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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ralphrogers on January 31, 2012, at 18:43:24
Hello mates,
I wish to ask you a question. Really, how can you manage to have some good moments without getting stoned or something?
I'm on my third or fourth year of active recovery efforts and... I manage to survive only. My all-linear life is not getting me to a better place. Only to a more livable one.
Maybe I need to mess things a little bit up. It takes more for me to get stimulated, so to speak.
Guess I gotta cross the line more often. Get dumber. Emotional stability is boring.
Ralph
Posted by sleepygirl2 on January 31, 2012, at 18:58:28
In reply to Reality is not fun, posted by ralphrogers on January 31, 2012, at 18:43:24
recovery in what sense?
illness, substance, both?
I really miss some of my bad habits.
Posted by ralphrogers on January 31, 2012, at 19:34:36
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun » ralphrogers, posted by sleepygirl2 on January 31, 2012, at 18:58:28
Oh, recovery from severe depression and wild mood swings. If anything, I used to be addicted to strong emotions. Now it's like the magic is gone for good.
Yes, I feel that you have to be somewhat nuts to be happy these days. Or stoned.
Are your bad habits any harmful?
> recovery in what sense?
> illness, substance, both?
> I really miss some of my bad habits.
Posted by sigismund on January 31, 2012, at 20:21:14
In reply to Reality is not fun, posted by ralphrogers on January 31, 2012, at 18:43:24
>Really, how can you manage to have some good moments without getting stoned or something?
Hello Ralph. This is an excellent question. I think our modern world is just depressing. Ort if not the modern world then existence or our DNA or whatever else. Brazil is such a big country, almost as big as Australia, but rather wetter. Can you go exploring? I would if I lived there. Fascists in Paraguay, tin mines with Indians worked to death, opera houses built on the blood of Indians. This is all interesting stuff. I make do with many different books on Stalin. He's a bit of a puzzle. I am going to spend 3 months in Peru later this year learning enough Spanish to look around for Amazonian herbs. 10 cups of coca tea in the morning and I might be able to do my morning studies. Illegal where you are? I expect so.
Posted by sleepygirl2 on January 31, 2012, at 20:40:52
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun » sleepygirl2, posted by ralphrogers on January 31, 2012, at 19:34:36
Interesting
So what's life like without strong emotions?
One of my worst habits was staying stoned as much as possible.
pretty ridiculous, but there it is
Posted by ralphrogers on January 31, 2012, at 21:41:58
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun » ralphrogers, posted by sigismund on January 31, 2012, at 20:21:14
Hey Sigismund :)
> I think our modern world is just depressing. Ort if not the modern world then existence or our DNA or whatever else.
That's pretty much how I think. I guess that our current social organization (or disorganization) is really bad. And the type of thinking style we gotta have (analytical, preoccupied, logic) is harmful/depressing to us over time. We see in arts how depressing this is all getting, right? I just visited an arts gallery and between two rooms of baroque art there was a modern "art" room, arranged like that on purpose. We felt depressed there and commented on how awful and confused all that stuff was.
You're coming to Peru? How cool. Two friends just arrived from Peru and Bolivia. They had a great time there. Such an exquisite experience. I hope you enjoy your trip to LA.
Coca must be enjoyable. Calm, energized and alert, right? It is forbidden here. Perhaps only Ayahuasca, Yopo, Morning Glory et al are legal. I once tried Salvia in a very low dose. It wasn't a good experience. I don't think I'll mess with another entheogen again.
Posted by ralphrogers on January 31, 2012, at 21:48:00
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun » ralphrogers, posted by sleepygirl2 on January 31, 2012, at 20:40:52
> So what's life like without strong emotions?
I'd say it's pretty boring... Or like eating without being hungry.
> One of my worst habits was staying stoned as much as possible.
> pretty ridiculous, but there it isIt doesn't sound that bad ;)
Posted by sleepygirl2 on January 31, 2012, at 22:10:49
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun » sleepygirl2, posted by ralphrogers on January 31, 2012, at 21:48:00
You see, I liked that brain numbed state, but it wasn't just that. It was that I couldn't stand the world otherwise.
I was present in body only. I kept showing up to meet the demands of reality, without really showing up.
Comfort in apathy.
Just scenes passing by me, though I can't say I wasn't a bit paranoid, and, dare I say, a little depressed.So what to do Ralph?
Posted by sigismund on January 31, 2012, at 22:21:41
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun » sigismund, posted by ralphrogers on January 31, 2012, at 21:41:58
>Coca must be enjoyable. Calm, energized and alert, right? It is forbidden here.
I wanted to go to Bolivia. Their minister for health said that coca (leaf) was so good for you it should be given to schoolkids. This, I thought, is my kind of health minister and the president is an ex coca grower. I have heard it is like a happy cup of tea, which is all I want.
