I don't get it. So many people suffer from disorders of the brain and the whole nervous system, to put it broadly. Yet nobody gives a damn about the science behind it, which if supported, will give the sufferers marvelous cure.

There's visual agnosia, there's amnesia, there's paralysis, there's agraphia, there's so many health issues which affect the nervous system, making the sufferer's body a torture chamber.


But yet nobody gives a damn about neuroscience. Here in our country only a few universities offering a PG (and even less for a doctorate) programs for neuroscience. We need awareness, neuroscience is a promising science for the betterment of mankind... yet no attention?

What do you think? Do you think neuroscience gets enough attention? As we all suffer from mental illness here on PsychCentral (which can be studied with the help of neuroscience), shouldn't we spread awareness for research in neuroscience?

[*Laurie*]

I agree, my friend. No I do not think that neuroscience receives enough attention, at all. It is ridiculous, really.

That many people with mental illness are told to take medications that ruin our health and shorten our lives...to me, that is what's really sick. I become weary of MD's saying, "We just don't know enough about the brain..." Well, research and learn more, then! Find out exactly what mental illness it, and how to treat it more effectively, without ruining people's lives in the process of attempting to treat their illness.

[guilloche]

I totally agree.

I'm currently learning about neurofeedback, and I'm beyond frustrated. It's incredibly difficult to find a good local provider, or to find good information on how (if?) I can do it myself.

The thing that drives me crazy is - there are decades of research behind it. There's a ton of evidence that the way your brain is functioning (in terms of firing patterns, the types of brainwaves you're making) can absolutely cause things like depression and anxiety (and OCD, and ADD, etc.). I don't understand why this isn't as well known and accessible as drugs. Treatment with neurofeedback is SO much less invasive with drugs, doesn't require being treated forever (as opposed to some anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds, where the expectation seems to be that you'll be on them forever), much much less chance of negative side effects, and side effects usually last a couple days at most (you change the protocol, I believe, if there are negative reactions).

It just sounds... amazing. Literally.

And it seems like the wild west trying to find a provider. There are different camps/philosophies of how to approach training, some people don't want non-medical professionals to have access to the equipment/training, and everybody is defensive when I ask questions.

It's nuts. This could help SO MANY PEOPLE. Like, really help.

I don't know why it's not more well-known, and not FDA-accepted for treatments. It really, really upsets me... but I have to put that aside for now to figure out how to get my own treatment.

So, yeah. I totally agree with you. Brain stuff is important, and we don't pay enough attention to it. And all the therapy in the world (and/or medication) sometimes can't fix something that might be fairly easy to fix, if we look at it through the right lens.

[*Laurie*]

I have come to believe that pharmaceutical companies do have a lot to do with the reasons why we're all taking so many pills instead of being cured.

[WishfulThinker66]

Yeah, I agree to on the point about big Pharma dictating the way health matters are treated; mental health or otherwise.

I have a unique perspective on this. The local university medical school and teaching hospital does in fact have a whole department in neurology. In fact, my psychiatrist heads it up. It is not uncommon for a senior medical student or resident to be present (with my permission) and participate in my psychiatric sessions. I have learnt a great deal during these visits as the two will discuss my case as an example of which I am included in the conversation. I have learnt some pretty cool things. So too my psychiatrist has encouraged me to follow a lifestyle (ie. health regimen including diet) promoting brain health. As an example he recommended high fat dairy (for instance high fat dairy like whipped cream in my coffee). Apparently it is good for brain health. It has something to do with the synapses in the brain. Another example is the use of essential oils and the recommendation of cannabis as these too are supposed to promote good brain health. I do still take medication but to a lesser extent. These I consider to be more of a bandaid solution.

I suffered repeated concussions as a youth and he suspects that while I likely have a genetic disposition to mental illness, he has suggested it might have been triggered by such injuries to my brain.

I wouldn't have cared about neuroscience, only and only if we had enough treatments available. I wouldn't have given a damn about a single biomolecule found in the nervous system, if we had a sort of 'cure' available for diseases like MS and ALS.

Now, really, I am no doctor but from what I studied in biology, there's no real "cure" available for anything and neurology/psychiatry aren't the only 'We cannot help you' specialties. Our understanding of virology therapeutic is non-existent, however treatments can help greatly. The "cure." But how can you let an amnesic patient die out of old age, still asking his name? I'll try my best to be the hero(ic team member) and do my part in research.

[guilloche]

Originally Posted by TheLonelyChemist

I wouldn't have cared about neuroscience, only and only if we had enough treatments available.

