I'm pretty stable these days on my meds and diet, but when anything stressful or bad happens I plummet into depression. I can tell because I cry and wring my hands, and say "I wish I wasn't me" (a mentally ill person). When it's worse I say "I wish I was dead" and when it's really bad I tell myself I should have died at birth and skipped all the decades of mental anguish. I tend to make bad decisions when I'm hypomanic or manic more than when I'm depressed (I am too busy crying and too miserable to make decisions then) and I can tell when that is happening because I'm more alert, have more energy, am incredibly confident about the future, and don't need sleep. Don't know if that helps?

i dont have bi-polar but i understand it somewhat from acquantances with it. they really dont have a controlling method other than to make sure their meds are functioning. otherwise they seem to ride the rollercoaster

This is a difficult question because I dont have bi-polar but my nieghbour has it. I think her decisions are made when she feels what she calls normal. ( but what is normal I dont know ) with me if I am down or anxious I just do nothing then in a bright moment I get stuck into what is important . hope this has helped a little. hugs x

I'm bipolar and I try my best to stay away from making major decisions when up or down.

I have bipolar, and I can tell I am in my lows when I fund it difficult to get out of bed. Also, I love dressing up and looking good but when I an In my lows I might not bath for several days and live in my pjs. My highs, I drive fast, impatient and has an over confident sense of self. It is as though I have been drinking and I talk a lot and fast. Hope this helps.