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From Vexing Uncertainty to Intellectual Humility

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Re: From Vexing Uncertainty to Intellectual Humility

#11

Post by bombela »

0xEF wrote: post #10
drooby wrote: post #4

This resonates deeply with me. Though I don't have schizophrenia, I had social anxiety and general anxiety for many years. One example of how this mindset worked for me is probably best demonstrated by my experience with sleep paralysis. My anxiety kept me tossing and turning in bed, and I would eventually fall unconscious due to exhaustion - triggering sleep paralysis. I of course developed fear of sleep paralysis a…

I had a similar experience with sleep paralysis, although may have went a few steps further. Not only did I manage to replace my fear with curiosity about it and compile a file folder of info about sleep paralysis and hypnogogic states (all from that blessed early 2000's Internet and an old inkjet, mind you), but I went so far as to start seeking ways to induce it, everything from psychotropic cocktails to just tryin…

I experience sleep paralysis few times per year (it used to be a weekly occurence when I was younger).

Every single time, I am overwhelmed by an intense panic. I am trying to yell but nothing comes out, I feel as if I am breathing rapidly, even though I can often hear my own calm breathing. I can never seem to realize that it is merely sleep paralysis until I finally wakeup, and everything is just fine.

Re: From Vexing Uncertainty to Intellectual Humility

#12

Post by 0xEF »

bombela wrote: post #11
0xEF wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had a similar experience with sleep paralysis, although may have went a few steps further. Not only did I manage to replace my fear with curiosity about it and compile a file folder of info about sleep paralysis and hypnogogic states (all from that blessed early 2000's Internet and an old inkjet, mind you), but I went so far as to start seeking ways to induce it, everything from psychotropic cocktails to just tryin…

I experience sleep paralysis few times per year (it used to be a weekly occurence when I was younger). Every single time, I am overwhelmed by an intense panic. I am trying to yell but nothing comes out, I feel as if I am breathing rapidly, even though I can often hear my own calm breathing. I can never seem to realize that it is merely sleep paralysis until I finally wakeup, and everything is just fine.

Yep, that's the common reaction. Do you also feel like there is a presence in the room with you? Many experience that as well, or see shadow creature(s). This is likely what caused early documenters of the phenomenon to believe that a demon or succubus wax visiting (being watch/not alone) sitting on their chest (restricted breathing/unable to cry out) and holding them down (unable to move).

Really, it's just that you've become partially aware of the transition from wakefulness to sleep, during which the body is more or less "offline" for a few moments while the brain shifts gears.

Re: From Vexing Uncertainty to Intellectual Humility

#14

Post by bombela »

0xEF wrote: post #12
bombela wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I experience sleep paralysis few times per year (it used to be a weekly occurence when I was younger). Every single time, I am overwhelmed by an intense panic. I am trying to yell but nothing comes out, I feel as if I am breathing rapidly, even though I can often hear my own calm breathing. I can never seem to realize that it is merely sleep paralysis until I finally wakeup, and everything is just fine.

Yep, that's the common reaction. Do you also feel like there is a presence in the room with you? Many experience that as well, or see shadow creature(s). This is likely what caused early documenters of the phenomenon to believe that a demon or succubus wax visiting (being watch/not alone) sitting on their chest (restricted breathing/unable to cry out) and holding them down (unable to move). Really, it's just that you…

No feeling of presence at all. Only fear, lost in-between worlds. Probably a mix of real world input and whatever I was dreaming.

For example I might somehow open my eyes a bit and see a faint superposition of the room atop of my current dream. But I still cannot make sense of it and I am in total panic.

Sound also doesn't make much sense, the sound of rain feels totally unknown and unrecognizable until I wakeup.

I just wish I could recognize what is happening and just wait calmy until the body finally wakes up.

