Relatable fictional characters

It's interesting that you should mention him. I was watching his lecture series on personality this week. Is the self-authoring programme really that effective? I saw it advertised and wondered if it were just a gimmick. What feedback have you seen?

Courtier wrote:Rehab seems like a great environment to make sure to keep some space for meditating. Why did you drop the practice?

Stopped taking anti-depressants and partially slipped into an old behavioural pattern, lost the groove and have been too apathetic/nihilistic to start up again. Just started on valdoxan again today, actually.

What's your take on depressive realism?

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 34eKN6XhCi
^in supplement to my above post

BagelsaurusChrist wrote:JBP turned me on to the Future Authoring Exercise https://www.selfauthoring.com/. The data is apparently overwhelming for this stuff. I think Reaper would benefit from it.

I'll check it out at least.

Courtier wrote:It's interesting that you should mention him. I was watching his lecture series on personality this week. Is the self-authoring programme really that effective? I saw it advertised and wondered if it were just a gimmick. What feedback have you seen?

I would intuitively imagine it is, and if my memory serves me right, they dropped the drop-out rate by about 30% (more pronounced in male populations) the times it was tested. It shouldn't take long either, around 90 minutes.

Courtier wrote:Most professional instances of Flow seem to stem from use of mathematics and logic in competitive or time constrained projects. It requires a dynamic environment with simple moves and clear objectives. Of some 400 professions studied, computer programmers, professional poker players and financial traders all described this state, being "wired in," "down the pipe," and the like.

Other places it's commonly found is in sports like tennis and in musical performance especially in jazz. I remember reading that martial artists also can experience this semi frequently.

I'm sure nearly any activity can induce flow but there seem to be ones that have a greater potential for it than others. Surgery is another example where it's been studied as being prominent

I program, participate in intense sports, play piano (albeit, not all that well), and create art that requires patience and focus. I never really thought about it like that, but it seems like I gravitate towards activities that induce and/or require a flow state. Now I wonder if that's because I'm naturally good at that state, or because I just like that feeling (like a healthy drug), so I gravitate towards things that induce it.

i like conversations with flow

gately wrote:Stopped taking anti-depressants and partially slipped into an old behavioural pattern, lost the groove and have been too apathetic/nihilistic to start up again. Just started on valdoxan again today, actually.

I'm interested in hearing about your experience with valdoxan. It's not available in US - no FDA approval. But I've heard good things about it anecdotally from a few people. Do you have major depression? or is the depression a side effect of the addiction / sobriety process?

Valdoxan is mild but effective, too subtle for some people. Next to zero side-effects (no weight-gain or loss of libido) or withdrawal symptoms so I wouldn't be surprised if FDA approval is being prevented for capitalist/political reasons; the same as here in Australia, where it's one of the few anti-depressants not subsidised by the government (most cost less than $9, valdoxan starts at $60). Competing drug companies stand to lose market-share, and there's a lot of propaganda being spread about liver enzymes being affected. The truth is that it's about as harmless as melatonin.

I've only ever taken the smallest dose and it's been pretty handy. Compared to mirtazapine and effexor, the other antis I've had in the past, there's no drowsiness and it causes a more natural-feeling improvement in dopamine-bonding, making it very effective when combined with positive lifestyle changes. Most of all it's subtle, the equivilent of getting a spot on the benchpress from a guy that uses his fingertips, opposed to other antis which lift half the weight for you. Many people prefer more chemical numbness, but it only makes the drug more difficult to quit.

I have post-acute withdrawal syndrome, similar to mild depression. But have had major depression in the past.

gately wrote:here in Australia

Another Aussie... and here I was thinking I'm the only one here.

I attended a meeting with some people the other day and one of them asked me which country I'm from. I told her I was born here in Australia and I think she felt a bit awkward then and mentioned that I have an accent. I said, "It's okay, a lot of people have asked me that question over the years".

Even when I was in high school people assumed I was from another country. It's strange because I personally think I sound like any other Australian. I think it's just the way I pronounce my r's.