Posted by Cam W. on June 11, 2002, at 11:12:01
In reply to In Defense of Science » omega man, posted by JonW on June 10, 2002, at 13:32:57
I am with Jon on this one (well except maybe the gun part). Show me proof, not testimonals. Hell, pay anyone enough money (or give them enough free product) and they will say anything.
There are far too many charlatans, snake oil salesmen, and out-and-out con artists who refuse to actually work for a living and would rather scam people and steal their money; then laugh all the way to the bank.
Conventional medicine isn't perfect, but it is tested and those tests are replicable by others. The very nature of the course of most mental disorders are punctuated by periods of alternating sickness and remission (esp. something like bipolar disorder). Remissions are mostly unpredictable and can be brought on by a change in attitude.
So, my question to everyone is, is it the snake oil (eg pig vitamins, relative low doses of omega-3s, laying of hands, spiritual experience, etc.) that has "cured" the consumer; or is it an improved mental set (ie. a subconscious unconditional belief in these untested treatments) causing the remission?
I guess that time will tell (ie when belief in the product starts to flag - one runs out of money - and a relapse occurs).
It is the proliferation and sale of these unproven therapies, and the gullibility of some people to embrace any hope, grasp at any straw, in order to acheive "normality" (whatever the hell that is) that has resulted in my loss in faith in "humanity".
I am going to "stay in my own movie". Only I can cause my own happiness; be it during a depressive episode or during remission. I have found a combination of "proven" medication which works for me, at this point in my life. These medications are not perfect, but they have been tested and their effects are predictable. When I work with them (as opposed to just taking them and hoping that they make me "normal") I find that I can live quite comfortably in this bizarre world.
- Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:109267
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020609/msgs/109470.html