Sadly, this isn't unique to neurology. Many years ago, I developed really bad hand pain. To the point that I couldn't type (I had to take unpaid leave from work), couldn't hold a glass of water without pain, couldn't easily steer my car without pain, etc.

I don't want to bash medical doctors, because there are a lot of things that they do really well, and that there aren't other cures for. If you get in a car accident and need immediate, life-saving surgery and/or organ transplants, nobody can replace those doctors.

But for my problem - they were literally useless. One that I saw spent five minutes with me and told me that I had the beginnings of carpal tunnel. Luckily, I asked for a referral to see a physical therapist (her response was, "sure, couldn't hurt I guess") - who very quickly ascertained that it was NOT carpal tunnel at all, but she wasn't sure what it was. It took me almost a year of chiropractic, plus massage therapy (including self massage and stretching) to get rid of the problem. It was insane - because it felt like it was something that modern medicine just didn't know what to do with.

The massage therapist that I had at the time (who was amazing!) told me that she often saw people misdiagnosed with carpal tunnel, including someone who was going to get surgery for it. Same thing - I don't mean to knock the surgery (I think there were folks here who had it, and found it helpful) - but if that's not the actual problem, then the surgery is not going to fix it, and carries all kinds of risks.

It's so frustrating, and I don't know what the answer is. To this day, if I mention my experience to an MD-doctor, they seem *dubious*, because they don't think chiropractors have anything to offer. Yet, I saw TWO MDs, and neither had a clue about what was happening to me at the time.

I wish there was something we could do, but I don't know what. Some of it surely politics/money (in the big sense, not in any specific sense - i.e. groups trying to protect their own interests).

It's all crazy-making. There has to be a better way!

Originally Posted by guilloche

Sadly, this isn't unique to neurology. Many years ago, I developed really bad hand pain. To the point that I couldn't type (I had to take unpaid leave from work), couldn't hold a glass of water without pain, couldn't easily steer my car without pain, etc.

I don't want to bash medical doctors, because there are a lot of things that they do really well, and that there aren't other cures for. If you get in a car accident and need immediate, life-saving surgery and/or organ transplants, nobody can replace those doctors.

But for my problem - they were literally useless. One that I saw spent five minutes with me and told me that I had the beginnings of carpal tunnel. Luckily, I asked for a referral to see a physical therapist (her response was, "sure, couldn't hurt I guess") - who very quickly ascertained that it was NOT carpal tunnel at all, but she wasn't sure what it was. It took me almost a year of chiropractic, plus massage therapy (including self massage and stretching) to get rid of the problem. It was insane - because it felt like it was something that modern medicine just didn't know what to do with.

The massage therapist that I had at the time (who was amazing!) told me that she often saw people misdiagnosed with carpal tunnel, including someone who was going to get surgery for it. Same thing - I don't mean to knock the surgery (I think there were folks here who had it, and found it helpful) - but if that's not the actual problem, then the surgery is not going to fix it, and carries all kinds of risks.

It's so frustrating, and I don't know what the answer is. To this day, if I mention my experience to an MD-doctor, they seem *dubious*, because they don't think chiropractors have anything to offer. Yet, I saw TWO MDs, and neither had a clue about what was happening to me at the time.

I wish there was something we could do, but I don't know what. Some of it surely politics/money (in the big sense, not in any specific sense - i.e. groups trying to protect their own interests).

It's all crazy-making. There has to be a better way!

I am sorry you had to go through such pain, and I am glad you found out a treatment that works for you.

I suffer from mild intellectual disability as well as memory loss (I find the word 'amnesia' scary) and I've found out that nothing except psychotherapy can help me, aside from doctors' advice to get exercise , eat healthy and take meds for other issues. I have to contribute, I just have to, cause at least I can understand the science behind it and I have a now-damaged gift inside me.


Of course, politics and money, those things will exist no matter what. I, or for that matter, any person with any background, cannot change it. What can I do? Try to make a difference in the way I can. Let it be research, for example. Of course there are many, many factors like the surplus number of chemists, but I guess since I had a then-great talent and a now-great ambition, I'll be able to contribute.

[guilloche]

Thanks for your thoughts. It was a really difficult time, and I'm very grateful that I was able to get it resolved too. But, it makes me sad to think of how many people aren't able to find the right kind of help. I was in my early 30s, and afraid that I might have to give up my career (because I work on the computer).

