Why do we bother?

@yuliana.777 Thank you. I have a problem with doxastic voluntarism: I can’t believe things I know I want to be true, because my very desire is prima facie evidence that my judgment could be compromised. All manner of therapy is predicated upon the assumption that we really can believe things simply because we choose to do so. I can’t.

@nae nae That’s my question. It seems like a losing proposition. If we don’t accept claims about the “inherent value” of life axiomatically, then we’ve even fewer reasons to accept such a life.

@HopelessErik Yeah, I get that. I’ve been stuck in that place too, where if you can’t just accept that life has value, everything starts to feel kind of pointless. It’s a rough spot, and when you’re dealing with depression on top of OCD, it makes sense that it feels... hopeless? Like you'll never get to a point of true happiness and living you imagine. What’s helped me, at least a little, is realizing I don’t need to solve that question to keep going. It’s not about finding the perfect answer. It’s more about being willing to live with the uncertainty. I still don’t have it figured out (perfectly, at least), but I try to show up anyway, even when it all feels sort of dull. It's definitely not easy, but...! You’re not alone in feeling this. And I don’t think you’re wrong for wanting more than blind acceptance. You’re just in pain. And that’s valid! Sometimes, just existing through that is enough, though 🫂 I'm really sorry you've been going through all of this for so long. That's a heavy weight you're carrying with you.

@nae nae Thank you. I really don’t deserve the compassion and kindness this community has shown me. I’ll try to think of things as you suggest.

@HopelessErik You do deserve it. I'll be wishing you the best of luck. Sending lots of love your way! 🤍

@OCD Helping Hand If you say so. Still, I’m not convinced the juice is worth the only way I can squeeze it.

@HopelessErik As someone on the other side of the monster we call OCD I can safely say it is

@OCD Helping Hand Again, if you say so. In the interest of full disclosure, I suffer from treatment-resistant depression and s-word ideation, so overcoming OCD, even if it were possible for me, isn’t anything like securing the “beautiful, truly happy experience” life might be for you. Right now, and since I was 9, I can take it or leave it.

@HopelessErik @HopelessErik That’s totally fair, and I apologize if it feels like I’m minimizing the situation. Not at all my intention.

@OCD Helping Hand No need for apologies. It’s just that I’ve survived by making peace with the idea that many, many things I want I simply can’t have.