How do you weigh in on the nocebo effect?
Do you think the way this speaker offers to counter it makes sense?
oppostate
JoinedPosts by oppostate
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The Nocebo Effect
by oppostate inyou've heard of the placebo effect.
it can drive research doctors crazy to know that a certain segment of those tested for any new drug are just going to get better and be relieved of symptoms with what may amount to a sugar pill.. but have you heard of the nocebo effect?.
i hadn't until watching this ted talk (i happen to think ted talks are pretty awesome).
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Metro-pioneers
by oppostate infound this video on youtube about metro-pioneers.. watch out!
tight pants exiting the kh!.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldb0oqpcupe.
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oppostate
Were you ever one of those cocky hipster pioneers? I know I was. I was on top of the world,
One summery service day, I remember back then, making a goal to see how many townships we could go to while technically still keeping the pioneer clock moving.
We counted stops to 9 different towns calling on 9 different return visits who thankfully were mostly not at home so we could leave a tract and rush on to the next one. The elders found out, my best bud had bragged about it and spilled the beans to his gal and we were called to the back room for a good running down.
Countless silly days like that were spent accomplishing not much but definitely having fun with our pio-chums.
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Metro-pioneers
by oppostate infound this video on youtube about metro-pioneers.. watch out!
tight pants exiting the kh!.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldb0oqpcupe.
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oppostate
Found this video on YouTube about Metro-pioneers.
Watch Out! Tight Pants Exiting the KH!
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The Nocebo Effect
by oppostate inyou've heard of the placebo effect.
it can drive research doctors crazy to know that a certain segment of those tested for any new drug are just going to get better and be relieved of symptoms with what may amount to a sugar pill.. but have you heard of the nocebo effect?.
i hadn't until watching this ted talk (i happen to think ted talks are pretty awesome).
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oppostate
You've heard of the placebo effect. It can drive research doctors crazy to know that a certain segment of those tested for any new drug are just going to get better and be relieved of symptoms with what may amount to a sugar pill.
But have you heard of the nocebo effect?
I hadn't until watching this TED talk (I happen to think TED talks are pretty awesome). Below I'm putting a link to it. For those who are not interested in alternative medicines or treatments the talk may be a bit off putting, I feel there's a lot of quacks out there trying to sell their diets, treatments and "sugar pills". But just bear with it. For those who may be turned off from spiritual topics, I am skeptical of anything that defies the laws of physics and modern medicine and a lot of "piritual healers" make claims that are hard to believe--I say just watch out for the ending, it gets a bit preachy. But there's a cool lesson that I garnered from it and I feel is worth sharing.
So then why do I recommend this TED talk video?
When I was watching it the idea of the placebo effect was brought up. There's studies that show that it's not the faith of the patient in the pseudo-medicament but actually that it's the feeling of being cared for, about, and attended to by a physician that actually turns on connections in the brain which manage hormones that tell the body to heal. I found this quite intriguing.
Then the discourse turned to talking about the opposite of the placebo effect. That is the nocebo effect. There was an experience where this nurse predicted people dying and true enough they lived to that day and died. The suggestion can be positive or negative--a placebo or nocebo effect.
Now the reason why I'm sharing this.
The placebo effect in religion is obvious to me. Let me explain and see if you agree. When the Scriptures say that if any of you are sick, call the older-men to your side and the prayer of the faithful will make you well--It is describing exactly what the TED talk brings out about the placebo effect.
Just the very fact that two people whom you trust, believe in and respect come to your side, attend to you patiently, and show caring turns on those feel good hormones and brain chemicals that allow your body to relax and concentrate on healing.
So what about the nocebo effect. In a recent discussion thread we discussed the "prophetic" condemnations of loyal WT drones who perpetuate the thought that if someone leaves the JW religion they will inevitably suffer for it, be it physically, emotionally, and most likely, ehem, mentally diseased.
What they are "unknowingly" setting into motion is a very noxious and damaging effect that robs a person's sense of safety, tranquility, peace and health. This nocebo effect basically throws you into a flight or fight response which floods your body with cortisol, and other hormones, increases production of adrenaline giving you a constant sense of anxiety and eventually these negative chemical reactions in your body cause all sorts of evils to befall you--you don't feel well, you're constantly worried and anxious, you dwell on negative thoughts--pretty soon it affects your health and your relationships at work and with family.
No wonder how many who leave the JW religion end up exactly as their former friends and their shunning family members predict they'll end up. It's the nocebo effect taking its toll on one's health and sense of well-being.
And so what can be done to counteract this nocebo effect. The answer is identifying the neysayers, the haters, the ones shunning and wishing evil upon you, as exactly what they are poisonous sugar-pills. They have no control over you and can't harm you if you put up your defenses against this spiritual, emotional, physical and mental violence.
Relaxation is one of the best weapons against this nocebo effect. Too, we have positive relationships with others who are supporting and caring--developing and being a good friend is key--a mate for life in a healthy relationship makes one live longer. Spirituality is important as well as finding satisfying employment that allows you to be creative and productive.
If you watch the video you'll be able to better understand the harm that can be done by nocebo situations and how you can best "immunize," if you will, against the harmful effect of judgmental WT haters with all their shunning and ill will.
