Quackery, Pseudoscience, and You.

Filed Under Various | Dec 8, MST 11:59 am

Quack Attack
Ben Goldacre is in the business of challenging quackery. In one recent post of his, he takes on the braingym movement. It’s a wonderful read, and I invite all of you to saunter on on over and digest what he has to say.

Mister Misery is a mental health website with a particular focus on depression, anxiety, and stress. We often cover conditions that tie into the preceding big three mental states — things like diabetes, heart disorders, anorexia, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and the likes. Though this site isn’t necessarily focused on debunking quackery, it’s important to cover the topic now and then.

A Gullible Species

Human beings are, as a rule, a gullible species. We gloss over scientific studies while placing a premium on testimonials, we place faith in products and therapies that have little proof to back them up, and we often believe nonsense despite a mountain of overwhelming evidence disproving our pet theories and causes.

We aim to provide a balanced view on this website. We offer no guarantees about anything covered on Mister Misery, and in some cases we’re fairly skeptical about some of the therapies, studies, and theories that we present to our readers. We write under the assumption that our readers take everything they read with a grain of salt, and that they always explore multiple arguments before deciding on whether they agree with whatever it is they’ve read on this site.

Controversial Treatments

People who are depressed are often in a tight spot, which leaves them open to predatory practices of quacks and charlatans. It’s important for them to be very careful with the treatments they take on. For example, personally, I’ve had excellent success with certain NLP exercises, but I’m very aware that those exercises have never been the subject of rigorous scientific study. As a whole, NLP has fared poorly under scientific scrutiny. Frankly, there’s a strong argument to be made against the quality and scope of the studies that have been done, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that there is still, as of yet, limited scientific evidence in favor of NLP as a form of therapy.

I think there’s very little harm in people trying certain NLP exercises on their own — in my case, it helped. However, I would strongly caution people against spending thousands of dollars on weekend NLP seminars. If, against their better judgment, they decided to take those seminars, I’d ask them to be very careful not to sign up with a snake-oil instructor. Some NLP teachers are trained psychologists with University backgrounds, but others are simply quacks preying on the weak for a quick buck.

I use NLP as an example of a controversial therapeutic treatment that we’ve covered on this blog. It’s a field that is full of quackery, though I do believe that buried under the bullshit, there’s some solid things it has to offer the world. However, there’s still plenty of bullshit to dig through before we find any gold. That requires a discerning mind that approaches new information from a variety of angles.

Practice Cautious Skepticism

We expect our readers to practice a certain cautious skepticism, even when they assume it’s unnecessary. We’d rather that they be safe then sorry. Reading a site like Goldacre’s is a step in the right direction.

A healthy skepticism is an excellent antidote to the gullible tendencies that are part and parcel of human nature. The more reluctant you are to buy into what you read, the more insistent you are on exhaustively researching the pros and cons of the therapeutic treatments you are considering, the less likely you are to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous snake oil peddlers.

Mentioned in this article: nlp, quackery, skepticism

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

Filed Under Media, Overcome Depression | Dec 4, MST 8:36 am

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy is one of the newest tools in the fight against depression. MBCT combines meditation and cognitive therapy to create an awesome, life enriching cocktail. How life enriching?

A recent study of 123 depressed patients shows that MBCT is just as effective as medication in preventing relapses in the depressed, and more effective in improving their quality of life.

The simple act of practicing a few mental exercises a week can radically alter the way people experience the world. MBCT shows us how potent our mental habits are. Change those habits, and you change your reality.

The great thing about MBCT is that it provides people with an easy, simple alternative for taking back control of their lives. I’m a strong supporter of psychotropic therapies, however I believe that they should only be turned to after having exhausted more natural alternatives.

If you’re interested in learning about the neuroscience of mindfulness meditation, and how the practice can be used to improve the lives of those suffering from anxiety and depression, I recommend watching this video from the Google Tech Talks series. In it, Philippe Godin, a scientist that heads the Clinically Applied Affective Neuroscience group over at Stanford University, discusses the research that’s been done on the subject.

