Does free will exist when one is suffering from bipolar disorder?

Podcast:

Question: During bipolar disorder, does free will exist?

Answer: Free will is a complex concept, and there are always mitigating conditions.

Consider someone in a coma: do they possess free will? In principle, the soul certainly has free will. However, the body in a comatose state imposes such extreme limitations that there’s practically no scope for any conscious activity. We could say that, for a time, karma might bypass them, placing them in a situation with an extremely constricted scope for exercising their free will. Yet, a significant body of evidence suggests that even people in a coma retain some level of consciousness. This is why it’s recommended that loved ones speak comforting words to them and maintain a kind, supportive presence, as this can promote healing.

There was a study published in a prominent medical journal, provocatively titled “Where Science and Spirituality Kiss Each Other.” Their understanding of “spirituality” in this context leaned more towards non-physical emotionality. The study found that if a patient undergoing surgery with uncertain chances of recovery was surrounded by a loving, supportive environment, with others offering good wishes and prayers, their chances of healing increased. For these researchers, a loving environment constituted a form of spirituality, which, in an ultimate sense, holds truth. The point here is that even when physical treatment is identical, subtler elements can manifest their influence. So, even for a person in a coma, while we can’t assert they are fully conscious or retain conscious memory, it appears that what is spoken to them affects them in some way.

Similarly, with bipolar disorder, during certain episodes (manic or depressive), it might be incredibly difficult for individuals to control their actions; they may not even be fully aware of what they are doing. Do they possess free will during these specific episodes? It’s difficult to give a simple “yes” or “no.”

We can draw a parallel to overwhelming urges that anyone might experience, such as intense lust or anger. During moments when these urges become overpowering, do we have free will? It may feel as though the urges simply dominate us. However, we do have free will before these episodes or overwhelming urges become extreme, and we also have it afterward. It is during these periods of relative calm and clarity that we can prepare ourselves.

Therefore, if someone experiences such extreme episodes due to bipolar disorder, steps can be taken before the episodes become severe. Individuals can prepare themselves appropriately, and family members can also take measures. For instance, some individuals with severe mental health issues who tend towards violence might need to be kept under some form of confinement or kept away from objects they could use to harm themselves or others.

So, yes, in certain phases and for certain durations, at our perceivable level, there may be practically no free will in operation. This is indeed one of the ways karma can manifest at times.