Schizophrenia is the price we pay for minds poised near the edge of a cliff

Post by HarHarVeryFunny » Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 12:58 PM UTC

no_wizard wrote: post #151

HarHarVeryFunny wrote: post #149

Genetics is messy - as I understand it most genes don't code for a single thing, so assuming evolution is "selecting for schizophrenia" that only implies that there is an evolutionary benefit to some of the things controlled by the same gene(s) that control schizophrenia, that outweighs the disadvantage of schizophrenia. Homosexuality is interesting from this perspective too - common enough that evolution has to be s…

I always wondered if it was natures check on overpopulation. I know that is controversial to say, but it seems most fitting on its face

Post by dialup_sounds » Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 1:03 PM UTC

andai wrote: post #146

suzzer99 wrote: post #9

I've lost one of my best friends to what I think is schizophrenia. We don't know because she's cut off all contact with friends and family and refuses to see a doctor. It's definitely psychosis. She thinks she's in some kind of Truman show that she calls "the game". Since none of her friends or family are willing to admit to it, then we must be in on it. We don't know her full family medical history because her dad w…

Cannabis is also a potent psychedelic, and its association with psychosis is well established. (Not to condemn psychedelics, I just think the pendulum has swung a bit too far in the "it's totally harmless" direction.) Could you elaborate on The Game? What did she say about this?

Post by lotyrin » Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 1:08 PM UTC

giantg2 wrote: post #144

suzzer99 wrote: post #9

I've lost one of my best friends to what I think is schizophrenia. We don't know because she's cut off all contact with friends and family and refuses to see a doctor. It's definitely psychosis. She thinks she's in some kind of Truman show that she calls "the game". Since none of her friends or family are willing to admit to it, then we must be in on it. We don't know her full family medical history because her dad w…

Of course there's a downside. It's a tale as old as time. Some new miracle cure comes on the scene and people promote it without relaying the risks. You see this with mushrooms, pot, etc going back to snake oil and silphium. I've never looked into it, but I would bet that there are no medications that exist that don't have some sort of side effect or increase in risk of some negative outcome. So if someone is pushing…

Post by Loughla » Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 1:18 PM UTC

jajko wrote: post #148

winrid wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia it's starting to seem like drugs that seem harmless like marijuana (specifically THC?) can definitely bring it out. At least, that's what seemed to happen to my mother and another friend.

One of my ex' father triggered a lifelong episode of schyzophrenia by excessive drinking during mandatory military service around age 18-19. So i'd say there are number of triggers

Post by rixed » Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 1:32 PM UTC

sandspar wrote: post #88

daft_pink wrote: post #53

After reading this article, I’m really curious how you would model all kinds of other reproduction reducing behaviors that have become popular in recent years and how they many generations it will take them to be squeezed out of our culture. Like say taking care of a pet instead of having a kid in Korea.

One plausible explanation is that birth and childhood have become much less dangerous. Before 1900, children with poor genes died; since 1900, children with poor genes survive and have children of their own.