Bipolar Disorder and Bad Judgment

For an illustration of how bipolar disorder can disrupt a live because of bad judgment, we only need to look at the story of NBA player Delonte West. Last year, as Bill Livingston reports in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, West left his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, for several weeks of treatment after "an explosive outburst at a referee" during training camp. But the problems didn't end there. In spite of having a stellar season, West continued to exhibit serious behavior problems and mood swings.

Now West has been arrested and charged after he was found to be carrying concealed firearms - two handguns and a shotgun. News reports note that he is likely to face a relatively short suspension from play, but the Cavaliers have some decisions to make as well. West has an illness, as Livingston points out. That doesn't mean ignoring his bad behavior, but it does help explain it.

At the Cavaliers' media day, West told reporters he was "off his routine" and is now back on his medications, but declined to answer any other questions about his arrest. One big question is, will he stay on his meds now?

As we noted in 5 Bad Reasons Not to Take Meds, too often people with bipolar disorder stop taking medications because they "feel fine now," because of side effects, or for other reasons.

Delonte West's bipolar disorder is affecting more than his game. Fortunately for him, carrying a concealed weapon is a misdemeanor in his state, not a felony, but the incident shows very bad judgment on his part and could be a predictor of future behavior if he doesn't stick with his treatment.

What about you? Has bad judgment because of your bipolar disorder caused major problems in your life? Share your story - it could be a cautionary tale that helps someone in the future.

Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

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