(no subject)

[kodalai]

Now working two jobs & summer class. Also have spanking new TV and PS2. These two facts are not financially related in any way.

Although I'm enjoying my summer class (in the way that I don't have to do any work for it because I already know the material) and like my professor, I was deeply skeptical at his overview of mental illnesses, particularly his insistance that all mental illnesses have chemical imbalance components and are treatable with modern pharmacology. Perhaps my previous studies in the more social side of psychology have left me biased, but to hear him talk, you'd think that major depression and schizophrenia were the only two insanities ever to afflict mankind.

What am I saying, catch-22. If your definition of mental illness includes only things diagnosable by PET and treatable by drugs, then you're only going to consider things like MDD and schizophrenia as mental illnesses.

Comments

[kracken.livejournal.com]

Considering that a lot of mine stems from childhood abuse, I'd have to say he's wacked.

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

Most of them -- even schizophrenia to an extent -- are partially or mostly environment-based, and the neurological component is either an effect or not measurably a factor.


That may be overstating the case. But still.

[kytyngurl2.livejournal.com]

That's a rather simplistic way of looking at it. ^_^;;

(Hope you enjoy the PS2 and the TV! It really does sound like your new place is shaping up nicely! :) )

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

It still kind of lacks furniture, but it's getting there!

[kytyngurl2.livejournal.com]

Well, there is always IKEA! *shot*

[aging-parents.livejournal.com]

Often, one of the steps in solving a problem is to make simplifying assumptions. 17th century physics made progress by separating "primary" and "secondary" characteristics: primary traits were those which could be measured, like distance, mass and velocity; secondary traits were those which could not, like color or taste. With what was left, they could write equations as laws of nature; the implication was that everything else was somehow not real. The upside was that the process remained open; and in the long run, they could figure out how to quantize secondary characteristics as well.
At the other end of the spectrum is something like economics. Simplifying assumptions include: "All human behavior is to the end of maximizing pleasure." "Humans act at all times rationally to achieving those ends." "Maximizing pleasure is measurable through tokens such as money and other signs of material wealth." Do this and you can derive a wonderful, logically consistent system. But like other closed logical systems (particularly Thomas Aquinas' fusion of Aristotle's physics and philosophy with Catholic theology), it leaves no room to be tested, and may in fact drift further and further from the reality it was simplified from.
Your prof has simplified from the reality of human mental illness for the needs of his own modeling; no harm in that, so long as he is kept clear of young, impressionable minds.

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

And I would hope that a class full of 2nd or 3rd year college students wouldn't count as young and impressionable... or at least not as guillible... but alas I think that is not to be.

aging parents

[momdotcom.livejournal.com]

I like your new user name and the picture of Arwen!
>>other aging parent

Re: aging parents

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

I keep showing that icon to my friends so they can all see the cuteness that is our dog. :)

your gundam wing fic spoils of war

[(Anonymous)]

i have read your fic and tracked this down as one of the only ways to contact you since i could not find an e-mail address. i really like the fic and would like to see how it ends. if you do have it finished could ya please send me the rest of the chapters. my e-mail address if seimeidragon@aol.com.

thanks a bunch

xendrex

Re: your gundam wing fic spoils of war

[kodalai.livejournal.com]

Hey,

I'm sorry to report bad news, but I have not written on that fic for several years now and as I've moved out of the Gundam Wing fandom since then, I doubt it will ever be finished.

Sorry to disappoint, and it raelly makes me glad to hear that you enjoyed it up till now!

Sincerely,
Mikkeneko