Dear Neurontic
neurontic | May 19, 2007I'm told I went out last night and that many beers were consumed, but I have no memory of the event. Why does too much hooch make us forget? And does the fact that I "blacked out" mean I should reserve a place in rehab?
Sincerely,
Chastened Boozehound
Dear Boozehound,
You probably never thought you'd have anything in common with the main character from Memento, but, guess what? Now you do. See, Leonard was suffering from a condition known as anterograde amnesia brought on by severe head trauma, which kept him from transferring new experiences into long-term memories. His memories of…
neurontic | March 6, 2007If I understand correctly, the seat of emotion is in the brain, in the limbic system, so why do I get butterflies in my stomach when I'm nervous?
Sincerely,
Stomach Upset
Dear Stomach Upset,
Remember that Steve Martin movie The Man With Two Brains? Well, it turns out they got the number wrong. It should have been The Man With Three Brains. There was the brain Dr. Hfuhruhurr carried around in the jar (voiced by the girl from Wings if I remember correctly), the one in his skull, and the one in his stomach . . . That's right, his stomach. According to researchers in the field of…
neurontic | February 16, 2007Recently I discovered that my therapist is taking an anti-depressant for depression. I also suffer from chronic depression and understand that, if properly treated, depression doesn't jeopardize the ability to do one's job. (I, for one, am successful despite my condition.) But since my discovery, I am more reluctant to trust his judgment. Is this a case of the blind leading the blind?
Sincerely,
Anxious Analysand
Dear Anxious Analysand,
Let me start by saying that your reservations are perfectly reasonable. When someone initially seeks treatment for depression, he's generally hoping to find a…
neurontic | August 20, 2006I have some experience with depression, mostly mild although I have had a couple periods that could be described as major depressions. I know that my thoughts are intimately connected to my brain chemistry and that paying attention to how I'm thinking can alter my mood. For example, if I catch myself starting to feel depressed, I can pay attention to the conversations I'm having with myself and interrupt the thoughts that go something like "You worthless, useless, lazy slob". That, along with taking care of chores and projects I've been letting slide, and getting some exercise, usually help.…