Posted by sigismund on January 31, 2012, at 23:59:07
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun » sleepygirl2, posted by ralphrogers on January 31, 2012, at 21:48:00
> One of my worst habits was staying stoned as much as possible.
> pretty ridiculous, but there it isNot if you enjoy it. I wish I could.
Posted by sigismund on February 1, 2012, at 0:08:18
In reply to Reality is not fun, posted by ralphrogers on January 31, 2012, at 18:43:24
>My all-linear life is not getting me to a better place. Only to a more livable one.
My psych tells me that this is a (let's say) conspiracy. So I say 'Why isn't boredom or emptiness (or I don't know what) a mental illness? Well, you need a bit of fun someplace and this is where he and I find it.
But what's your background? SSRI's? Post SSRI anhedonia? Bipolar? Life is too chock full of tragedy to be just liveable. I always feel that everything is so beautiful and it feels so awful. And really, I think that is quite valid. No DSM for me. Western cultural imperialist project? That is what a few good glasses of red does for you. Dumb drug of course. I was going to say at least I can handle it.
Posted by ralphrogers on February 1, 2012, at 5:49:25
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun » ralphrogers, posted by sigismund on January 31, 2012, at 22:21:41
> I wanted to go to Bolivia. Their minister for health said that coca (leaf) was so good for you it should be given to schoolkids. This, I thought, is my kind of health minister and the president is an ex coca grower.
LOL :D
Posted by ralphrogers on February 1, 2012, at 6:23:55
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun » ralphrogers, posted by sigismund on February 1, 2012, at 0:08:18
> My psych tells me that this is a (let's say) conspiracy. So I say 'Why isn't boredom or emptiness (or I don't know what) a mental illness? Well, you need a bit of fun someplace and this is where he and I find it.
I think there is clearly something wrong with the mass (medical community maybe). They only care about your complaint when you're obviously screwed up. My latest best guess is that people in general lack perception. When you're unaware/naive enough everything is fine. And life goes on without much revolution. We should give each individual a shamanic trip each 6 months, to cause a spiritual shift.
When I read Thus Spake Zarathustra I promptly thought about this when I saw stuff like:
"Altered is Zarathustra; a child hath Zarathustra become; an awakened one is Zarathustra: what wilt thou do in the land of the sleepers?"
The sleepers...
"Blessed are those drowsy ones: for they shall soon nod to sleep.-"
Pretty ironic. What do you do when nobody thinks like you? The "blessed ones"?
> But what's your background? SSRI's? Post SSRI anhedonia? Bipolar? Life is too chock full of tragedy to be just liveable.
I'm not sure I could point a single trigger for my problems, but I guess chronic stress and family problems are the big culprits. SSRIs surely made me wildly bipolar and anhedonic, though.
> I always feel that everything is so beautiful and it feels so awful.
So true...
> That is what a few good glasses of red does for you. Dumb drug of course. I was going to say at least I can handle it.
You can't go happy without going a little dumb or silly, right? We gotta discover how to switch to dumb-mode for a while, to unload the stress. Staying aware/awake or dumb all the time doesn't seem to work well.
Have a nice day there
Ralph
Posted by ralphrogers on February 1, 2012, at 7:57:58
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun » ralphrogers, posted by sleepygirl2 on January 31, 2012, at 22:10:49
> You see, I liked that brain numbed state, but it wasn't just that. It was that I couldn't stand the world otherwise.
> I was present in body only. I kept showing up to meet the demands of reality, without really showing up.
> Comfort in apathy.
> Just scenes passing by me, though I can't say I wasn't a bit paranoid, and, dare I say, a little depressed.I really do get what you mean... not what life is supposed to be :/
> So what to do Ralph?
We know that unfortunately the medical community has a very limited ability to help. They only do the gross job. But we need fine tuning.
When I told my doc that I cut my bupropion pill in 6 or 8 parts he didn't believe me I could feel a difference with such a low dosage. But I know there is a sweet spot. Even our hormones have optimum levels, so I guess this is largely ignored.
Maybe there are other tricks we are not aware of? The standard opinion sometimes costs the quality of life of millions of people.
I know that when people's health/balance is okay they are able to deal with life in a positive way, no matter how messy their situation is. I do believe in every single human being.
Have a nice day there
Ralph
Posted by sigismund on February 2, 2012, at 0:41:52
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun, posted by ralphrogers on February 1, 2012, at 7:57:58
>Comfort in apathy.
> Just scenes passing by meColour and movement?
Posted by sigismund on February 2, 2012, at 2:00:08
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun, posted by sigismund on February 2, 2012, at 0:41:52
>Colour and movement?
I'm fond of colour, but less so of movement.
Posted by Beckett on February 3, 2012, at 21:49:27
In reply to Re: Reality is not fun, posted by sigismund on February 2, 2012, at 2:00:08
Sound is nice.
This is the end of the thread.
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