I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki: Further Conversations with My Psychiatrist

I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki: Further Conversations with My Psychiatrist by Baek Sehee, translated Anton Hur

The author struggled with suicidal thoughts and self harm and saw a psychiatrist to talk about the problems. She wanted to quit her job. She felt bad when she succeeded. She did harm herself once and came close to checking herself into a hospital. She also has thoughts about diet and working out. She likes working out, but struggles to determine whether it is for her or just to support men. She does have a partner and a job, so there must also be a more positive side to her life that she is not expressing in the book. She spends time exploring areas both within and out of her control. The book feels more powerful coming from her cultural point of view. She does not have the "I deserve it all" brashness of Americans. She has worked hard and has humility. Her timidity masks deep internal struggles. However, she is also willing to be vulnerable in open about them. (Alas, she died at a young age not long after writing this book.)

Letters

Letters by Oliver Sacks

As per the title, this is a posthumously published collection of letters written by Oliver Sacks. He was a prolific letter writer. There are a mixture of different types of communication. Some are personal letters that deal more with his experience in life. Others are more science focussed, responding to concerns about research and publications. Through the letters, we can learn about the unfolding of Sack's career. He is concerned with the "mechanical" approach to medicine. He doesn't want to treat everybody as a statistics, but wants to explore the person to reach a solution. He has done work with people with neurological conditions. Some may appear commotose, but can be awakened. Others are essentially "dead", but kept alive mechanically. Drugs can help those with Parkinson's, but they may also have negative side effects. He does not believe there is a possible "miracle drug". He has struggles with medical bureaucracy and education. His Jewish background and sexuality come out at various times in his life - especially near the end as he is diagnosed with cancer. It makes for an interesting "biography" told all from primary sources.

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan went from writing about food to writing about drugs. In this book he explores psychedelic drugs. LSD had been studied extensively since it was first synthesized in 1938. The company that synthesized it gave samples to researchers and it spread. However, by the late 1960s, it became associated with the counterculture movement and was banned as a recreational drug. Recently more research has been underway. Other drugs, such as "magic mushrooms" and peyote have manage to escape as significant negative associations, and have been able to continue limited "legitimate use" as part of religious rituals.

The drugs enable experiences that are similar to religious experiences. They are almost "religion for those that don't believe". Some are also used in conjunction with religious experiences. The place and setting when a drug is consumed can change the experience. There does appear to be some use for the drugs. However, it tends to require a more wholistic approach than trying to break it down to individual components.

The most interesting part about the book is the history. There have been a lot of ups and downs and "interesting" characters involved with psychedelics. It has been "super serious" and "counter-cultural" at times. It is still not totally clear what they do. They seem to cut off some automatic "filling in of the blanks" as well as allowing more free associations. Are there other ways to accomplish what the drugs help accelerate? Could they be used for a "one time" cure for ailments, or would they end up just being a regular consumption drug. Could they even be legitimized? Or are the associations and history too strong to allow them in a lefit area?

The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life

People have devoted energy to spirituality throughout history. Science often considers this a wasted effort. However, new research has been showing the way that religion and spirituality provide mental health benefits. There is also a strong relationship between spirituality and depression. Being spiritual can help counteract the negative of depression. There also seems to be a genetic aspect to spirituality.

The concept of spirituality can be vague. It does not necessarily correspond with going through the motions at church. It involves living and experiencing the selflessness. There is also a difference between focussing on the goal-oriented nature of achievement versus submitting oneself to the spiritual. The first can lead to depression that one has difficulty overcoming on your own, while a belief in a higher power helps to provide more positive outcomes.

Related to spirituality to book discusses the importance of letting people express their feelings and think for themselves, even if that is not the clinical norm. There is often very different diagnoses for the same person by different professionals. Sometimes it works best to set back and let people work through problems themselves. Even if they provide unscientific explanations, these may be the helpful answers they need.

Making a Good Brain Great: The Amen Clinic Program for Achieving and Sustaining Optimal Mental Performance

I don't know whether to treat this book as quackery or expert advice. The author did mention that they made an appearance on daytime talk TV and frequently testify in court. He also advocates for nutritional supplements. 

On the other hand, he does have quality medical credentials. Much of the advise does seem to make sense. You should "exercise the brain". Avoid brain trauma. (He has a strong preference for people playing table tennis instead of contact sports.) Eat good food, not junk.

He also loves to do brain scans. He thinks that they can help identify many problems. Maybe this is true. Do we currently have the expertise to understand what we see?