Are we animals or do we just make excuses?

One thing that always bothers me is when people make excuses for their actions. I firmly believe that we always have a choice to make in every situation and every circumstance. One thing that I hear a lot, which I believe is an excuse for irrational behavior, is “oh I’m just going through puberty” or “I’m PMSing so I’m not really in control of the decisions in which I make”. To me those are just excuses for people being overcome by emotions, interferences with their rational thought, pain, and various other circumstances which can effect but not completely nullify our awareness and core identity. Or do we just dismiss our entire persona because of a chemical imbalance or to many pressures, I’ll just call all of those interferences for now? Take POWs for example, yes a undisciplined solider will be overcome by torture and reveal sensitive information to the enemy because of his lack of resolve and discipline when it comes to doing what is right and doing what feels easier. So many parents tell me that their children are just going through puberty or their teenage years and that is why they are taking such irrational actions. But I went through puberty, I’m not trying to sound superior this is just my experience, and I had those abnormal and inconsistent urges or desires but when I got them my awareness picked them up, and I thought “that was odd, I don’t normally think that way or that was rather abnormal, there is something wrong here” and then I began to analyze the cause of that abnormality, but most of the time I rarely gave into that sudden urge or desire. I always had a choice and I always had my core telling me wither something was the right choice or the wrong choice. When I gave into those abnormalities I did so willingly and knowingly making the wrong choice. So then why do people say that they are uncontrollable or incoherent during these times of increased interferences? If it is true and during these times of increase interference we are incoherent as to the effect our choices will make, are we no better then animals which are ruled by instinct?

I hope no one takes this like I am bashing people who’ve have made imprudent or inefficient choices. I am only trying to discern the extent of and strength of our awareness, identity, and free will. I believe that every action I have ever taken has been of my own doing, I was aware of the right and wrong choices, and that I am responsible without excuse for them. Right choices being prudent and beneficial to the future of myself and humanity and wrong being the opposite of that.