Fixing is different from complaining
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may influence mood, personality and behavior, according to results of a study presented today by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers at the 64th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society in Denver.
…researchers found that participants [healthy adults] who had lower blood levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were more likely to report mild or moderate symptoms of depression, a more negative outlook and be more impulsive. Conversely, those with higher blood levels of omega-3s were found to be more agreeable.
…While the cardiovascular benefit of increasing omega-3 intake is well recognized, relatively little is known of the potential mental health effects among the general public.
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No actionable intel here. The cardiovascular benefit is well known and well publicized. So people who pay attention to such things already have higher intakes of omega-3.
I mention this research for two reasons. First it serves as another reminder that the mind is not different from the brain. It is just the activity of the brain seen from another viewpoint.
The other reason is something I first thought of as a possible confounding issue. Since these people were not asked to change their diets, the level of omega-3 was the result of their normal diet. The phrase “may influence” implies a causal effect. That phrase was probably provided by a rewriter, rather than by the researchers. Their language properly describes the finding of an association.
Such an association could occur if people who are depressed are less likely to take omega-3 as a supplement or in the recommended foods. These were people with depressive characteristics below clinical levels. But what we know about depression suggests that such people might be less active in taking care of their health.
Reduced efforts at self-care might lead to conditions that favor depression. Thus a vicious circle. A therapist would notice this problem and attempt to intervene. Such intervention might be one of the things that makes cognitive-behavior therapy useful.
But not everybody needs a therapist to intervene. Most people probably handle their own intervening. How would people handle their own intervention? I think they would call up their Explorer to look for solutions. Then they would call their Engineer to plan a route to solutions.
The basic difference between fixing and complaining is that fixers believe they can fix.
Luke Skywalker: I don’t believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail.
…researchers found that participants [healthy adults] who had lower blood levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were more likely to report mild or moderate symptoms of depression, a more negative outlook and be more impulsive. Conversely, those with higher blood levels of omega-3s were found to be more agreeable.
…While the cardiovascular benefit of increasing omega-3 intake is well recognized, relatively little is known of the potential mental health effects among the general public.
---
No actionable intel here. The cardiovascular benefit is well known and well publicized. So people who pay attention to such things already have higher intakes of omega-3.
I mention this research for two reasons. First it serves as another reminder that the mind is not different from the brain. It is just the activity of the brain seen from another viewpoint.
The other reason is something I first thought of as a possible confounding issue. Since these people were not asked to change their diets, the level of omega-3 was the result of their normal diet. The phrase “may influence” implies a causal effect. That phrase was probably provided by a rewriter, rather than by the researchers. Their language properly describes the finding of an association.
Such an association could occur if people who are depressed are less likely to take omega-3 as a supplement or in the recommended foods. These were people with depressive characteristics below clinical levels. But what we know about depression suggests that such people might be less active in taking care of their health.
Reduced efforts at self-care might lead to conditions that favor depression. Thus a vicious circle. A therapist would notice this problem and attempt to intervene. Such intervention might be one of the things that makes cognitive-behavior therapy useful.
But not everybody needs a therapist to intervene. Most people probably handle their own intervening. How would people handle their own intervention? I think they would call up their Explorer to look for solutions. Then they would call their Engineer to plan a route to solutions.
The basic difference between fixing and complaining is that fixers believe they can fix.
Luke Skywalker: I don’t believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail.
posted by Selby Evans at 10:31 AM
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