How do you learn better impulse control?

In a forum on Web Answers I stumbled upon this topic. It was interesting to give it a thought. My reply goes like this:

One tip that helps many of my patients is the 5 sec rule. Before you react to anything at all, unless an emergency....take 5 seconds to think about it. It will be weird at first and its important to explain to your family why the long pause-- but it will work.

If you still find yourself still dealing with problem behaviors then you need to do some deep self reflection. Map out from start to finish, on paper, the events that transpired in one of the dramatic episodes (your doing or someone else).

You will learn your role as well as the role of those around you in the outcome. Then rewrite the events as you would have hoped they had occurred. This prepares you in advance for the next time.

Impulse control goes hand and hand with maturity and value of your time and relationships.

I hope this helps--

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