MentalHealthError: an exception occurred • Hacker News Board

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#171

Post by _ywdj » Sun, Feb 28, 2016, 2:25 AM UTC

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.

It was also me, 2-3 years ago.

Then, your manic episode was me, 20 months ago (the having a "Kundalini awakening" and believing I was raising the vibrational frequency of the universe part - not the hospital admission or lithium prescription part, I managed to chill out without much need for professional intervention).

Your point of view now was me, 18 months ago, believing all my problems had stemmed from purely materialist/biochemical causes, and rejecting all the spriritual stuff as dangerous woo.

Since then, I've found a balance that seems, as objectively as one can be about one's self, to have me in a much better place.

My quality of life, as reflected in my work/career, my friendships/relationships and my sense of contentment and happiness, is good and has been steadily improving for many months.

I take no psychiatric or any other medication (I had been on benzo's then SSRI's years ago). I eat healthily (not obsessively), drink only moderately and socially, I sleep well, and I do regular conventional exercise with increasing ease.

I also practice holotropic breathwork [1], occasional kundalini yoga, nutritional supplementation (mostly amino acids and minerals like calcium and magnesium), near infrared light therapy [2], kinesiology and self-muscle-testing [3].

I don't make any specific claims about the efficacy of any particular practice, but overall the system seems to be working.

I don't believe I have any magical powers or access to secret wisdom about the true nature of the universe.

I find merit and value in the philosophies of public figures across the spectrum of thought on these matters; Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Rupert Sheldrake, Bruce Lipton, Lissa Rankin, Bernardo Kastrup, Rudy Tanzi, Sir Roger Penrose, and the late Wayne Dyer.

I don't believe any of these people are 100% right, but neither do I think any is 100% wrong, and each has been very valuable to me and many others in developing an optimal approach to life.

And this is the most important point.

It's unhealthy to adopt either materialism or spirituality with extreme conviction, just as it's unhealthy to reject either of them with extreme prejudice.

Extreme anything is unhealthy.

Balance, restraint, modesty and tolerance is healthy.

I understand why you need to adopt a staunch anti-woo position right now given what you've been through.

Just be careful not to be too contemptuous and dogmatic against philosophies and practices that others find beneficial in more healthy and balanced ways than has so far been possible for you.

But thank you for sharing your journey and insights so candidly. More people need to be made to feel comfortable talking about this stuff, and it helps the world when you lead the way.

[1] http://www.holotropic.com/about.shtml

[2] http://nutritionalbalancing.org/center/htma/supportive/artic...

[3] http://www.livestrong.com/article/325815-techniques-for-self...

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#172

Post by zzleeper » Sun, Feb 28, 2016, 6:56 AM UTC

kenneth_reitz wrote: post #166

TrevorJ wrote: post #162

>A breakthrough occurred when I slipped the doctor a piece of paper containing the URL to this website. This gave him a really good idea of who I actually was, and was a very useful tool in helping him diagnose me. Is it expecting too much of our health care professionals to assume that they should be I don't know, spending five minutes on google looking for this information themselves? What about interviewing family…

Trust me, where I live, less that 0.1% of the population has any form of web presence, other than a Facebook profile. I live in a rural town in the country of Virginia. Lots of confederate flags and rednecks around these parts :) The doctor did spent much time on the phone with my parents, however, and was well aware of their claims. Having tangible proof of the things I've normally been able to accomplish, however,…

I dunno why but I always had the idea you lived either on SFO or Seattle. Well at least you can ski a lot as you're probably close to WV!

On a more related note, thanks a lot for your great posts, and for the simplicity and clarity of your code :)

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#173

Post by ascorbic » Sun, Feb 28, 2016, 7:15 AM UTC

V-2 wrote: post #170

ascorbic wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMPORTANT. PLEASE READ THIS! Please, anybody with bipolar DO NOT DO THIS. It may work for depression, but for the same reason people with bipolar shouldn't take antidepressants (unless balanced with mood stabilisers) this can be really dangerous. It's very common that sleep deprivation can trigger a manic episode.

I never said this is sound advice for bipolar people as opposed to those suffering from depression. As a matter of fact, I never insisted this is good advice for anyone, I specifically stressed that I'm not a doctor. I merely pointed out that there's a certain point of view, quoted by reputable sources. Given the above, I don't really understand the downvotes

I didn't downvote you. I understand you weren't recommended it for people with bipolar. I just wanted to ensure there wasn't a confusion there, as it could be extremely dangerous.

