[Gareth Monkton]

Do you agree that bipolar - mania - psychosis, can cause people who are normally honest and trustworthy to lie and be deceitful ?

I read the following on the ehow websit :-

During periods of depression or mania, people with bipolar disorder may do things they are not proud of, and lies are often told to excuse this behavior. Stealing, lying and even promiscuity are not uncommon; when these behaviors take place during one of their episodes, they may feel it necessary to tell lies to cover up their wrongdoing.

Lying to Cover Impulsivity

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one of the main characteristics of a bipolar individual is impulsive behavior. Impulsive behavior often results in shame, as it involves performing actions without much forethought.Aquestionable situations now and again. During periods of depression or mania, people with bipolar disorder may do things they are not proud of, and lies are often told to excuse this behavior. Stealing, lying and even promiscuity are not uncommon; when these behaviors take place during one of their episodes, they may feel it necessary to tell lies to cover up their wrongdoing.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one of the main characteristics of a bipolar individual is impulsive behavior. Impulsive behavior often results in shame, as it involves performing actions without much forethought. According to Derek Wood at Mental-Health-Matters.com, "Bipolar Disorder can be associated with low serotonin levels, which has been implicated in impulsivity, which...makes a person more prone to lie." The lies that are told as a result of the bipolar condition vary on a case-by-case basis. Some lies are harmless and others can be devastating.

According to Derek Wood at Mental-Health-Matters.com, "Bipolar Disorder can be associated with low serotonin levels, which has been implicated in impulsivity, which...makes a person more prone to lie." If you are living or dealing with a person who suffers from the mental condition, don't be surprised to discover that your loved one is telling falsehoods in an attempt to cover up impulsive, regrettable actions. In the end, he may have no other way to explain his actions.

MY QUESTION:-
Do you agree that the various extremes of bipolar and psychosis can cause somebody who had previously been honest snd trustworthy to become deceitful and tell lies ?

[Crazy Hitch]

Hi Gareth,

I think there will be different responses here.

So please read mine as my personal opinion only.

Episodes in Bipolar can impair judgment. And we can do things we wouldn't do when stable. Could this possibly involve "lying"? Maybe, I'm not sure. Depends. Is the lie as in not necessarily disclosing EVERYTHING one has done during an episode to protect one self or others? For me, yeah probably. I'm not TRYING to lie. I just choose not to necessarily disclose absolutely everything unless people are on a need to know basis. Depends on the circumstance for me and depends on the people.

Impulsivity - sure - I'm impulsive as hell. Am I honest? Yeah, I pretty much am to be truthful. But I do do stupid things. And I don't exactly put my hand up and say "Hey, it was me Hooligan!" Classic Example: During one of my manic episodes I thought it was totally awesome to superglue coffee mugs on all the staffs desks at work. Just seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Did I ever own up afterwards and say hey it was me? No. [Footnote: I wasn't asked if it was me, no one was asked who it was actually, and I did not feel the need to go to my boss and say Hi, I'd just like to tell you I was the reason nobody could removed their coffee cups ]

Yes.

These "lies" I would assume are on a case by case basis.

My non disclosure of super gluing coffee cups - meh - my business I was never asked so I never told.

I don't think it's my "character" that makes me do impulsive silly things. It's stuffed up brain chemicals in my head when I'm manic. I don't get to choose the dosage of chemicals being pumped in my brain during an episode. But I do get to choose to work closely with my pdoc in order to work out which meds will suit me best during an episode in order to dilute the stuffed up brain chemicals.

Just my opinion.

[Gareth Monkton]

http://www.lawandpolitics.com/minnes...d3ad7f49.htmlk

this is an interesting article linking bipolar and iŕrational behaviour

[Velouria]

Well, imagine you've done something very wrong, but at the time you were totally and completely able to justify your actions, and completely believed yourself right, to the point where you could maybe even convince others that you were justified.

Are you lying, or are you believing in a different "truth" that is not widely accepted? Because remember, values are subjective.

That aside, I've absolutely left certain actions, events, and impulsive moves out of therapy sessions in order to avoid discussion and admonishment. I've certainly done things I'm not necessarily proud of. And it would be better to lie about them because the truth would actually be more devastating. I've also done a lot of things "normal" people would be ashamed of that I'm completely honest about. Promiscuity? Totally guilty. Would my parents fair better if they continued to not know about all the different drugs I've done, or the things I used to do when I was drunk? Absolutely.

Do I consider myself honest and trustworthy? Yes. Because at my core, I am. Do I get off on deceiving people? No. It's often necessary for damage control.

So, to your question, does bipolar cause people who are normally honest and trustworthy to lie and be deceitful? I don't think it's intentional. I don't think it's malicious. I think it's a means of protection, not just for oneself but for others. And I think there's a stigma developing here that needs to be addressed.

Now what I want to know is what was in between the ellipses in the following quote:

"Bipolar Disorder can be associated with low serotonin levels, which has been implicated in impulsivity, which...makes a person more prone to lie."

There was something after the "which" and before the "makes" -- what was it?