The proverb rings true to live well is the best revenge.
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BREAKING NEWS!!!
by DATA-DOG inbreaking news from co!!
according to a reliable source, the co in my area says that jws may have been hearing the phrase, "final push" being used.
what sage advice did this shepherd, duke, and "star" of revelation have to say?
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oppostate
That reminds me of "deliverance at hand!"
What I remember of Deliverance is some white hicks camping out in a tent doing naughty things with other white men-folk against their will. The "final countdown" makes it that much more ominous.
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Disfellowshipped at 18
by asensier inyou can probably guess how this story goes.. i began dating a non-witness boy.
he knew i was a baptised witness and understood the consequences i faced for dating him.
we agreed to keep our relationship secret, which was easy considering our 200 mile distance.
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oppostate
@asensier:
I've been putting up a brave front for months but with the announcement tomorrow casting shadows over me tonight, I feel a bit overwhelmed with loss.
That day will come and that day will pass. Keep busy doing something you enjoy, hang-out with those who support you. Disfellowshipping is a violent act and has nothing to do with 'love'. It's like a beating with a bull-whip, it can leave emotional scars in one's psyche instead of physical ones.
The best revenge is to live well. I wish you both a long long time of happiness together, and when you've grown old and satisfied with a great family, children and grand-children, you'll look back and be glad you got out of this mind controlling religion that wants to sap the best years out of people's lives and keep them slaving to provide for their cushy life atop a pyramid scheme of a religion.
And not all religions are life swallowing cults. It just so happens that you were in one of the most controlling and nefarious ones. Be glad you've escaped their trap and now you can live the best life you can have, in freedom, in peace, in the company of those you love.
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Donation to WWW raised last night.
by freemindfade inso there was announcements last night that the set amount of donation was going to be raised.
i don't believe out hall has a mortgage or "forgiven" mortgage.
but the hall already donates a set amount above what is put in the www box, from the local fund.
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oppostate
So there you have it, the money drive ratchets up....
So that's the "final push" we've been hearing about, eh?
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Why Is This New Batch of Governing Body Members So Stupid?
by Brokeback Watchtower inwell there are lots of reason for sure, denial, delusion, wishful thinking, ego maniac, infantile understanding of ancient writings, satanophobia, xenophobia, out of touch with reality, limited choices scrapping the bottom of the barrel,and many more.. listen to this ted talk and see if you can pick out something that helps explain why these guys are such ass holes:.
organizations are often run according to the superchicken model, where the value is placed on star employees who outperform others.
and yet, this isnt what drives the most high-achieving teams.
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oppostate
Excellent TED talk. Thanks for sharing it.
The WT leadership has proven themselves to be a bunch of puffed up super-chickens, roosters or cocks, whatetever, bent on self-agrandizement at the expense of others, pecking the living $h!t, (youth, livelyhood and dreams) out of those they consider beneath them.
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The Man In The Mirror and the Terminal Patient
by stuckinamovement ina man looks into the mirror and considers the image that is reflected.
he sees a model of physical fitness, good looks, competence and popularity.
he smiles at the positive image that he perceives.
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oppostate
Your prose reads like a poem. I appreciate your illustration and the conclusion you make.
But just from the title, before reading the OP, I thought it had something to do with Michael Jackson.
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Splane and Morris Should Thank Raymond Franz, Their Organizational Father
by Hold Me-Thrill Me inthe whole elder body teaching and governing body teaching was based on research by a well known "apostate" raymond franz.
franz wrote the aid book articles which gave rise to the changes made in the congregations and bethel.
knorr was deposed by the johnny come lately new governing body members who in turn gave birth to those in charge today.
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oppostate
Ray F''s views on religious leadership differ greatly from the way the GB 2.0 manage things today.
His understanding of "older-men" taking the lead in the congregation was one of service, he even admits that Phoebe had a "ministry" a "service" to the congregation as a "diakonos" (note the male gender of the original Greek) even though she was a "woman," so he had no conflict with a more active role of women in the Christian congregations as servants for the sake of fellow believers.
Knorr was a good businessman and organizational manager, but he showed little care for the R&F whom he treated as peons. He would have known that Ray F. was a good researcher and a sharp, eloquent writer and this would benefit the Watchtower. Intellectually this made Ray F. rank way above most fellow GB members and give the predilect WT's oracle, his uncle Freddy a run for his money--Freddy F. was, by the way, the only one with some university training behind him, from what I've gathered.
The GB 1.0 feared what Ray F. could do if he turned against them out of conscience. Once Ray F. looked behind the curtain and saw the impotent leadership for the uncaring, manipulating busters they really were, the Gobbering Body sh@t themselves and reacted in a more and more controlling manner through witch-hunts at Bethel Headquarters and flaming lash-outs published in their magazines.
Notice how quickly they moved to get rid of Ray Franz and Ed Dulop, but hung on to Chitty and Greenlees, moving them out to the fringes where their "deviant" behaviors wouldn't be so obvious.
The current GB has little appreciation for Ray F. and those who were forced out over three decades ago, they've not learned any lessons, nor do they seem to care to--out of sight out of mind. Otherwise we would see a genuine move to benefit the well-being of the JW believers instead of worldwide counsel against spandex, colorful socks and tight fitting trousers.