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#174

Post by ascorbic » Sun, Feb 28, 2016, 7:54 AM UTC

fiatjaf wrote: post #160

ascorbic wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes it is. That's what heritable means. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritability

For 59%. Did you read that?

Read the "common misunderstandings" section in the Wikipedia article.

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#175

Post by ascorbic » Sun, Feb 28, 2016, 8:01 AM UTC

fiatjaf wrote: post #161

ascorbic wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes it is. That's what heritable means. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritability

There are many things you don't know and don't know you don't know, that is complicated to explain. I, for sure, am ignorant of a lot too, but at least I know that estimating heritability on the occurrence of bipolar disorder doesn't prove that these disorders are "caused" (you used this word, while the article doesn't) by genetic factors.

They don't use that word because that's what heritability implies. The fact it has a genetic cause doesn't mean that everyone with those genes will have bipolar disorder.

Of course I don't know everything. I am however more inclined to believe things with a lot of evidence (such as the genetic basis for schizophrenia and bipolar) rather than those without evidence (that it's caused by spiritual crisis).

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#176

Post by cmrx64 » Sun, Feb 28, 2016, 9:09 AM UTC

V-2 wrote: post #66

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'm not a doctor, but I've come across a concept that says sleep deprivation is actually helpful, or at least it eases depression symptoms. Eg. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-sleep-deprivat... or http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/mind-read/an_unconventio...

I've looked into that line of research too. It's very interesting to me, I've also noticed that sleep deprivation eases my depression, even on top of what my antidepressant already does. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be many if any studies about it since the late 90s or early 2000s, and the mechanisms still aren't very well understood (like with the rest of depression).

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#177

Post by joepie91_ » Sun, Feb 28, 2016, 9:30 AM UTC

Zelmor wrote: post #86

dfraser992 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 cou…

From my experiences with youth mental hospitals in the Netherlands, they are dominated by the same "just medicate it away" line of reasoning. Therapy exists but is not taken very seriously, and the most important thing of all - listening to somebody's story - is ignored completely.

It's very rare to find anybody in these mental hospitals who isn't on medication, even those who are there through no fault or issue of their own (eg. because of problems with their parents). The only reason I didn't end up taking medication there, was because I categorically refused it.

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#178

Post by joepie91_ » Sun, Feb 28, 2016, 9:34 AM UTC

dghughes wrote: post #84

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 consis…

I think it depends on how you define 'consistent'. A schedule where I go to sleep at the same time every day doesn't work for me and never has - it's precisely that which turns me into a walking zombie, as I've been for most of my time in high school.

Instead, I generally just go to sleep when I'm tired and wake up naturally when I'm done sleeping. This automatically falls into a pattern where my bedtime shifts forward by 1-2 hours a day, in a cycle. Whenever I can follow that pattern, I sleep and perform extremely well.

Different people still do appear to have different optimal sleeping patterns.

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#179

Post by joepie91_ » Sun, Feb 28, 2016, 9:41 AM UTC

throwaway172648 wrote: post #51

Im very happy to see this on the top of hn. I had a very similar experience but do not talk about it at all because the stigma is so strong. A major problem with the conversation in mental health is that having thoughtful or well formed opinions about the subject can incriminate you. I have a tremendous respect for anyone that is willing to talk openly about it. I am no that brave.

Serious question: have you considered publishing it anonymously?

If you've run into issues with that idea (like being concerned about unintentionally revealing hints about your identity, or how/where to publish it, etc.), I'd happily try and help out - my e-mail is admin@cryto.net.

Re: MentalHealthError: an exception occurred

#180

Post by DanBC » Sun, Feb 28, 2016, 9:42 AM UTC

alexashka wrote: post #159

kenneth_reitz wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This post mentions nothing of any substances. And yes, it could happen to anyone. My solipsist philosophical interests were intellectually sound, and far from non-sense. Mania, however, started to slowly but drastically modify my mental model of the world, and a snowball effect occurred.

You're right, there was no direct mention of substances. Can you with complete honesty say you did not engage in any substance use? The fact that you went with 'post did not mention' as opposed to 'I did not use substances' says it all doesn't it? Furthermore: "Around the same time, right after having gone to my first Kundalini Yoga class, I ended up meeting (and falling in love with) a mesmerizing crazy chick that g…

> don't mean to be on the offensive

You might want to try a bit harder.

Mental illness is not the result of dabbling in tarot or crystals. The causalilty probably runs the other way. There's not much correlation between tarot and mental illness.