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MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

kennethreitz.org

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Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#81

Post by RodericDay »

CraigJPerry wrote: post #45
alva wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

s/crazy chick/crazy dude/ Having a partner of either sex that also suffers mental illness (perhaps more severely than you do) can exacerbate un-healthy or unhelpful ways of thinking. I don't think the writer was placing entire blame with the partner, but actually making a good point earlier about the psychological reinforcement from being around them

I read it as light humour. The tone of that line is very much in keeping with his humorous points in past writings (and code). I don't know Kenneth but I've read enough of his writing to recognise his style. I genuinely believe the grandparent is doing Kenneth a disservice here.

Many people read stuff that he advocates against, like "real hardcore engineers don't sleep", as "light humour".

It's cool that you recognize his voice, but if this article takes off because of its interdisciplinary nature, it is likely to get an audience that isn't composed exclusively of people who know his style.

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#82

Post by Muromec »

watty wrote: post #7
protothomas wrote: post #2

A well written and brutally honest article - the author should be commended as this kind of honesty is what's needed in beginning to address mental health issues. I did feel the last throwaway point "don't date the crazy chick" let it down slightly - by his own hypothesis she too was suffering (bad) mental health issues and blithely shifting blame to her seems a little off.

I'm curious what kind of drugs were involved. Crazy chick, traveling the world, doing shamanistic rituals (which often use drugs), sleep depriving oneself until hallucinating, etc. He doesn't say it outright but had he not taken part in these damaging things, he may not have had the psychotic episode and wouldn't know he was bipolar. http://www.elle.com/beauty/health-fitness/advice/a14193/ayah... http://www.dailymail…

Shamanic rituals just screams "shrooms".

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#83

Post by ggreer »

kenneth_reitz wrote: post #60
yahyaheee wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Upvote as well. My personal mystical experiences have been very positive in my life. My friends and I call it "cleaning out the cobwebs" and do it a couple times a year. And yes this stuff is not good for people with mental illness, but let's not throw it away all together. Psychedelics have an incredible promise to heal, and have helped me substantially with my own trauma. However they should be used in chorus with…

This was me, six months ago.

But unlike the parent commenter, didn't you have hypomanic episodes before going down that path? I think most who do that sort of thing don't end up in a hospital. At worst, they end up following Deepak Chopra.

Also, thank you for sharing your experience. It takes courage to talk about one's mental issues. And thank you for requests. It's crazy useful!

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#84

Post by dghughes »

cmrx64 wrote: post #11

> Sleep is really important. This cannot be overstated enough, I think, beyond just the effects of severe sleep deprivation. It's very true in my personal experience with major depression as well. Also good to do: eat well, get exercise, get sunlight. Minds don't exist in isolation from the body, it's all the same sack of chemicals.

I used to work shift work and thought it was great to wake up late and stay up late when working then go to bed even later after winding down when I got back home. The occasional overnight project that would span several nights (you waste two days as one day).

Then I went back to an 8am to 4pm schedule and wow what a difference I didn't realize I was a walking zombie all those years.

Yes sleep is important but consistent sleep is the key.

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#85

Post by mathattack »

I had a roommate who also had very serious mental health issues following a heavy investigation into meditation. I never could piece out if there was any causality - did the issues cause him to seek help from meditation, or did the meditation cause the issues, or was it spurious? In the end it's a lot of brain chemistry.

I appreciate courageous writers like the OP who help take the stigma away from mental illness with their writing.

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#86

Post by Zelmor »

dfraser992 wrote: post #32
nnq wrote: post #17

Side note on the "mystic flavor" yoga (as oppose to plain "mindfullness meditation" and "yoga for back pains") and other "eastern" spirituality things: I think there's a reason why there are so many initiation ceremonies and tasks that one was/is traditionally put to do before going-off-the-deep-end, and why ancient hindus saw being a yogi as a path for one that was of a certain age and already had a family and prove…

Upvote, and especially for the metaphor (cocaine versus coca) - it summarizes what I've seen in the New Age-ish subculture over the years. I've had experiences with kundalini - quite definitely. And some woo-woo ness I can't possibly explain unless one is already familiar with the terminology and understandings. Ken Wilbur is a useful read - it's not all garbage. But "I" was still "I" and understood what was going on…

>The universe can take care of itself. It's when you go into "inflation" and think "you" are the embodiment of God and all that is where everything goes sideways.

