all this talk about life decisions has got me thinking.

how much of your decision making is down to your mental illness, and how much is just down to you?, (you were stable when you chose it, but it was still a bad decision)

I know for me mental illness had a big influence on my life- the suicide attempts, the mannic shopping, dropping out of school, etc etc

but I can also honestly say that some decision making was honestly down to me

like before I had mental illness I decided not to think to much about the future, because I had plenty of time (which of course cost me later), or choosing where I wanted to start my studying (obviously down to me)

what about yourself?

their were also decisions I was forced in to.

like not allowing my family back in my life because of the damage they caused

[Victoria'smom]

My MI started when I was 8. MI has always been with me. I feel it's part of me and so none of my decisions were/are without considering the way it affects our MI.

[Anrea]

Growing up with mental illness meant I didn't know what was me, and what was effected by warped thinking. When I was fired from my last job a few years ago, while driving home from the unemployment office where I was told I should see a mental health professional before I got another job I thought," I wouldn't have quit that job".

It was my light bulb moment. Suddenly so many things became clear. 2 failed college attempts, 3 marriages.... all the jobs, all the moving... all the crazy stuff....

I make terrible and huge decisions while manic that at the moment feel totally sane, and I agree 100% with them.

Spring time is hard for me, I get very manic.

2 days ago I was certain I needed to divorce someone I am very happy with. I came near to ending a marriage totally out of the blue - from boredom. I am a little bored after a lifetime of instability. Stability is difficult to do day in and day out.

Some decisions I made due to illness, I had to unmake during sanity and vice versa.

I try now to hold off on decisions - having accepted that sometimes I make them at bad times.

It is so hard to be responsible for anything at all. Bad credit, no car, I nearly gave away my house. 2 winters ago I almost moved to Puerto Rico in a day. Ridiculous.

So, for me, just trying to make right choices from day to day is difficult. Even on meds and with Professional Support Staff. Because mania and impulse feels so certain at the time.

Good luck to us all.

Mental Illness Train just keeps chugging, chugging, chugging along......

[Unrigged64072835]

A lot of my life decisions were based on my MI. Now that I have been stable a while I can start making decisions with a clearer mind.

I agree that being stable after years of instability feels weird. I'm doing new things but not on impulse. It's strange.