4 ms·

This is the problem with "mental health" as a metaphor from bodily health. It's better than simply moralizing about addiction, sure, but leaves people with very

This is the problem with "mental health" as a metaphor from bodily health. It's better than simply moralizing about addiction, sure, but leaves people with very muddled thinking about the topic through taking the metaphor too literally. So much of these debates seem like there's a confusion of causes and symptoms. Childhood trauma is as predictive of addiction in adulthood as obesity is of heart disease. Loneliess and personal trauma are just enormously corrosive to a person's mental well-being, but it seems like the mental health frame rarely attempts to deal with problems like that.

concinds 10y ago
> it seems like the mental health frame rarely attempts to deal with problems like that. I think viewing mental health as similar to physical health is useful (since, in mental as in physical health, lack of symptoms does not indicate good health). It's that we have no clue how to bring people from low psychological health to solid psychological health. For physical health, you need a good diet, exercise, and sleep. What do you need for mental health? Meditation? Even then, doctors have never told patients to "meditate more", whereas they do tell obese patients to eat less and exercise more. I know meditation isn't effective at solving pathologies, but it's telling that we as a culture have no clue what causes and promotes pathology in the first place.
- crawfordcomeaux 10y ago
  For the past two weeks, I've starting developing/discovering a testable theory for how the mind/body/brain work together by viewing the brain as a neural-network-based machine that can rewire itself, the mind as a VM that runs programs in a well-typed functional language w/effects & coeffects. All 3 are inputs/outputs and the body is the only one able to carry out effects on the external environment. I've been able to dramatically reduce my daily anxiety without medication in a matter of minutes. I'm finding the model directly implies things we already know, such as why first impressions are important & how to overcome bad ones, as well as aspects of how bad first impressions are related to trauma in some ways. Using the model, I came up with a technique to drastically improve the rigid action in my left pinky for 30 mins to the point that it moved almost as smoothly as my right pinky. 10 years of playing piano and/or sax when growing up didn't help it at all, but 2-3 mins of a simple exercise practically cured the issue. I'm currently looking for experts to help me flesh out what I believe to be a new approach to mental health that's more effective & can more easily be specifically tuned for individual problems. What I need are category/type theorists to help w/the mathematical model, neuroscientists for the brain stuff, and anyone else willing to explore/play with the ideas. I could also use help figuring out a way to develop an open source science experiment that anyone can participate in & that produces scientifically legit data.
  - concinds 10y ago
    My current model of the psyche is based on Internal Family Systems theory[0], which seems much more accurate, useful and potentially more effective than current models. I'd be very interested in playing with your ideas and seeing how the two models can improve each other. [0]: https://www.selfleadership.org/outline-of-the-Internal-family-systems-model.html https://www.selfleadership.org/outline-of-the-Internal-famil...
    - crawfordcomeaux 10y ago
      I'm familiar with the basic concepts of IFS & think they line up really well with the foundations of my model. I've only read the first few sections of your link, but will read the rest today. Would you be willing to call me at 206-432-7671? I'm not great w/email right now, but if you'd rather that, it's crawford.comeaux@gmail.com.

concinds 10y ago

> it seems like the mental health frame rarely attempts to deal with problems like that. I think viewing mental health as similar to physical health is useful (since, in mental as in physical health, lack of symptoms does not indicate good health). It's that we have no clue how to bring people from low psychological health to solid psychological health. For physical health, you need a good diet, exercise, and sleep. What do you need for mental health? Meditation? Even then, doctors have never told patients to "meditate more", whereas they do tell obese patients to eat less and exercise more. I know meditation isn't effective at solving pathologies, but it's telling that we as a culture have no clue what causes and promotes pathology in the first place.

crawfordcomeaux 10y ago
For the past two weeks, I've starting developing/discovering a testable theory for how the mind/body/brain work together by viewing the brain as a neural-network-based machine that can rewire itself, the mind as a VM that runs programs in a well-typed functional language w/effects & coeffects. All 3 are inputs/outputs and the body is the only one able to carry out effects on the external environment. I've been able to dramatically reduce my daily anxiety without medication in a matter of minutes. I'm finding the model directly implies things we already know, such as why first impressions are important & how to overcome bad ones, as well as aspects of how bad first impressions are related to trauma in some ways. Using the model, I came up with a technique to drastically improve the rigid action in my left pinky for 30 mins to the point that it moved almost as smoothly as my right pinky. 10 years of playing piano and/or sax when growing up didn't help it at all, but 2-3 mins of a simple exercise practically cured the issue. I'm currently looking for experts to help me flesh out what I believe to be a new approach to mental health that's more effective & can more easily be specifically tuned for individual problems. What I need are category/type theorists to help w/the mathematical model, neuroscientists for the brain stuff, and anyone else willing to explore/play with the ideas. I could also use help figuring out a way to develop an open source science experiment that anyone can participate in & that produces scientifically legit data.
- concinds 10y ago
  My current model of the psyche is based on Internal Family Systems theory[0], which seems much more accurate, useful and potentially more effective than current models. I'd be very interested in playing with your ideas and seeing how the two models can improve each other. [0]: https://www.selfleadership.org/outline-of-the-Internal-family-systems-model.html https://www.selfleadership.org/outline-of-the-Internal-famil...
  - crawfordcomeaux 10y ago
    I'm familiar with the basic concepts of IFS & think they line up really well with the foundations of my model. I've only read the first few sections of your link, but will read the rest today. Would you be willing to call me at 206-432-7671? I'm not great w/email right now, but if you'd rather that, it's crawford.comeaux@gmail.com.