“20 Minutes of New Thought (Mental Health Invention)” Pt. 2 - Friday, September 26, 2014, 9:14 PM (Age 24)

AN EXCERPT FROM THE CHAPTER ENTITLED “IDEAS”

There's really no manly way to ask for ginger ale and cookies on an airplane. I've tried. That’s neither here nor there, though.

I haven't done my 20 minutes of new thought thing in a while. I feel as though there is a slight ramp up that needs to happen before it starts, or maybe just some free time to think of completely new things. It's become increasingly hard not to worry about the same burdensome things over and over again. It's usually money, then love, followed by more worry about money again. Purpose used to be somewhere in there, but I think I've got a pretty good handle on it. Sustaining it is the problem.

I'm learning more and more that small people compare themselves to the masses, big people compare themselves to the greats, and great people compare themselves to, well, themselves.

Anyway, I think I'm just about as ramped up as I need to be, so shall we begin?

I'm thinking about a self "shrink" system or application (not to make yourself smaller, but quite the opposite). I understand that there are many problems associated with self medication at a very high level, but conversely, self help books are consistently among the top sellers. I propose a self guided psychotherapy program tailored to individuals who want to treat themselves.

Now, I know what you may be thinking: it would be entirely too dangerous because, just like online doctor sites, people often look for things they want to have or already think they have. I think that is where the real beauty can be found and where the challenge lies.

If someone thinks they have a disease such as schizophrenia, the system will not show them the symptoms, nor will it discount the possibility of their having the disease. Instead, it will ask a lot of questions, chiefly, “Why do you feel that way?” It would be a shift from the cliché “How long have you felt this way?” inquiry popular in movies and television. “Why” works better because it opens the door to a multitude of other questions that the user must ask themselves before answering.

I think the next portion would be a customizable test in which users are presented with a problem linked to various mental illnesses of other anonymous people seeking help. Answers are never really right or wrong, but it is the person's sole duty to give the best advice they can. Every now and then there will be simulated interruptions in which a virtual patient needs immediate help or is having a breakdown. If the cyber patient does not listen to the advice of the user, then they are given a multiple choice list of punishments to prescribe; an “other” slot will be provided as well, so they can create their own punishments if they aren't satisfied with the ones supplied.

Their responses would all be cross referenced with appropriate answers to determine their mental stability. The questions would be developed by expertly trained psychologists, and as time goes on, the questions would reflect someone who has the same issues as the user. Questions would then be asked about whether users have ever behaved or had issues like their patient has. Follow up questions would be asked about whether they were punished in the same way they prescribed.

There is an innate part of us that wants to help; whom we can help is usually the biggest obstacle. How we would punish ourselves versus others can be very different as well. Candid questions like, “What happened to you when you did this (some action they agree is wrong)?” and having them contrast that with the reality they are creating for their imaginary patient will shed light on what mental health problems they have.

At the end, a health meter of the cyber patient to whom they prescribed advice will be shown. Based on that score, a diagnosis for the user will be created. Additionally, the patient's well being will be compared to that of other anonymous users to help guide sadistic and hazardous users to get help. People don't like being at the bottom of anything, but sometimes it takes that to show that something is really off.

Of course, this whole program would have to be designed after tons of research by actual psychologists, but I think it would be nice. I would use it. I think all my ideas really do stem from some need or want that I have, and I either expand it to bury my humiliation or broaden the scope so I can benefit more people than myself. I'd like to say it's mostly the more noble cause, but that's not always the case.

Anywho, I've passed my 20 minutes, so I think I'll get some rest now. I'm starting to get a bit of a headache.