This. I think people are too keen on trying to save the whales and save the world. The world is as such. Sure we can work on making it a better place, but to seek perfection is to be blind to the reality of it manifesting under your own feet.

I've had a couple events of going out of my mind deliberately by ways of breathing exercises, extensive singing, yelling, laughing and such. I think that to stay sane, you sometimes have to visit the other side of the looking glass as well. It is much like using LSD, mushrooms, mescaline. Some people can get lost in such situations, and if you feel like such thing could happen, just find a trustworthy individual who has been through such experiences and can hold your hand as you go onto your journey. Andrew Feldmar MD and his books are something to look up if these things interest you.

As far as madness and medication goes, it seems that US citizens are eager to medicate anyone who does not conform the perceived "norm". Even the individual herself gets under the impression that it is her and not the system that is at fault. Meanwhile, the psychological pressure and deformities of consumer society, impulse control and acts of aggression/murder are on the rise, whereas people should be more open to express the absurdities that surround us, and to feel free not to stay in line of a fairly broken and decaying status quo.

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#87

Post by astazangasta »

pyre wrote: post #78
astazangasta wrote: post #62

Pyschosis is not an accident, and it is not caused by kundalini yoga (although in this case indirectly). It is my belief that psychosis is the product of spiritual crisis. Humans are, fundamentally, mythological creatures - we have deeply-held beliefs and myths that guide our basic thinking, and we hold onto these firmly. When something challenges these fundamentals (usually some horrible trauma), we slip into spirit…

Your ideas are very unhelpful, and should be considered as downright harmful as people who deny that depression exists because "I was sad one time, but then I pulled myself up by the bootstraps." The idea that using medication to handle these things is the "shut up and take your pills" approach and that the "real" way to deal with this is to just leave people in a state of psychosis until they "magically" snap out of…

I did not say, nor do I believe, that people should be left untreated to "snap out of it". These are vulnerable distressed people and their crisis can be terrifying and damaging. They need help and support to get through it. However, neuroleptics are NOT the right help, they are basically chemical lobotomies that suppress the brain (you can read about their history for yourself, this is what they are designed to do), and they do not cure psychosis, they merely shut the brain down so it'd symptoms are hidden.

I believe we need new models for how to treat psychosis, and an important first step is realizing that delusional states are revealing. That is all. I am not saying anyone should go off meds and wander the streets.

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#88

Post by michaelwww »

This is an excellent article and I applaud Kenneth for writing it because it will help someone who reads it. Coincidentally, after reading this I came across another article about bipolar illness and how it has wrecked the life of a once famous woman:

The best African American figure skater in history is now bankrupt and living in a trailer (Debi Thomas) https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/the-myste...

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#89

Post by xyzzy4 »

teamhappy wrote: post #6
exizt88 wrote: post #3

Could this have been prevented? Is there a reliable way to check on your mental health status?

Psychosis is pretty hard to hide I think. Basically any doctor should find out that "there's something going on" simply by having a conversation with you. The same is probably true with family (they may notice you're "acting weird/different" or something like that). If your friends are very spiritual they might think this is normal of course, so maybe stick with professionals/family. I'm not sure about bipolar disord…

I had psychosis several years ago and I was pretty good at hiding it until the point where I became hospitalized. The trick is you have to be acutely aware of whether you are sounding crazy to others, and how you're being perceived. You can think as many crazy thoughts as you want, as long as you don't express them.

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#90

Post by kenneth_reitz »

ascorbic wrote: post #71
rangibaby wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hallucinations from mania are probably caused by sleep deprivation. Even if you're not consciously tired, your mind and body are.

No. Mania by definition includes psychosis (otherwise it's hypomania). Psychosis is roughly defined as "loss of contact with reality", and delusions and hallucinations are the main symptoms. Sleep deprivation can certainly trigger mania though.

Hypomania -> sleep deprivation -> mania -> psychosis
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