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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jerrympls on May 9, 2002, at 18:20:33
This will probably need to take two Oprah shows and a CNN Special Report to answer and it's probably too symplified of a question to be asking but the hub-ub (sp?) around how placebos could "light up" our depressed brains - or should I say how WE could light up our brains while taking placebos. So - here goes:
First: If we go by the monoamine theory of depression that basically means our brains are not producing enough neurotransmitters and are in an imbalance. Basically.
So, if I'm in bed, severely depressed and my brain is in this "rhythm" of imbalance - of producing the "wrong" amount of neurotransmitter A and B and C and along comes Dr. Sarah Tonin and decides to give me a sugar pill - while I think it's Prozac and that it's supposed to help me get better.
Then, over the next couple weeks I begin to feel better - I've still beeon on my couch depressed, but slowly been feeling better and if you were to look at my brain up close, you'd see my brain was producing more A B and C neurotransmitters and there was more of a balance.
--I hadn't changed my diet
--I hadn't exercised any
--I hadn't taken any supplements
--I hadn't done any illicit drugsSO--WHERE did my BRAIN get the RESOURCES - SUPPLY - ENERGY - MOLECULES - ETC to make MORE NEUROTRANSMITTERS??? Not to avoid the more squimishly obvious how the hell did a sugar pill alleviate my depression in the first place -question- but that was the basis of that whole article the other morning and that's not what I'm asking. I'm asking how does the brain make something from nothing with no outside support?
How 'bout them apples? And to clarify - the above is hypothetical--I was NOT on my couch and was NOT visit by Dr. Sarah Tonin and did NOT have my depression cured by a sugar pill.
heheheThanks
Jerry
Posted by Uppendown on May 10, 2002, at 21:58:47
In reply to From nothing to something? RE:Placebo's etc, posted by Jerrympls on May 9, 2002, at 18:20:33
Hi Jerry,
LOLOL! Love your post ! ;O)
Well... I think it is important to remember that the "chemical imbalance" theory is just that.. a theory that has yet to be conclusively proven. You'll see that even in those TV commercials for Zoloft, etc, they carefully say "might be caused by a chemical imbalance"... even though they follow it up with that neat animation of those neurotransmitters passing back and forth to the receptors.. LOL!
Personally, when it comes to biological systems like that which we concern ourselves with here, I'm not surprised at much ! Look at the effects/changes that occur within our bodies and brains when the "Flight or Fight" response kicks in ! We generate all kinds of amazing chemical changes that have very dramatic and profound effects upon us ! Need I go on ??
Our bodies/brains react to our perceptions of the world we interact with many times each day. Who pretends to understand, much less *know* the complexities of those multiple reaction/actions in each individual? Past experiences that form the basis for "reaction" , as in "Fight or Flight", or an emotionally or mentally abusive past that destroyed all sense of self, or self esteem, just as a few examples. Or the "belief structures" that influence the processing of those experiences, and thus the reactions... should they be frightened, worried, alarmed, have hope, overwhelmed, stressed out... etc, etc, etc... again, for example...
It isn't just as simple as changing our chemistry... even if the meds DO work... Our lives are WAY more complex than that... as are our reactions to them !
Best Wishes,Uppendown
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