Truth comes in many flavors,
sometimes hidden in myths
yet often blurted out
and mostly discredited.
However, lies come
in two flavors:
blatant and white.
White lies are in between
blatant lies and Truth
but are not myths
but expedient means
Showing posts with label myths. Show all posts
Showing posts with label myths. Show all posts
20071006
Depression Is A Choice
MYTH: Depression is a medical illness caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
FACT: The cause of depression is not known. Its symptoms are associated with low serotonin levels in the brain but there is no proof that low serotonin causes depression.
MYTH: The chemical balance in the brain cannot be changed by thinking or behavior.
FACT: Research studies at the UCLA School of Medicine show that cognitive-behavioral therapy alone actually causes chemical changes in the brain.
MYTH: The diagnosis and treatment of depression is based upon the neurobiological and psychological data of the patient.
FACT: The diagnosis and treatment of depression is typically based on the presence or absence of self-reported symptoms alone.
MYTH: Manic depression is a genetic disease
FACT: According to Paul R. McHugh, psychiatrist-in-chief of Johns Hopkins University Hospital, manic depression is a presumed disease. The presumption, he declares, "carries the implication that some as-yet-undemonstrated pathological mechanisms and etiological agencies will emerge to explain the stereotyped set of symptoms."
MYTH: Doctors cannot prescribe medicine to cure a theory
FACT: Doctors can prescribe medicine for a theory if they call it a disease, such as depression, even without any corroborating physiological proof that such a disease actually exists. They only have to prove, in blind studies, that the medicine makes people self-report feeling a little better than those who took placebos. Placebos also have a significant mood-elevating effect.
MYTH: Depression is not learned
FACT: A research study done of college roommates shows that among roommates of the same sex, depression (but not anxiety) was contagious.
MYTH: Anti-depressants are the most effective cure for depression.
FACT: In a 1999 study at Duke University scientists found that three 30-minute workouts each week brought relief equal to drug treatment. A Psychometric Medicine study found that 40% of patients relying on drugs were stricken with depression again within 6 months versus only 8 % who exercised. Dr. Robin B. Jarrett in a 1999 landmark study at the University of Texas found cognitive psychotherapy as effective as MAO inhibitors for major depressive disorder with affective features.
MYTH: Mental disorders are diagnosed using the same scientific criteria as general medicine.
FACT: General medicine abandoned appearance-based classifications a century ago as being unreliable-symptoms must be validated by specific physiological pathologies. Mental disorders however are diagnosed by the appearance of symptoms alone, even self-reported symptoms. Committees of psychologists and psychiatrists draw up lists of symptoms and give the lists illness names. Then they vote these various illnesses "in" or "out" of their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders according to the prevailing prejudices of the day.
*** Regular exercise, cognitive psychotherapy, and the simple act of adding flaxseed oil and calcium and magnesium pills to your diet will improve depression more cheaply than antidepressants. Indeed, the natural antidepressants of endorphins (the feel-good brain chemicals) are safe and effective.
FACT: The cause of depression is not known. Its symptoms are associated with low serotonin levels in the brain but there is no proof that low serotonin causes depression.
MYTH: The chemical balance in the brain cannot be changed by thinking or behavior.
FACT: Research studies at the UCLA School of Medicine show that cognitive-behavioral therapy alone actually causes chemical changes in the brain.
MYTH: The diagnosis and treatment of depression is based upon the neurobiological and psychological data of the patient.
FACT: The diagnosis and treatment of depression is typically based on the presence or absence of self-reported symptoms alone.
MYTH: Manic depression is a genetic disease
FACT: According to Paul R. McHugh, psychiatrist-in-chief of Johns Hopkins University Hospital, manic depression is a presumed disease. The presumption, he declares, "carries the implication that some as-yet-undemonstrated pathological mechanisms and etiological agencies will emerge to explain the stereotyped set of symptoms."
MYTH: Doctors cannot prescribe medicine to cure a theory
FACT: Doctors can prescribe medicine for a theory if they call it a disease, such as depression, even without any corroborating physiological proof that such a disease actually exists. They only have to prove, in blind studies, that the medicine makes people self-report feeling a little better than those who took placebos. Placebos also have a significant mood-elevating effect.
MYTH: Depression is not learned
FACT: A research study done of college roommates shows that among roommates of the same sex, depression (but not anxiety) was contagious.
MYTH: Anti-depressants are the most effective cure for depression.
FACT: In a 1999 study at Duke University scientists found that three 30-minute workouts each week brought relief equal to drug treatment. A Psychometric Medicine study found that 40% of patients relying on drugs were stricken with depression again within 6 months versus only 8 % who exercised. Dr. Robin B. Jarrett in a 1999 landmark study at the University of Texas found cognitive psychotherapy as effective as MAO inhibitors for major depressive disorder with affective features.
MYTH: Mental disorders are diagnosed using the same scientific criteria as general medicine.
FACT: General medicine abandoned appearance-based classifications a century ago as being unreliable-symptoms must be validated by specific physiological pathologies. Mental disorders however are diagnosed by the appearance of symptoms alone, even self-reported symptoms. Committees of psychologists and psychiatrists draw up lists of symptoms and give the lists illness names. Then they vote these various illnesses "in" or "out" of their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders according to the prevailing prejudices of the day.
*** Regular exercise, cognitive psychotherapy, and the simple act of adding flaxseed oil and calcium and magnesium pills to your diet will improve depression more cheaply than antidepressants. Indeed, the natural antidepressants of endorphins (the feel-good brain chemicals) are safe and effective.
20050525
Why Mental Illness Is feared (satire)
British Columbia Schizophrenia Society: "'Why Do People Find Mental Illness So Unacceptable?'
Fear of Danger
Many people are afraid that people who have a mental illness are dangerous, unpredictable, and aggressive. In reality, people with a mental illness are usually anxious, fearful of others, and passive. The myth of danger is largely based on inaccurate and outdated cultural myths that always portrayed people with mental illness as violent.
Fear of Criminal Intentions
People with psychiatric disorders are no more likely to commit crimes than the general population. However, if mental illness is left untreated and allowed to become progressively more severe, people who are acutely ill may inadvertently end up in jail. Another common confusion has to do with the nature of involuntary hospitalization, which is sometimes necessary to treat and safeguard someone who is very ill. Hospitalization for medical treatment to regain one's health should never be falsely equated with incarceration in the criminal justice system.
Fear of the Unknown
People often fear what they do not understand. And when they don't understand, they often make wild guesses. Some cultures believe mental illness is the work of evil spirits, while others believe it is caused by bad blood, poisons, or lack of moral integrity. As people learn more about the real nature of mental illness, many of these harmful beliefs fade.
Aversion to Illness
After hundreds of years, 'mental illness' has finally been identified as a disease just like epilepsy, Parkinsonism, or diabetes. But this change from the realm of the witch doctor to the medical doctor doesn't erase all negative feeling -- only lessens it somewhat. The public still has a very strong aversion to hospitals, disease, and doctors.
Better health education programs can help do away with old myths and misunderstandings.
Giving patients the necessary supports to recover in their own communities will also help overcome the general prejudice against all people with mental illness."
As well, most mentally ill people tend to be less likely to lie than sane people, who might be sociopathic in a good way. Though I will point out that sociopathy is not a mental illness nor is criminal psychopathy. It is a legal term as is in/sanity.
Fear of Danger
Many people are afraid that people who have a mental illness are dangerous, unpredictable, and aggressive. In reality, people with a mental illness are usually anxious, fearful of others, and passive. The myth of danger is largely based on inaccurate and outdated cultural myths that always portrayed people with mental illness as violent.
Fear of Criminal Intentions
People with psychiatric disorders are no more likely to commit crimes than the general population. However, if mental illness is left untreated and allowed to become progressively more severe, people who are acutely ill may inadvertently end up in jail. Another common confusion has to do with the nature of involuntary hospitalization, which is sometimes necessary to treat and safeguard someone who is very ill. Hospitalization for medical treatment to regain one's health should never be falsely equated with incarceration in the criminal justice system.
Fear of the Unknown
People often fear what they do not understand. And when they don't understand, they often make wild guesses. Some cultures believe mental illness is the work of evil spirits, while others believe it is caused by bad blood, poisons, or lack of moral integrity. As people learn more about the real nature of mental illness, many of these harmful beliefs fade.
Aversion to Illness
After hundreds of years, 'mental illness' has finally been identified as a disease just like epilepsy, Parkinsonism, or diabetes. But this change from the realm of the witch doctor to the medical doctor doesn't erase all negative feeling -- only lessens it somewhat. The public still has a very strong aversion to hospitals, disease, and doctors.
Better health education programs can help do away with old myths and misunderstandings.
Giving patients the necessary supports to recover in their own communities will also help overcome the general prejudice against all people with mental illness."
As well, most mentally ill people tend to be less likely to lie than sane people, who might be sociopathic in a good way. Though I will point out that sociopathy is not a mental illness nor is criminal psychopathy. It is a legal term as is in/sanity.
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