What is self-control? It is defined as using will to control one’s emotions and actions, in order to prevent making self-destructive, addictive, and irrational behaviors. It is being able to tell oneself that binge eating when depressed is harmful, and needs to be avoided. It is the discipline to wake up early everyday and exercise. It is being able to control anger and hatred towards a person and not releasing it. Sometimes people do not realize how harmful living a hedonistic life is, because they are too focused on constantly “rewarding” themselves.

Self-control is essential in character growth and development. Discipline is needed for a person to make the right decisions and thus live a life that is well and able to contribute to society. Some people do not realize they lack self-control, and have to yet understand the implications in order to take initiative in developing it. Here are some tips to help you answer if you or someone close to you lacks self-control.

Addictive, compulsive, or obsessive behavior causes a person with low self-control to give in to indulgences in life that could, in the end, be harmful to himself or people around him. Symptoms of this could range from alcoholism, drug dependency, over exercising, overeating, gambling, and overspending. Workaholism in itself is also a problem because due to the nature of addiction to the work, it is doing the person more harm than good. There is a difficulty in detachment from habits, people, and things.

Lax personalities - People, who are satisfied with mediocre work, always procrastinate, and are always late, lack self-control. There is no concern about how this will affect him or the people around him. At the office, the person slacks off, always procrastinates, or is always late.

High self-indulgence and hedonism - Characteristics of this are persons, who overeat and are thus obese, engaging in binge drinking, engage in sex with multiple partners. They do not realize that these habits are harmful to them until implications are seen and felt, such as contracting sexually transmitted diseases or alcohol poisoning.

Lack of emotional stability - At what time a person is extremely stressed, sad, or angry, they cannot help but show their emotions to the point that it gets to be a problem. These sort of people need to seek out anger management classes, or those who are easily affected emotionally by stimulus in their environment. They cannot control their anger and lash out to other people. People with this problem have a difficult time not showing extreme emotions and in dealing with even highly stressful matters in a rational and appropriate manner.

Relationship dependency - People who have low self-control are dependent on relationships to give them stability and help because they cannot make rational decisions on their own. These can be relationships with helpers, therapists, even parents and friends. They usually feel very helpless and are not secure in the decisions that they make, thus the need to seek external help. General helplessness with their own personality - People who suffer from lack of self control think that their own personality does not need to be changed, and do not see the need or reasons for it. They think that since they have been a certain way for so long, there is no need to change it. They see the need more for their environment and people around them to adjust to their character rather than for him to adapt and change habits for the better. They also show signs of refusal to be helped or in addressing any problem in the first place.