[st0psign]

do you think we have free will? I feel being bipolar complicates this, as (at least for me) I can reach a pinnacle point after which I am not making decisions. I like the idea that we have free will but I know (at least mine) is diminished at sometime or others, and free will is either an all or nothing kind of deal, you either have it or you don't.

So what do you think, do we have free will, or is it all just an illusion?

[Woolly Bugger]

I've always found this question interesting and entertaining. I sort of believe we have free will, as at any point in time it appears we can think and choose for ourselves. There is no deity that has decided our fate from our conception. This may be the case, but this version of free will is only an illusion. What I really believe is the truth is that, at any precise moment in time, we are able to make one, and only one, choice. This choice is determined by genetics, our past history, the current environment, and other factors. We may think we are making a choice, but, in fact, we are capable of making no other. If this scenario is the truth, and I believe it is, then you cannot say that we have free will.

So, for example, if I walk into a dealership and end up buying a red sports car, my decision would not be based on my ability to decide freely for myself. It would be, in fact, the only decision I could have made as determined by all the factors that influenced me at that exact point in time.

[st0psign]

That's about where I'm at

[SillyMom]

Yes. I'm pagan so I don't believe anyone controls us at all. We can ask the Goddess and God for assistance with power to help us accomplish things, but they will not do it for us.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

[st0psign]

atheist here, but though I would like to believe in free will, with the bipolar there is a point where I lose control and the decisions I make from that point onward are not mine... if anyone can relate

[SillyMom]

I can relate. I think I have at least 3 people in my head that have totally different personalities. The strongest makes the choices. (Wow I sound crazier than I thought)

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

[smallwonderer]

Originally Posted by st0psign

atheist here, but though I would like to believe in free will, with the bipolar there is a point where I lose control and the decisions I make from that point onward are not mine... if anyone can relate

I agree in psychosis there can be a loss of control. I agree moods can trend one way or another and feel hard to choose. But I also have found the best way to start to learn coping skills in bipolar was to see how many choices there are out there for how we do self-care or just for how much we let a situation bother us. I call it leaning into an emotion versus seeing it for what it is and saying "This is a bipolar emotion" (what some people on blogs say to do) or saying "this will pass". I'd say in the past 6 months or so, seeing more choices in my reactions has helped me a lot with how i manage myself. For instance, I used to and often still do wake up w/ dread and anxiety. Even if I'm in an alright place it can happen. But I'm getting so used to that that I can get through it whereas if I thought "What is wrong with me! I'm so anxious! I don't want to get out of bed! I'm useless!" it'd be much worse...

I tried to sign up for CBT to build up those skills at least even more, but my therapist seems to just scowl at me instead of doing CBT (for another thread...).

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by st0psign

So what do you think, do we have free will, or is it all just an illusion?

I believe we have free will, but that we sometimes give up that free will due to illness and circumstances.

[venusss]

We do have a free will.... but we don't have access to all information to make the best decisions always. So we decide the way we feel it's the best at the moment.

In ideal situations I believe in free will. However, my BP has affected and led to difficult circumstances which limit the ability to make choices in my life.

Another thing to ponder: Lack of Free will suggests people are not responsible for their behaviour or choices.

[~Christina]

I have all the free will I want BP or Not .

[Anrea]

Well, idk. I don't think so. I think the spirit pushes us. Like today, I am feeling my psychic awareness on high alert, and once it latches onto whatever it finds - I will be obsessed by that. I always thought my life was more like a leaf on a river - I have seen other people be the river, but I have always been a leaf.

I do make my own decisions. But these are based on something - either impulse, or what I was told by someone that left an impression on what I think I should be.

I have borderline personality disorder besides bipolar, so that might effect things.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by st0psign

do you think we have free will? I feel being bipolar complicates this, as (at least for me) I can reach a pinnacle point after which I am not making decisions. I like the idea that we have free will but I know (at least mine) is diminished at sometime or others, and free will is either an all or nothing kind of deal, you either have it or you don't.

So what do you think, do we have free will, or is it all just an illusion?

I believe we have free will, just not freedom. We may experience freedom by aligning your will with what will (be), through knowledge: knowing what to expect when. We might also experience it by closing our eyes, metaphorically speaking.

BP shows us none/few of us are free. Those with BP aren't. Most without it are even less free still. People like to ignore and be in control.

[jules77]

sometimes I feel as though my bipolar is so all encompassing that my free will has been taken from me. at this point I realize that I'm not doing what I need to do to take care of myself, so I try my best to regain this control. while stable I feel that I do have free will, but like you said, it is kind of an all or nothing experience. Don't want to feel held back, but at times it truly feels like I cannot help it to a certain extent.

[zepchic]

Originally Posted by st0psign

atheist here, but though I would like to believe in free will, with the bipolar there is a point where I lose control and the decisions I make from that point onward are not mine... if anyone can relate

Totally. And I have a hard time differentiating which is the real ME in control. My therapist simply does not grasp this and it is frustrating because I feel like it is something that could be worked through. KWIM?

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by zepchic

Totally. And I have a hard time differentiating which is the real ME in control. My therapist simply does not grasp this and it is frustrating because I feel like it is something that could be worked through. KWIM?

I think it can be worked through/out.

Apart from the energy changes, biochemical imbalances, I believe BP (and humanity or maybe any form of life, albeit less so) is very much a dissociation of three (aspects of of the self or) selfs. You should align them, reintegrate them.

I don't think it's so very different from DID. Maybe between DID and normalcy.

Acceptance is key. Embrace your manic and depressive you. You can't change what you do, just how you feel about it, basically. Paradoxically, maybe, change and how you feel do correlate: you will feel in control.

[Icare dixit]

Basically, being/feeling in control requires giving up "control".

Dare to question your most basic assumptions.