I think it can seem that way sometimes, as far us doing things to cause it.

At least for me, my episodes build very gradually and insidiously. Typically my mood, thinking and judgement are going to be impaired long before I am showing really obvious-to-others signs of an episode.

For example, one of the first things to go in any type of episode for me is giving a damn about my health, whether I feel invincible or vaguely suicidal or whatever. As the gears in my mind start whirring faster and becoming more erratic, my judgement will start to waver.

Confused judgement combined with not giving a damn about my own well-being can lead to behaviors that in retrospect I will realize were making things even worse.

However I feel like if people actually took the time and compassion to try to really understand this disorder, then they would realize such behaviors are early warning signs that an episode has started, not some deliberate effort to start an episode.