Have you looked at neurofeedback at all? I don't want to sound like I'm pushing it (I'm just excited by the prospect!) - and I only ask because I don't know what kind of "mild intellectual disability" you have, but it seems to be able to help things that I would never have guessed. The book that I read re: development trauma, the author mentions that often her patients end up with a surprising increase in their ability to understand physical space (like, to know where you are, to navigate in the world, stuff like that). It turns out, there's a part of the brain that deals with that, and with development trauma, some of those resources are going to help deal with trauma instead of doing their regular job, so when that's freed up - you suddenly get your spatial abilities!

I found that really interesting, because I have NO spatial sense at all. I've been in my townhouse for 10 years now, and I still struggle trying to figure out how the top and bottom floors line up, for example. My brain just doesn't do that... but I wonder if the NF could help it.

Anyway, if you're curious it might be worth looking at.

I agree that things like exercise and eating well are critical. I think it's hard to do these things (for me, anyway) in our current world, but they're such a big help if you can manage it.

I understand what you mean about politics/money - but I find it so disappointing. On such a big scale, it feels like the world is set up to make things harder for everyone, and I wonder what it would be like if instead, everyone actually worked towards making the world better, and having integrity in their work.

Good luck with all your endeavors!

Originally Posted by guilloche

Thanks for your thoughts. It was a really difficult time, and I'm very grateful that I was able to get it resolved too. But, it makes me sad to think of how many people aren't able to find the right kind of help. I was in my early 30s, and afraid that I might have to give up my career (because I work on the computer).

Have you looked at neurofeedback at all? I don't want to sound like I'm pushing it (I'm just excited by the prospect!) - and I only ask because I don't know what kind of "mild intellectual disability" you have, but it seems to be able to help things that I would never have guessed. The book that I read re: development trauma, the author mentions that often her patients end up with a surprising increase in their ability to understand physical space (like, to know where you are, to navigate in the world, stuff like that). It turns out, there's a part of the brain that deals with that, and with development trauma, some of those resources are going to help deal with trauma instead of doing their regular job, so when that's freed up - you suddenly get your spatial abilities!

I found that really interesting, because I have NO spatial sense at all. I've been in my townhouse for 10 years now, and I still struggle trying to figure out how the top and bottom floors line up, for example. My brain just doesn't do that... but I wonder if the NF could help it.

Anyway, if you're curious it might be worth looking at.

I agree that things like exercise and eating well are critical. I think it's hard to do these things (for me, anyway) in our current world, but they're such a big help if you can manage it.

I understand what you mean about politics/money - but I find it so disappointing. On such a big scale, it feels like the world is set up to make things harder for everyone, and I wonder what it would be like if instead, everyone actually worked towards making the world better, and having integrity in their work.

Good luck with all your endeavors!

I have brain damage and I cannot draw a straight line and also I don't have a great capacity to analyze objects. For example, when I have to grab a cup of coffee, I sometimes fail to grab it by its handles. I have to go further than estimated usually.

From the little currently I know about brain physiology, it's important to note that all parts of brain (and even other parts of nervous system) work with each other and create a whole, fully functional brain. In my case my occipital lobe was damaged, which is related with visual perception. So I have poor spatial skills due to my squint (caused by nerve damage later in life) arising from brain damage.


What you're talking about appears to be something like savant syndrome, but to put it directly I never have heard about neurofeedback, currently because I am more interested in chemistry. I am only a pure science bachelor degree student and here we've yet to study neurochemistry and neurobiology and all the advanced stuff without which would make me able to discuss stuff with an accurate, evidence-based backing.

What was once known as mental retardation is now known as intellectual disability. "Mild" means relatively low IQ but otherwise just okay.

I am not bashing you, sorry if it sounds like that.

Thanks.

[guilloche]

No worries, you didn't sound like you were bashing me at all. And honestly, if you hadn't mentioned the disability, I would not have known from your writing.

I don't really know enough of the details to explain neurofeedback well, I'm afraid. It has to do with the types of brainwaves we make, and where in our brain we make them. Apparently, there's been research that shows a correlation for some things with mental health (and various skills). I think that a lot of the research is around ADD and attention. I've read a little about it being used for people with brain injuries as well, but don't know as much about that.

I find it fascinating, and think there's a lot of potential to help people there. But, it gets confusing (as their are different groups of people arguing about the best way to use it) and I'm still struggling to find someone who can work with me using it.

Thanks!

[YAKV]

not to mention that Psychological Theories are at an impasse because of the lack of hard evidence, and neuroscience could be the best tool that we could use to somehow prove or disprove most,

I mean,
I am not saying that no one has thought of that,
almost everyone has,
it's just that not everyone can because of that exact point that you make,

there is a lack of attention towards neuroscience in most places around the world,