They cause anguish and horror to those who suffer from them and, if not treated properly and prolonged over time, they can lead to depression. Impulse phobias consist of a set of obsessive thoughts based on the fear of losing control and following an impulse that leads to harm to oneself or others, specifically loved ones. These intrusive ideas cannot be controlled and directly affect what one values ??most. This, together with not sharing these concerns for fear that others will believe that they could become real, generates a continuous state of anxiety and suffering in patients.
The APA states that these individuals suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder, but this can lead to a misleading diagnosis, explains psychologist Julia Pascual. This is because the action compulsions and rituals typical of said pathology cannot be observed in the case of impulsive phobias. The reason is that they try to hide at all costs, so they are mental in nature.
There are different types of impulsive phobias, although some of them could be considered the most common. The specialist Julia Pascual affirms that these are the most frequent in consultation.
The psychologist’s answer is a resounding no. And this is precisely due to the nature of people who suffer from impulsive phobias. Since these are individuals who care greatly about others and who experience a strong feeling of guilt if they hurt someone unintentionally. That is why they have consistent self-control and do not allow themselves to be carried away by impulsiveness or attacks of anger or aggressiveness.
