When in certain mental states, I would do and say things that I regret when I'm in different mental states. This makes me wonder if we are equally in control of our behavior all the time. What do you think?

[reb569]

I think, at least for myself, and I don't think I'm unique, that behavior occurs on a continuum. Often, when I am very stressed out, I talk more than normal and afterwards I wonder if what I was saying made sense. I try to be in total control of everything I do, and the more stressed I get the harder it is to do. I rarely just let myself, be myself. I'm a control freak, but the only person I'm trying to control is myself, and I'm not always cooperative. Does that make any sense at all?

[KristenRenee]

Originally Posted by Mr. Stranger

When in certain mental states, I would do and say things that I regret when I'm in different mental states. This makes me wonder if we are equally in control of our behavior all the time. What do you think?

I think sometimes I am in control and then other times I think not. my brain goes full force and blurts stuff out which is usually harmful to me and others.

[passionfruit3]

Sometimes well actually a lot i feel like a different person when im held against my will in hospitals or ers i do crazy crap that i don't do outside of there its like ive transformed from a cat to a cheeta.i end up hurting myself or doing risky things that get me in trouble.and i don't know why?i just feel like ive transformed into someone im not

[avlady]

sometimes I've been held against my will and that's what I do is scream and yell and even punch the docs and nurses. otherwise if I go to the hospital on my own i'm fine. I hate others telling me i'm nutts and need to see a doc, but I've found out it is for the better. I am glad someone caught me before I fall into my own trap. I just don't like some of the docs that have control over my business and putting me on meds as a guinea pig.

I have dissociated when panic has been bad enough. I get awfully embarrassed about this when I come back to reality and realise that not only had I been out-of-it but I had been so in front of other people. I worry about what did I do during that missing period of time even if it was only for a fleeting moment.

I realise I have behaved rather over-the-top when I have been manic.

The question is then: do/should people consider a person's mental state when they approach his/her doings, or hold him/her accountable and completely responsible? I'm not talking legally here, but about family, friends, and others who are close.

[mc2ed]

Originally Posted by Mr. Stranger

The question is then: do/should people consider a person's mental state when they approach his/her doings, or hold him/her accountable and completely responsible? I'm not talking legally here, but about family, friends, and others who are close.

I think we should pay attention to someone's mental state....though more often I think people are more self absorbed in viewing what ever is happening with their own view point....

I know someone who is a very angry person...they have anger issues...and I am definitely aware of when they are angry....they doesn't listen then....to try and have a conversation about something meaningful or important would be a bit ignorant on my part in those circumstances....I wait until they are no longer wrapped up in their emotions.....

Anger is pretty blatant.....easy to spot...there are more subtle emotions that can have just as much effect in people's ability to cope.....Though I think we should always be held accountable for our actions....I don't think an emotional outburst of any kind releases you from responsibility.....unless your mind is so far gone you have no awareness what so ever...and then I think we should be looking out for that person...regardless of who they are or what they feel....

Just my opinion only....

Originally Posted by Mr. Stranger

The question is then: do/should people consider a person's mental state when they approach his/her doings, or hold him/her accountable and completely responsible? I'm not talking legally here, but about family, friends, and others who are close.

I have noticed this about myself and am still figuring it out....

I used to just consider myself "moody"...an emotional thing. However, as my depression has continued, with it's ups and down (not "sadness" or "happiness"...as I said those are emotional and I can tell the difference)...anyway during the more(?) bad times, I am not someone I recognize as my "normal"....I AM aware--these are not episodes of any sort. I mostly know what I'm saying.

It's almost as if desperation is in charge instead of the (socially acceptable human) me that I know...

Either the medication is changing my brain/personality, or the depression is changing my brain/personality.

As I said, I am still discovering this....so I don't know what to say to your question...It's a good one.

I just find the idea that people can control their actions and reactions completely regardless of their mental state and external circumstances is a misconception and a misunderstanding, and thus treating people as if they had the complete power and the full option is unfair in my opinion. Human's societies unfortunately are built around punishing and ostracizing those who make mistakes or for those who don't measure. But if I cannot understand myself in different mental states, how can others understand and empathize?

[eskielover]

I think it all depends on the cause of the mental state that is causing the behavior.

If there is a chemical imbalance that is really messing with the brain I think it might take really strong personal values to counter a beharior that is being created by the imbalance.

I believe that people with a really strong moral value wont go out killing people when they have psychotic issues or behave sexually inappropriately just because they are in a manic state. I believe that there are definitely strong moral values in people that override what a mental state might be pushing on the person...in other words mental states are acted out in behaviors in different people given their internal values they hold & how strong they are.

After going through 2 years of DBT group & lrarningabout mindfulness I truly believe in most cases we can learnvhow to catch ourthoughts & be totally aware of them & be able to combine our logucal thinking with our emotional thinking to come up with wise mind decisions that control our decisions , choices, & behaviors.

Its totally possible but its NOT EASY & takes a lot of work & awareness to be mindfull rather than just react.

It would be interesting to see just how this DBT would have changed how I reacted during my really bad depression years when I wouldjust act/react withouteven thinking....not evenvtruly aware of the thought or feeling I was reacting to. It seemed logical to me at the time.

In other words, our minds can learn to control our behaviors no matter what mental state we are in...I just havent been able to test it out for myself because my depression was situational & the situation has changed so I will NEVER experience that situation again. I got out of the trap with my life.

[jacky8807]

eskie has a point

during my psychosis I became convinced my step father was a pedophile (this was a crazy delusion, one of many) and I felt this surge of darkness and hatred for him. I was staring at him when for the first and only time I became homicidal. Truly scary
But all of a sudden this white light came into my head and broke up the homicidal urge.
Call it god, morals, good luck idk but the psychotic break continued without anymore homicidal urges.

[RainyDay107]

Originally Posted by Mr. Stranger

When in certain mental states, I would do and say things that I regret when I'm in different mental states. This makes me wonder if we are equally in control of our behavior all the time. What do you think?

If I'm fully blown manic and/or psychotic - absolutely not. Total memory wipe, usually.