After I was diagnosed in my early twenties, it took awhile for I had to sink in. After it did I began to understand more about myself. I was a good kid but made some choices and did some things that good kids don't do during my teens years and early adulthood. I realized the BP had a lot to do with those bad choices and things I did. For those things BP was an excuse. Moving forward I try to be aware of what I am doing and how the BP can influence what I do. Now that I know what I am dealing with I feel more responsible, within reason, for what I say and do. I know that things can still get out of control and that I can make bad choices because I am manic, hypomanic, and/or depressed. Even though I may get out of control or make a bad choice because of BP I will hold myself responsible for correcting it afterwards because even though the BP may have caused me to do it I still hurt somebody. If I said something I didn't mean I apologize. If I did something that hurt somebody I apologize and try to make amends. After I try to correct my mistake I let it go.

I try not to use BP as an excuse now. The people who that would work for already know me and that excuse isn't necessary if I get out of line. Most other people I have dealt with either don't care or don't know enough to understand why BP is an excuse so it doesn't work.