SHOULD WE BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS

Should people with bipolar disease be held accountable for their actions? And by what standards do we decide what is acceptable behavior? I know bipolar disease can manifest itself in varied levels of severity. Some people just have minor mood swings and on the other end of the spectrum the mood swings are so erratic that they can be life threatening. Where do we draw the line for ourselves as people with bipolar disease and for others who have bipolar disease?

However if a person is purposely not taking their meds (not because the disorder is causing them to not take their meds) and the meds generally help them, then I feel that person is responsible.

If a person can't seem to find the right meds or is not receiving proper treatment or if the person is taking the proper meds and has a psychotic episode, then the person is not responsible.

Basically, I guess the issue of whether or not the person is responsible depends on the specific circumstances and the degree of the disorder and the degree to which it is controlled.

I am of the opinion that we should be held accountable for our actions. There are some that will ride out the excuse of the bipolar diagnosis. Being bipolar has not taken away the morals that I have.

The acceptable behavior would again depend on who you are actually dealing with. Some people accept things that others don't find acceptable.

I am one that has the erratic moods swings and go thru mixed states. Never once did I go out and cheat on my spouse. Not going to say that I never considered it. Did I do the crazy spending? Yes, and I would then have to bust my ass to work extra hours (accountable)to get back on top of things. Did I go into rages? Yes, and still do at times unless I isolate (which I do).

I am the only one that can get some type of control over myself and I can't expect to tell people that "maybe if you had or hadn't done this, I wouldn't have done this." How can we bipolar or not, expect to dismiss our actions with excuses. The best I can do is apoligize and try harder to make sure that I don't repeat it.

Of course, this is just my view on the issue. I am sure that there are many others that would not agree with me.....

Redrose

I so much appreciate your responses...giving you big hugs, Norma

Gloria

You may be onto something. Don't want them to shut down the thread......

No, Gloria that is not just in YOUR case.

I did some really stupid things. I always accepted responsibility for my actions in the wake. In the moment I can honestly say that I was on autopilot. Who I hurt only came out as an end result. I am very self destructive. Now that I am getting help, I can't justify any of those terrible things I did and I am paying through emotional distress. I try my damndest to make sure I will never hurt anyone again.

Just as an added note...I only get defensive if someone is defensive/rude/or cruel to me first. Those actions, I justify.

Thanks for the topic. I have done some horrible things in my mania.

I mostly had anger problems, and self medicated. I do think we should be accountable for our actions.

I think, I didn't know, I had bipolar at the time. I thought, I had some serious issues, and if, I could work hard enough, I could stop. My illness manifests in different behaviors. It wasn't until, I exhausted all other resources, that, I was willing to consider meds. Up until then, I would act out in some extreme way. I self medicated, jumped from relationship to relationship, tried reading books, religion, working harder. Tried working my steps harder. I never blamed my behavior on the bipolar, I blamed myself. So, I think there can an extreme to this. I thought there was something seriously wrong with me, and had a lot of shame and guilt about my behavior. I think the being accountable for our behavior can be missunderstood. It isn't my fault, I have this disorder, and I have an illness that, has caused me to do extreme things out of of mania, and depression. I think there is such a stigma about this illness that it can cause people to be afraid to get help, and continue to let it run their lives. Without help some people with bipolar continue to do destructive behavior to try to fill that empty void.

I think they are incapable of taking responsibilty until they hit rock bottom, and get help. I think we do have a conscience, and that's why they constantly justify the behavior. It's a never ending vicious cycle. I don't think that people should have to live with the behavior, and continue to be abused by the behavior.I see it as just like alcaholism. They will continue the insanity no matter what anyone says, but, they should not be allowed to destroy other peoples, lives, and if they are in crisis they will eventually end up in an institution, jail, or dead.

But, I was very fortunate.I had alot of angels in my life that were there for me. I have been in couseling and my family continued to try to get me help. They also set boundaries. I had people, that wouldn't put up with my behavior, and eventually ended up in recovery for my other illness. So, through other ways, I was able to get to the point of not letting my illness run my life in the way, that, I self medicated anymore, or cheated on anyone or abused my family. I would leave, and take breaks. What was left was the isolation, and cycling, and psychosis. I would isolate, and leave work, and fight with my boyfriend. I spent money we didn't have, too. But, when, I was finally aware of all of this, I sought help.

It took along time. I didn't know how severe, I was until, I finally hit bottom. So, I guess, I think, we should be held accountable for our actions, but, and not be allowed to destroy other's lives in the name of bipolar. But, you can't make a person see it, until they are ready. So get mad at the illness. The person is sick. I am starting to understand this. I was sick. I didn't intentionally hurt the people, I loved. Now, that, I am getting help, I don't have to hurt others, and can take the steps to not do this anymore.

I think this a serious illness, and hope others can get help, before it's too late.