before going up the stairs, making sure I always closed the cabinet with my left hand, etc. My family ultimately got me to stop doing these things, and I thought the urge to do so went away, but it has manifested in other areas of my life that maybe aren't as socially jarring for others, but are still compulsive behaviors that I don't necessarily want to be doing. Just clicked for me,

[marcino]

I am so both and yet here I am. Doing nothing

[honey-heart]

i really needed to hear this! thank you so much! i am a very compulsive person and am recently trying to ask the question of what i want so this is reassuring! it’s super hard to take that “need to do this” pressure off of myself.

[nmdruyd]

I'm 29 and starting to learn how to enjoy my everyday life instead of just pushing through. I used to be driven by what I need to do 24/7 until I got really bad insomnia. It feels weird and cool to do things that I've always wanted to, like go see a nice film or have a manicure, for now other reason than because I want to.

[Nemo-Meme-o]

This is an amazing thing to learn, I will definitely try this. Thank you Dr. Ana!

[shotgun_simulacra]

me, with OCD, ADHD, MDD, GAD, and PTSD diagnosis, watching as I fling between both of these until all is done, and I have no desire to do anything, , but the noise of doing nothing allows bad memories to service, so I simply shut down and panic in *silent mode*:
👁️ 👄 👁️ 💧 ⁉️📵

[emanuelcaparelli]

Goddamn, what a simple yet life changing video.

[paulrhyne]

Thank you Dr. Ana, helpful explanation(s)!

[thrylos]

Great channel ❤ well done, keep it up 👏

[zachvii]

As i understand this, compulsive is when you convince yourself that your sudden and irresistible desire has meaning, while impulsivity is a lot more spontaneous with there being a lot less conscious thought about the choice

[jcnot]

So one is based on raw desire while the other is based on responsibility (perceived or otherwise). Interesting.

[Dave-ummw]

So impulsive is when you constantly do things you want to do, like drugs, sex, or video games.
Compulsive is when you over-do things you should be doing, like showering 5 times a day every day, making sure your clothes are folded and put away in the EXACT perfect spot that's not even one millimeter off, or spending hours trying to save a few dollars when you're a millionaire.

[Deathbynature]

What is the opposite of these terms.
There are things I want to do.
There are things I need to do, but I just don’t do them until panic sets in.

[HReiss]

Yeah I'm definetly more impulsive, really have a hard time exerting will to drive my actions, I'm 18 though and many people on the internet say that the frontal lobe controls impulse control and it doesn't fully develop until 24 or so. It really sucks not being able to do what I need to do.

[joshuahummel]

Remember folks, you can have tendencies for both at different times or stimuli

[manwithaplan]

I compulsively agitate the authority at work because I feel a need to stand up for my coworkers and our “rights” as I see it. Doesn’t help me keep those jobs.