Thursday, February 12, 2009
Randolph Nesse Interview
In my blog earlier today, I cited evolutionary biologist Randolph Nesse MD of the University of Michigan in support of a more sophisticated view of mental illness - one that acknowledges its selective advantages rather than its mere pathology. Here is a video of Dr Nesse speaking precisely on the topic, interviewed by Richard Dawkins. Also check out the other four videos in the series.
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2 comments:
Boy, can I relate. I'm as skittish as a three legged gazelle around the water hole. I have been through some panic episodes. Have had stress and anger upset my judgment and ruin my life here and there. It's refreshing to re-frame it into something else. Something that has had it's place in evolutionary survival sense.
Hey, Johnny. I can relate, too. I like your use of the term, "re-frame." On one hand, we can acknowledge all the terrible stuff our illnesses do to us. On the other, once we realize that what is going on is completely natural, with its own logic and even with some advantages, then we are in a much better position to regroup and recover.
Thanks to reframing, my depressions have far less power over me, and I am much better able to channel my manic energy. I'm working on the stress-anxiety-panic-anger stuff.
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