OCD and Depersonalization

swifttrucker13 said:I’ve actually been dealing with these same symptoms for a while now—they only really spiraled once I started banging my head against these deep philosophical questions, specifically the whole free will debate. Because if you look at it through the lens of determinism, the entire concept of guilt just falls apart. I mean, why even hold Hitler responsible for the Holocaust when he didn't exactly get a choice in being a psychopath? He was basically just a victim of his own brain chemistry... those chemical reactions forced his hand into committing such atrocities. It’s not like he sat down and decided to be that kind of monster; he was just acting in accordance with his character and couldn't have done anything else. Honestly, you could apply that same logic to pretty much every emotion we feel, which is exactly why I feel almost nothing right now. What’s your take on that—specifically that Hitler example? Sorry for dumping this on you, my brain is just totally fried right now and I can barely think straight... I can't even begin to deal with this right now... just totally over it. Honestly, everything feels like it's hitting redline lately—just pure overdrive. It’s like you’re flooring it in a Ford F-150 through a desert storm and the engine is screaming at you to just stop, but you can't because if you do, everything just falls apart. Everything! I'm just spinning my wheels here... seriously... Look, I guess I should try to look at this whole mess from a different angle... if there even is one...

So, if I’m actually following what this guy is saying... this specific quote from the Bible is supposed to be some kind of smoking gun proof that free will doesn't even exist? At least, that's how I'm reading it—if my brain isn't totally fried today...

Wait, what even are we talking about here? Is this just random nonsense now? Because honestly, I feel like I’m losing my mind trying to follow these threads sometimes... just total chaos. Anyway, whatever. The user says:
How’ve you been sleeping lately? Like, can you actually drift off fast, or are you just tossing and turning all night? Honestly, seeing you run on fumes like this... it looks brutal, man. It’s gotta be totally draining you. Anyway, let me know how that appointment with the psychiatrist went—hope they actually gave you some real answers. Seriously though, try to get some sleep... you really need it... 🙂👋

I don't really have an issue getting to sleep, honestly—by the end of the day, my brain is just so absolutely fried from all the constant overthinking that I basically just crash... no problem at all.

Look, I’m just checking in—I only officially signed up for this near the end of the month, even though I actually put my order in like a whole month ago... xD

If Hitler's actions were predetermined, then our reaction to them is also predetermined. EVERYTHING is predetermined.

Determinism cannot be used as an excuse for anything. If everything is set in stone, then our sense of free will is also predetermined, along with our behavior according to it. Therefore, you will judge Hitler as evil and condemn his actions rather than justifying them by saying he was simply "born that way."

That is why I mentioned that believing or not believing in free will doesn't change daily life. Determinism might eventually help you accept yourself, others, and existence itself more easily, since everything is as it must be. However, in your everyday life, you will continue to act according to your nature—essentially acting as if you possess free will.🙂

Everything is already set in stone; it’s all happened before, and it’s all going to happen again. Honestly, I just can't wrap my head around these people who champion the idea of free will—how on earth do they even visualize that working??? We are essentially pre-programmed from the jump by our genetics, then shaped by our upbringing, our environment, and so much more... I truly don't get where they see this "free will" coming from, or maybe there's just some fundamental truth that I'm missing entirely.....

mistybison said:If Hitler's actions were predetermined, then our reaction to them is also predetermined. EVERYTHING is predetermined.

Determinism cannot be used as an excuse for anything. If everything is set in stone, then our sense of free will is also predetermined, along with our behavior according to it. Therefore, you will judge Hitler as evil and condemn his actions rather than justifying them by saying he was simply "born that way."

That is why I mentioned that believing or not believing in free will doesn't change daily life. Determinism might eventually help you accept yourself, others, and existence itself more easily, since everything is as it must be. However, in your everyday life, you will continue to act according to your nature—essentially acting as if you possess free will.🙂

Look, I’ve gone down that rabbit hole too, but if the feeling of having free will is itself predetermined, then maybe it was also destined for me to stumble onto determinism and lose that sense of agency entirely. These thoughts just loop in my head constantly... and honestly, the worst part is when I start overthinking the thoughts themselves. :/ Maybe we’ve drifted too far into the philosophy side of things, because my actual issue is more tied to the FBI and this whole depersonalization thing, which is why I started this thread in this PDF. Just trying to see if anyone else out there gets it, though clearly, I might be the only one losing sleep over this stuff. xD

The Mayor said:In Genesis, chapter three, specifically verse 17, God gives humans free will.

I’m not much of a believer, so that doesn't really hit home for me, but thanks anyway—I appreciate everyone chiming in. 🙂

darksurfer4 said:Everything is already set in stone; it’s all happened before, and it’s all going to happen again. Honestly, I just can't wrap my head around these people who champion the idea of free will—how on earth do they even visualize that working??? We are essentially pre-programmed from the jump by our genetics, then shaped by our upbringing, our environment, and so much more... I truly don't get where they see this "free will" coming from, or maybe there's just some fundamental truth that I'm missing entirely.....

I get what you're saying, but my problem is that I'm obsessively hyper-focused on determinism. It's like my emotions have lost all meaning and I just feel like some kind of biological robot... if that even makes sense?