How much control do you have over your behavior?

On one of the message boards that I belong to someone asked the following question; "How much control do you have over your behaviors?" Of course this was a Bi-Polar message board and the person that was asking was asking in reference to someone with Bi-Polar.  So after thing it over I responded accordingly.

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Here is my reply:

This is an interesting question, not just from the Bi-Polar point of view, but from a philosophical point of view as well!

I agree with you in that it is a label that too often is used to absolve someone from their responsibility or their behaviors. I also believe that many people choose to use this label for an excuse for their behaviors. (Obviously this is dependent on the severity of an illness.) But I think most people choose to use the label as a way to "excuse them" from some behaviors. Infidelity, Lying, etc...

However, I think that once someone has been "labeled" BP, that they are usually still cognizant of morally and principally wrong behaviors. Obviously this is assuming that they are on medications and taking them in accordance to their Dr.’s orders. This being said; I would understand that there are some behaviors that it would be a bit more difficult to assume control. For example: The base outlines of this illness. Ie.. Depression & Mania. I don’t think that we have control over this and obviously this is part of the problem. Which of course is why we are on the medicinal cocktails that most of us take on a daily basis? I say base outlines because these are the parameter guidelines for this illness. (Lying, Cheating, stealing are not considered the basis for Bi-Poler.)

So if you are asking how much can we control the base concerns, I would say little, if you ask how much control can we have of the ancillary issues, I would guess that once you have come to terms with the illness, you should be able to control a principle based behavior. (Of course this is premised on the severity of the illness. For example if one has severe hallucinations and sever paranoia then this would obviously change. It is likely that at this point the person may not be a “Functioning member of society”?)

But once again, there is the question of “coming to terms” with the illness. What does that mean, and can it mean different things for everyone? I can only speak for myself, but I believe that if one understands the basis for their illness and understands what the key components; depression & mania for example can do to them, and what the possible implications of these two concerns can and likely be, that a person would at least be getting close to “coming to terms”. I guess the real key here is that if someone understands that things like cheating on your spouse, or Lying to others, or even stealing are principally wrong in their given culture, that they relinquish their ability to say that this Label caused them to behave in that way.

So as long as I know the difference between what the guidelines for my illness are, I can be that much more in control. Obviously there will be exceptions, not just for me, but for everyone.

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If anyone differs in opinion, please feel free to drop me a line, I would be interested in hearing what you have to say?