Posted by alexandra_k on November 21, 2014, at 15:14:38 [reposted on February 15, 2015, at 21:14:47 | original URL]
so placebo is pretty effective. i mean, placebos are surprisingly helpful. much better than no treatment at all and as good, or nearly as good as a lot of treatments out there. and less side effects. i mean... i don't think you would have much trouble getting FDA approval for placebo...
anyway, i'm wondering whether placebos are effective if people are informed they are being given placebos. i mean, if you are all, like, 'hey! it is time for your placebo! aren't you glad you are on placebo with all the evidence about it's efficacy and relative safety?' i mean, it does have some pretty serious side-effects... but nothing that can't be treated by a different kind of placebo...
this is because i'm drinking decaf... and i think it is making me feel buzzy / anxious... which is why i'm drinking decaf instead of coffee. i KNOW i'm drinking decaf. that is why i'm drinking decaf. so it doesn't make me feel buzzy / anxious the way i've been feeling lately with drinking coffee...
sigh. should i drink water and pretend it is chamomile tea?
maybe it is like the heroin people who OD because their body has a preparatory response to their ritual... maybe the smell of coffee is enough... or the taste of coffee...
poster:alexandra_k
thread:1076696
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20150129/msgs/1076696.html