Re: From Vexing Uncertainty to Intellectual Humility

#15

Post by nabla9 »

Loic wrote: post #7
kromem wrote: post #5

Around five years ago when trying to adjust medications for a chronic condition I dropped CBD from the cannabis I was using and was using a strong dose of THC only for a few weeks every night. Which threw me into a schizo affective episode. It was really crazy, in all senses of the word. Coming out of it, I learned a number of things (including the research around the surprising effectiveness of CBD at not only mitig…

I am happy for you that you were able to go out of the THC induced schizophrenia. Many people do not.

"THC induced schizophrenia" you can't get out is just schizophrenia.

People who have the predisposition for schizophrenia often get their first psychotic episode from things like drugs, stressful event, exams, changing jobs, temporary lack of sleep, pregnancy and the time around delivery are strong triggers.

THC induced pycosis also happens.

Re: From Vexing Uncertainty to Intellectual Humility

#16

Post by giraffe_lady »

ITB wrote: post #2

It appears this person's high intelligence helped them cope with an otherwise very hard to treat condition.

> The most important part of my story is people. The reason that I am not in prison, homeless, or dead, is a few people who genuinely respect and care for me, and I them, not least through what some philosophers call “hermeneutical justice.” Without these people, there would be no “coping,” and the rest of what follows could never have happened.

Author explicitly attributes it to support network instead. Are you very confident they're wrong about this important aspect of their own life that they have obviously considered carefully?

Re: From Vexing Uncertainty to Intellectual Humility

#17

Post by Loic »

nabla9 wrote: post #15
Loic wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am happy for you that you were able to go out of the THC induced schizophrenia. Many people do not.

"THC induced schizophrenia" you can't get out is just schizophrenia. People who have the predisposition for schizophrenia often get their first psychotic episode from things like drugs, stressful event, exams, changing jobs, temporary lack of sleep, pregnancy and the time around delivery are strong triggers. THC induced pycosis also happens.

You are right, my comment was not explaining enough and you extended it nicely with your own comment, especially the second sentence.

Re: From Vexing Uncertainty to Intellectual Humility

#18

Post by temp0826 »

kromem wrote: post #8
Loic wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am happy for you that you were able to go out of the THC induced schizophrenia. Many people do not.

Well, there's a spectrum of different things. One is THC inducing actual schizophrenia. Less than that is a schizo affective episode. And less than that is something I've been increasingly suspecting is taking place as dispensaries move to THC only strains and breed out the CBD of just broadly disassociative thinking. I've noticed an increase in some wild conspiratorial thinking among people I know that regularly use…

I was thinking recently about the (seeming?) increase in anti-science/anti-expert/conspiratorial thinking and movements of recent years (covid, anti-vax, 5g, qanon etc etc etc) and the (increase in?) use and more widespread legalization/decrim efforts of cannabis. I wonder if any studies have been done or what that might look like.

Re: From Vexing Uncertainty to Intellectual Humility

#19

Post by 0xdeadbeefbabe »

kromem wrote: post #8
Loic wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am happy for you that you were able to go out of the THC induced schizophrenia. Many people do not.

Well, there's a spectrum of different things. One is THC inducing actual schizophrenia. Less than that is a schizo affective episode. And less than that is something I've been increasingly suspecting is taking place as dispensaries move to THC only strains and breed out the CBD of just broadly disassociative thinking. I've noticed an increase in some wild conspiratorial thinking among people I know that regularly use…

Doesn't sleep also count as a psychotic episode or does it only resemble it because you lose reality for a while?

Re: From Vexing Uncertainty to Intellectual Humility

#20

Post by mensetmanusman »

The mirror thing is fascinating:

Shortly after we brought my mother into our home to care for her (after she had a near death psychosis episode), I awoke one morning to discover that all of our mirrors were covered with cloth (because her schizophrenia voices told her to do that).

It finally made me appreciate all the conspiracy movies where a schizophrenic personality is concerned about some thing that ends up being true.

The unfiltered voices come up with some wild ideas...

Thankfully, the medication that suppresses internal voices is working effectively.

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