Mentioned in this article: meditation, therapies

Personal Stories and Interviews, a round-up

Filed Under Personal Stories, Round-ups | Dec 1, MST 11:05 am

Unfortunately, suicide is a far too common occurence in our own society. In this story from the village of Lisbellaw, a man who lost his brother to suicide discusses how it’s affected his family.

Andrea Hammit tests out the Foresight institutes five-a-day mood boost plan. Her verdict? Small changes can have a big impact on the quality of your life.

Joe Donovan an ex-marine and computer programmer who has hit several rough patches in his life. Despite his complicated medical history and his bouts with depression, he still looks at the world through optimistic eyes.

The Dr. Jim Marshall Farms Foundation was born from the good doctor’s own experiences fighting depression and suicidal thoughts. He opened an 84 acre farm that is dedicated to helping people overcome their own fight with depression.

Andy McNab shares some devastating stories about soldiers with PTSD. Many of them committed suicide, some are in prison, all of them are coping with demons.

The talented musician Juliana Hatfield discusses her battle with anorexia and depression . She put it rather well — a heart that hurts is a heart that works.

Finally, Sharp Brains interviews Prof. Robert Emmons, otherwise known as Father Gratitude. Like his name suggests, he studies positive psychology. The work he’s done studying the practice of gratitude is astounding. This interview is worth reading, since if you practice the advice he gives, you’re almost guaranteed to change your life. Of all the exercises I’ve covered on this blog, his gratitude journal is the one that I’ve made a daily habit.

Mentioned in this article: animal therapy, anorexia, foundations, gratitude, homelessness, musicians, ptsd, scientists, suicide

The Power of Posture

Filed Under Various | Nov 17, MST 12:16 pm

Improving your posture can help improve your mental state. Though studies are few, there does seem to be a link between how you carry yourself physically and how you feel emotionally. If you spend your days hunched over, your shoulders pulled forward, and your head hanging down, you might want to consider improving your posture. It’s not a cure-all, but it can help change your frame of mind. At the very least, you’ll look better — which can pay social, physical, and financial dividends.

Look Skinnier, Taller

In one study, researchers found that women who stood up straight looked younger and more attractive then their slumping counterparts. Subjects in the study thought that a 125 pound model with good posture looked thinner then a 105 pound model with bad posture.

Meanwhile, men with poor posture can look taller and more confident simply by learning how to carry themselves properly. It’s no secret that taller men are more likely to be promoted, or that shorter police officers are more likely to meet with resistant suspects. People respect height, and walking tall is an easy way of adding an inch to your frame.

Use it or lose it

You might also want to keep the following in mind: men and women who fail to improve their posture are at risk of losing inches later in life. Good posture can help prevent you from growing shorter in your golden years.

How can you improve your posture? You’ve got a few options at your disposal. Yoga, pilates, stretching, or lifting weights will all do the trick. You might also want to consider meeting with an Alexander Technique practitioner, who can give you some one-on-one advice for getting your body back in order.

Posture is an essential, though sometimes neglected, aspect of our personal health. Better posture can lead to better health over all, so it’s important not to ignore it.

Mentioned in this article: look better, posture

Beating Seasonal Affective Disorder

Filed Under Overcome Depression | Nov 3, MST 12:23 pm

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, up to twenty percent of people suffer from seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, with about six percent of cases being severe. I’ll caution that the exact numbers are currently unknown, and that the numbers of cases for winter depression vary depending on how rigorous the study was and where the study was taken. Canadians, for example, are much more likely to be diagnosed with the condition than are Americans. What we know for certain is that SAD is a very real and common condition, and that it makes the winter season a miserable one for millions of people.

SAD Symptoms

Not everyone experiences SAD in the same way. Some symptoms are more pronounced in certain sufferers than they are in others. Personal genetics and environmental factors play a role in shaping how people experience seasonal affective disorder. With that out of the way, the following list of symptoms will give you an idea of some of the things SAD sufferers might experience: