Why do I do things that are wrong but cannot stop?

[Scott D]

Why do I do things that I know are wrong but I cannot stop doing them?  Such as hiding things from my spouse?  Over spending money.  Yelling at the kids?  Tics?  Wanting phone sex?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH]

First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes. The symptoms you describe are often experienced by people with bipolar disorder.  This is a psychiatric condition that is characterized by periods of mania (grand ideas, plans, energy, need to spend money, hyper sexual, violence) and depression/seclusion. For this I would recommend that you see a psychiatrist.
  There are some organic brain disorders that can give rise to mental problems such as those you decribe and thus I would also recommend that you be tested for Wilson's disease (ceruloplasmin), Temporal lobe damage (MRI brain, EEG [brain wave test]), Acute intermittent porphyria, illicit drugs (cocaine, amphetamines can cause similar problems), metabolic panel and Thyroid (TSH).
I hope this has been helpful.

[joshua217777]

Maybe your depressed or your just bored with life and you know things are wrong but you dont care and do them anyways.  Maybe its your way of taking out bad feelings doing those things.

[mike1105]

you can stop them-- you just don't want to. you know they are wrong. blaming it on anger, frustration, your childhood etc is bull. get help. you also know that is the right thing to do. You are CHOOSING wrong by continuing your behaviors and by not getting help.

[AMO]

Scott,

i hope you willl take the doctors recommnation and follow up to fine the root of your problem. The fact that you are here looking for answers and help is good.

It is disheartening that still today there are some ignorant people who do not understand mental illness  , or an organic issue, and that they thinnk everything is under a persons conceious control.
I would recommend anyone who does not understand mental illnessand to learn about some of htese ilnesses, maybe with a bit more compassion to people wouldl be a better approach than demeaning them, especially when you know nothing about the person and who they are.

Wether you need medicine, therapy,andcounsiling, i wish you the best and you can get better.
Hang in there Scott.
AMO

[Happy in spite of]

You describe "symptoms" that are so much as every man wrestles with and they are known as fleshly desires that are contrary to our spiritual desires.  Worth taking a look at, or considering would be checking into what the Bible says, ex; one scripture dealing with fleshly "symptoms" has one of the Apostles declaring in anguish (paraphrasing) "Why do I do the things I don't want to (your words...that are wrong) but cannot do the things I want" (your words but cannot stop) oh wretched man that I am.  This could literally be every person's cry, for we all fall short when we have rebelled.  The answer can be found in taking stock of our relationship with God, when it is not right we suffer with fleshly consequences, when we get it right spiritually we reap the rewards of overcoming our fleshly desires (controlling them).  Check it out...you surely will find the answers to your tortured spirit, and if you have physical problems contributing you will find your answers with proper testing, diagnosis & treatment with your doctors.