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Comment by abgr-y | Hacker News Reader

I don't believe drugs whether prescribed or recreational can cure Mental disorders. yes they may alleviate the symptoms but they don't really work on the root cause which are basically ones mental tendencies, thought patterns or habits acquired over a period of time. here[0] is a different take on what depression is and gives a high level road map to come out of it, for more details this [1] is a book by the same author and for testing out if those methods work here is an app [2] again from the same monk.

p.s i have followed all three & i must say the quality of life has improved considerably

[0] https://os.me/depression-definition-cause-and-cure/ [1] https://www.amazon.in/When-All-Not-Well-Perspective-ebook/dp... [2] https://www.blacklotus.app/

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> I don't believe...

The good news is that studies such as this produce empirical, scientific evidence that supercedes anecdotes and individuals' belief patterns -- whether they're negative or skeptical (as yours) or hyper-positive cure-alls (eg from psychonauts)

Before science can appreciate the mental/causal causes of the depression and related diseases, it needs to find an evidence for and establishes the separation of mind from physical brain. Hopefully an intensive exploration of consciousness and intelligence will lead to some empirical conclusions.

But that’s exactly what psychedelics do, they rewire the brain. In neuroscience terms they disrupt the default mode network. In other words they open your mind up and allow it to break free of the tendencies, thought patterns and habits.

This is why they’re more akin to therapy than recreational drugs

Not all depression is attributable to environmental factors. If it is, the environmental factors is what a psychologist looks at with you. If it's not, you use some sort of medication to solve it. Reducing every kind of thing that you can get medication for that isn't entirely physical to a "mental disorder" is both dismissive and kind of insulting, which really doesn't help the point you're trying to make here.

Which appears to be that some random book has all the answers that somehow nobody else has really figured out. Oh, and there's an app!

Perhaps, but it is a lot easier to take long term action on your mental tendencies if you don't feel the blackness closing in every second.

We have a long century ahead of us to pull out of the mental health slump we are seeing (similar perhaps to the physical health slumps following industrialisation). We will need many tools in the kit.

Interesting perspective that large societal shifts account for shifts in the type of health outcomes.

One problem I see is that if people are too tied to their subjective well-being, then it is a frame of mind that can never be satisfied.

Friend was treated for "mental disorder". She was fine, except food allergy. If she followed this "bro science", she would be dependent on God knows what, with real mental problems.

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