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It's when you know you're gonna do something that you shouldn't but you do it anyways, like dropping something even though you had no intention of dropping it but the thought of dropping it crossed your mind and you consciously decided not to drop the thing but you did anyways.

The thought process is pretty much "I know I shouldn't do this but I'm going to even though I don't want to". Might be a medical term, maybe there isn't even a word for it.

Best use I can think of is: "The patient has been suffering from ____ for a long time"

I'm seeking the word or definition for the act of doing said thing even though you don't want to and made a conscious decision not to but still do.

It's not a compulsion, but more of a momentary dissonance(?) between your brain and your body about what to do. Not sure if this will clarify it enough.

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  • Moral conflict.
    – vickyace
    Commented Apr 18, 2017 at 13:29
  • That's referring to rational behind the action not the act of actually doing the thing described.
    – Roy
    Commented Apr 18, 2017 at 13:31
  • english.stackexchange.com/questions/334958/…
    – vickyace
    Commented Apr 18, 2017 at 13:32
  • Maybe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Commented Apr 18, 2017 at 13:33
  • You asked for the act in your title and comments but your example sentence doesn't fit.
    – vickyace
    Commented Apr 18, 2017 at 13:39

2 Answers 2

1

One definition of "lapse" works quite well. Often people use the adjective "mental" (mental lapse) to emphasize the state of mind issue.

lapse Definition of lapse at MeriamWebster.com

1 a : a slight error typically due to forgetfulness or inattention

a lapse in table manners

a lapse in security

In you sentence I would tend to use the "mental lapse"

"The patient has been suffering from _~mental lapses~___ for a long time"

-1

A term for a generic, undiagnosed, uncontrollable mental condition may be a mania.

Example:

The patient has been suffering from some kind of mania for a long time.

If it were diagnosed by a trained professional, a more specific word could be used.

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