My mother has severe bipolar (manic depression) and she was a single mom so it was just me and her most of the time. We did not go into debts as my mom never had a credit card to begin with but her shopping sprees had us moving from one place to another or living with her boyfriends because rent could not be paid.
Bipolar is serious and who has this disease can not help themselves without a lot of help and support and medicine. It’s more of an impulse or strong urges that takes over habits and the thoughts processes. To answer the op question, I would say it is neither a thought process nor fully a mental illness process.
I strongly believe they are at times aware of the consequences of their "off" behavior (which can bring them to the depression zone) but they don't seem to be aware while they are in the act of the "off" behavior (manic zone either extreme sadness or extreme happiness zone). I did not recognize my mom while she was in the manic mode. At the same time I was pretty embarrassed and usually duck when she cause a scene. (I was just a little kid). It was not until after 40 years she got help and now takes a boatload of medicine (She carries a pharmacy in her purse) but she mellowed out and even now dress more appropriate for the public. When bipolar, it’s not only about the finance and shopping, its behavior, how you interpret messages from others and convey them and a whole lot more. It seems they are affected by every movements, sayings and emotions evoked from others and not being strong themselves.
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