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But Melissa in the article clearly isn’t debilitated. She functions better than 99.9% of all the people out there. In fact her depression, may actually contribu

But Melissa in the article clearly isn’t debilitated. She functions better than 99.9% of all the people out there. In fact her depression, may actually contribute to what makes her so successful.

nr2x 6y ago
From a standpoint of value in a capitalist society she’s not debilitated if she makes money. From a standpoint of living a life where one is fulfilled and has peace of mind, money isn’t the relevant metric.
- staticman2 6y ago
  I don't think fulfillment and peace of mind are psychiatric diagnostic criteria.
- RcouF1uZ4gsC 6y ago
  It is not just value in a capitalist society. Form the article, it seems she has a happy relationship with her husband and 6 children. She is able to do something that she truly loves and is good it (designing toys, which the article mentions gives her euphoria). She has brought joy to thousands ( if not millions) of children through her work. Herb toys are actually beneficial to children in terms of stimulating their imagination and creativity unlike a lot of other things that are marketed to children. Even apart from the money, she has had a good life. And it seems, from the article, that she has embraced the way she is (both the good and the bad) and has found peace with it.
  - watwut 6y ago
    She called it dark side. And by the sound of it, she would happily do without dark side. Which is why she finally went to therapy. > She battled eating disorders, exercise addiction, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, a nagging sense of worthlessness, doubts that life had any meaning or purpose, and the routine emergence of suicidal thoughts. [...] By junior high she’d learned how to starve herself. [...] suffered a mental breakdown and seriously considered suicide That happy marriage and kids were heavily affected too. Yes she loved them. Read this: > It was imperative for them to be the very best athletes, brightest students and most popular of their peer group to ensure my sense of wholeness,” she writes, rather than — as she puts it — “choosing to be average.” She was not happy nor in peace with herself. She was deeply unhappy, using activity and perfectionism to prevent mental descent into darkness.
obsequiosity 6y ago
Here's a radical idea: except for drugs with a high abuse-liability, all psychoactive medications could be allowed "behind the counter" like pseudoephedrine. The psychiatrist's role becomes strictly advisory (coupled with medical malpractice waivers), and the patient is free to experiment with whatever substance they like so as to find their best fit. People already "self-medicate" for focus and arousal with xanthines in coffee and chocolate, and for anxiety with anxiolytics like gabanergic ethanol in alcohol and partial serotonin agonist cannabidiol in cannabis. This is just opening the floodgates a bit more for those who aren't afraid to learn about psychopharmacology and work closely with their doctor in managing their mood and attention. If this sounds crazy or spurious, then you'll probably agree that fixing abnormal psychology is actually as complicated as debugging the world's most complex software system.

But Melissa in the article clearly isn’t debilitated. She functions better than 99.9% of all the people out there. In fact her depression, may actually contribute to what makes her so successful.

nr2x 6y ago

From a standpoint of value in a capitalist society she’s not debilitated if she makes money. From a standpoint of living a life where one is fulfilled and has peace of mind, money isn’t the relevant metric.

staticman2 6y ago
I don't think fulfillment and peace of mind are psychiatric diagnostic criteria.
RcouF1uZ4gsC 6y ago
It is not just value in a capitalist society. Form the article, it seems she has a happy relationship with her husband and 6 children. She is able to do something that she truly loves and is good it (designing toys, which the article mentions gives her euphoria). She has brought joy to thousands ( if not millions) of children through her work. Herb toys are actually beneficial to children in terms of stimulating their imagination and creativity unlike a lot of other things that are marketed to children. Even apart from the money, she has had a good life. And it seems, from the article, that she has embraced the way she is (both the good and the bad) and has found peace with it.
- watwut 6y ago
  She called it dark side. And by the sound of it, she would happily do without dark side. Which is why she finally went to therapy. > She battled eating disorders, exercise addiction, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, a nagging sense of worthlessness, doubts that life had any meaning or purpose, and the routine emergence of suicidal thoughts. [...] By junior high she’d learned how to starve herself. [...] suffered a mental breakdown and seriously considered suicide That happy marriage and kids were heavily affected too. Yes she loved them. Read this: > It was imperative for them to be the very best athletes, brightest students and most popular of their peer group to ensure my sense of wholeness,” she writes, rather than — as she puts it — “choosing to be average.” She was not happy nor in peace with herself. She was deeply unhappy, using activity and perfectionism to prevent mental descent into darkness.

obsequiosity 6y ago

Here's a radical idea: except for drugs with a high abuse-liability, all psychoactive medications could be allowed "behind the counter" like pseudoephedrine. The psychiatrist's role becomes strictly advisory (coupled with medical malpractice waivers), and the patient is free to experiment with whatever substance they like so as to find their best fit. People already "self-medicate" for focus and arousal with xanthines in coffee and chocolate, and for anxiety with anxiolytics like gabanergic ethanol in alcohol and partial serotonin agonist cannabidiol in cannabis. This is just opening the floodgates a bit more for those who aren't afraid to learn about psychopharmacology and work closely with their doctor in managing their mood and attention. If this sounds crazy or spurious, then you'll probably agree that fixing abnormal psychology is actually as complicated as debugging the world's most complex software system.