Free will help!!

I am so scared! I feel like I’m about to faint I’m shaking so much crying and can’t get over this. To anyone that’s suffered from free will ocd what has helped you and any encouragement? I just keep researching things that prove and disprove it. One thing I found helpful is that you can change the brains neural pathways to predict the future differently but I’m just so afraid. My ocd keeps saying well your love for your family is determined and the things you do with your family tonight are already going to happen. One thing that’s keeping me sane is a survey done by Philpapers and the results were that only 11 percent of philosophers were rejecting free will. 60 percent were compatabilists which is that your choices are yours from your past experiences, values, and environment I think and 19 percent were full free will. Some were undecided but these numbers seemed helpful to me. I also keep researching brain plasticity and a neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barret who has some good things about how what you do now changes your future. I’m just so scared my thoughts keep saying this isn’t true and your just a puppet and your not controlling yourself. I feel so disconnected and not real. What have you guys done that’s helped? Any advice or help is so appreciated!

Endlessly Po...

Date posted: 8w

Sorry to hear your struggling. You must resist researching and ruminating. Have you talked to a doctor about this? They can help

Matthew7124217

Date posted: 8w

@Endlessly Pondering Yes I do have a therapist I’m meeting with her soon. But I just don’t know how I can move on if things actually are determined. Like are my choices actually me or no? It’s so scary

Endlessly Po...

Date posted: 8w

@Matthew7124217 What happens when you stop trying to figure this out?

Matthew7124217

Date posted: 8w

@Endlessly Pondering I just don’t feel real. Like if I stop I don’t feel as anxious but everything I do just results in the thoughts saying who’s controlling you or your not yourself or what is a self. It gets so hard when I’m like doing something I enjoy or spending time with family.

Endlessly Po...

Date posted: 8w

@Matthew7124217 I get it, this tournamened me for a while. Eventually I just accepted that “it is what it is” and stop trying to figure it out. It sucked but over time got better

Matthew7124217

Date posted: 8w

@Endlessly Pondering That seems so scary to me. Do you think we make choices? Like are they based on our past experiences or are we just a puppet?

Endlessly Po...

Date posted: 8w

@Matthew7124217 No one knows, you’re going to drive yourself crazy trying to figure it out. Or Just live your life and enjoy it for what ever it may be ❤️

Matthew7124217

Date posted: 8w

@Endlessly Pondering I just can’t do anything when I keep feeling like I’m a robot. Everything I do my ocd says that wasnt you controlling it. Even when I love a loved one it will say that wasn’t real it was just going to happen anyway. It’s really exhausting

Endlessly Po...

Date posted: 8w

@Matthew7124217 I get it! Many of us have been there. You’re trying to solve questions that can never be answered. You have 2 choices - either keep trying to solve the unsolvable or just go about our life.

Chrishelmsn

Date posted: 15h

Hey Matthew, i have the same free will theme since a while. I think the best thing you can do is to stop researching about free will yes/No. In each cases you can live your life as you Wish. Try to accept the possibility that there is No free will. What helped me in accepting this thoughts and the Feelings (IT Made me feel depressed trying to accept determinism) is taking sertralin. Also it is important to remember that the Problem here is ocd and Not this scientific/philosophical question you will Not solve

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