Where Angels Fear to Tread: Impulsivity after Brain Injury

But by failing you actually learn faster. Don't listen to me, I'm not medically trained and thus can say nothing intelligent about stroke. Stroke-addled you know. A friend said he was going to Ecuador and I impulsively asked if I could come along, of course I've known him for 40 years, but then I don't have a frontal lobe injury.
https://www.changedlivesnewjourneys.com/impulsivity-after-brain-injury/
Cute video at link.

A simple definition of impulsivity after brain injury: Talking or acting without thinking.

For a fun kind of explanation the cartoon above might help.  A reminder of the impact of acting without thinking.
For more detail and suggested strategies read on.

What Is Impulsivity After Brain Injury?

As the cartoon above demonstrates impulsive actions are those made without taking into account possible problems, and not thinking about possible consequences.
While we can all be impulsive at times, impulsivity after brain injury is caused by damage to the brain, specifically the frontal lobe and it does not just go away. The mechanisms that control our ability to stop and consider, and to filter what we pay attention to, are damaged.
It is important to remember the impulsive behaviour you see, is related to the damage to the brain

• it is not deliberate
• it may not be apparent to the person themselves
• it is unlikely to go away
• it can fluctuate, particularly when a person is tired

You will also see impulsivity called ‘poor impulse control’, I have an issue with this term so I don’t use. Why not? To me it sounds blaming, sounding like it is the person’s fault. However if you are searching for more resources you might need to search this term along with impulsive behaviour etc.

Impulsivity after Brain Injury. What does it look like?

As with most things about brain injury,  impulsivity after brain injury will be different in each person. It is suggested that King Henry VIII with his suspected brain injury was impulsive he beheaded his wives, we don’t see that so much today!
Mostly it will involve doing or saying things without thinking first. Impulsivity after brain injury might include one or more of the following:

• Moving on to another task or activity before completing what is already started.
• Rushing into activities without planning first and making lots of mistakes.
• Interrupting conversations and talking over others.

Flickr Image by Spencer Finnley

• Blurting out personal information about self or others without thinking.
• Making hurtful comments.
• Having trouble waiting and taking turns. Not waiting for your turn. Not patiently waiting in line. A student jumping in with answers in a classroom.
• Not recognising you have just finished: eating, drinking, smoking, so you continue without stopping.
• It can seem like the need for ‘instant gratification’ – you want, and do, things now! It does not seem possible to wait.
• Buying things on impulse even when not affordable.
• Lashing out physically or verbally without thinking of the consequence.
• Sexually and socially impulsive may be promiscuous. This can be a danger to the person at times.
• Not being able to budget and manage finances.
• Ignoring safety rules. Not looking for traffic before crossing the street.
• Undertaking tasks without first thinking about safety. Using something inappropriate to do a task because it is the first object you see.