Do you think that we can have control, mentally, over the 'side effects' of BP?

I mean, the social, emotional, and behavioral negative aspects?
I always just was damaged in these areas and I learned to accept it. then I got my diagnosis and had a reason why. I started viewing BP as the engine that destroyed me in these areas.

then I read what Cocoa said and it got me thinking... Do I really have to be that way or is it something that I can control and change...

Every time I tried to change it before it was in short bursts and always blew up in my face. Do we really have control?