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I'm going to try it but I can't imagine why it would work. After an accident two years ago I developed some tics and abnormal compulsive behaviour that make me

I'm going to try it but I can't imagine why it would work. After an accident two years ago I developed some tics and abnormal compulsive behaviour that make me feel like a real nutcase but none of the tricks I find online have done anything to help. I've tried inflicting light pain to myself when it happens as a sort of reverse Pavlov bell, I've tried deep rationalization: analyzing the feelings to their root as a way to take away the associated emotions, and lately I've been trying repeating the opposite of the way I feel as a way to try and cancel the thoughts. It is really hard retraining the brain it seems. It's given me some really interesting insights on trauma, though. It's hard to empathize with things you haven't experienced, I used to feel people were weak who were traumatized by life experiences that I felt were not all that bad compared to some of the things I and other people I know have been through. But it turns out it's not about the magnitude of the harm, it's more about the way your brain interprets it and the false causal patterns it forms from your experience.

rpastuszak 4y ago
> It is really hard retraining the brain it seems. Have you tried seeing a therapist? A good therapist works a bit like a coach (think: "sports coach", not "live coach" whatever the fuck that means). We're notoriously bad at spotting unproductive thought patterns, and having someone with an unbiased perspective and the right expertise really helps. It takes years, but so far it has been the most effective way of doing so, for me. Also, you can keep rationalising as much as you want, but your meat sponge is not a rational, logical machine. The average HN reader might make the mistake of believing otherwise (include me on this list). Your amygdala doesn't give a shit, however. Speaking from personal experience here, hope it didn't come across as patronising. I just noticed that many of the things you've said sound familiar.
- ad404b8a372f2b9 4y ago
  It'd probably be the healthy thing to do but I don't have the money, the time or the ability since my physical health hasn't recovered yet. Also I find the idea of talking about my feelings to a complete stranger unappealing. But anyway I'm not complaining, it's not too bad, I've solved the more debilitating aspects through personal work and the rest I can live with until I figure out a way to get rid of it. I didn't take it to be patronizing, I appreciate the advice.
feanaro 4y ago
I think techniques based on observation and acceptance might have a better chance of working than trying to forcefully extinguish or fight it.
- ad404b8a372f2b9 4y ago
  Bruteforce has worked for me in the past. But maybe you're right, I'm going to try this one and see how it goes.
mrcartmeneses 4y ago
PTSD? Have you considered MDMA, ketamine or Ayahuasca? Nitrous Oxide is also said to work on the same “glutamate pathway” and may also have some therapeutic effect. You’d need food safe stuff though like you find in whipped cream, not from a car’s nitrous bottle.
- ad404b8a372f2b9 4y ago
  No idea what it is, I never went to a mental health professional. I got Ketamine before being loaded into the ambulance and I felt pretty great for about 4 to 6 months after. But it's not easily available in my country outside of emergency situations. Hadn't heard of some of those other ones, maybe I'll them a try, cheers.
  - yata69420 4y ago
    If you're not aware, ketamine clinics are now trending in the US. The effects do seem to last about 4-6 months from what I've heard.
- meken 4y ago
  Just a disclaimer to consult your doctor about this stuff, or take a lot of precautions. This stuff can go really -really- bad.
davisoneee 4y ago
From reading this and similar articles to this, I think it's a psychological 'trick' to basically convince your brain that "this is being dealt with". It's basically very similar to mindfulness, but this is giving a specific structure of telling you to note your emotions with "just...".

rpastuszak 4y ago

> It is really hard retraining the brain it seems. Have you tried seeing a therapist? A good therapist works a bit like a coach (think: "sports coach", not "live coach" whatever the fuck that means). We're notoriously bad at spotting unproductive thought patterns, and having someone with an unbiased perspective and the right expertise really helps. It takes years, but so far it has been the most effective way of doing so, for me. Also, you can keep rationalising as much as you want, but your meat sponge is not a rational, logical machine. The average HN reader might make the mistake of believing otherwise (include me on this list). Your amygdala doesn't give a shit, however. Speaking from personal experience here, hope it didn't come across as patronising. I just noticed that many of the things you've said sound familiar.

ad404b8a372f2b9 4y ago
It'd probably be the healthy thing to do but I don't have the money, the time or the ability since my physical health hasn't recovered yet. Also I find the idea of talking about my feelings to a complete stranger unappealing. But anyway I'm not complaining, it's not too bad, I've solved the more debilitating aspects through personal work and the rest I can live with until I figure out a way to get rid of it. I didn't take it to be patronizing, I appreciate the advice.

feanaro 4y ago

I think techniques based on observation and acceptance might have a better chance of working than trying to forcefully extinguish or fight it.

ad404b8a372f2b9 4y ago
Bruteforce has worked for me in the past. But maybe you're right, I'm going to try this one and see how it goes.

mrcartmeneses 4y ago

PTSD? Have you considered MDMA, ketamine or Ayahuasca? Nitrous Oxide is also said to work on the same “glutamate pathway” and may also have some therapeutic effect. You’d need food safe stuff though like you find in whipped cream, not from a car’s nitrous bottle.

ad404b8a372f2b9 4y ago
No idea what it is, I never went to a mental health professional. I got Ketamine before being loaded into the ambulance and I felt pretty great for about 4 to 6 months after. But it's not easily available in my country outside of emergency situations. Hadn't heard of some of those other ones, maybe I'll them a try, cheers.
- yata69420 4y ago
  If you're not aware, ketamine clinics are now trending in the US. The effects do seem to last about 4-6 months from what I've heard.
meken 4y ago
Just a disclaimer to consult your doctor about this stuff, or take a lot of precautions. This stuff can go really -really- bad.

davisoneee 4y ago

From reading this and similar articles to this, I think it's a psychological 'trick' to basically convince your brain that "this is being dealt with". It's basically very similar to mindfulness, but this is giving a specific structure of telling you to note your emotions with "just...".