ACX
Why Recurring Dream Themes?
Scott analyzes why certain themes appear in recurring dreams, proposing and examining two main theories: one based on prospective memory and another on physical sensations during sleep.
9 min read 1,314 words
A thread through the archive
anxiety
Essays tagged “anxiety”. Follow an idea across the archive.
Essays on anxiety
13 essaysACX
Survey Results: PMS Symptoms
Scott Alexander explores correlations between PMS symptoms and various beliefs and traits, finding significant connections that leave him puzzled.
9 min read 1,327 words
ACX
The Government Is Making Telemedicine Hard And Inconvenient Again
Scott Alexander criticizes new DEA regulations that restrict telemedicine prescriptions for controlled substances, arguing they will harm patients and legitimate practices while failing to prevent abuse.
12 min read 1,817 words
ACX
Peer Review: Nightmares
Scott Alexander provides a detailed guide on understanding, preventing, and treating nightmares, covering causes, lifestyle changes, therapies, and medications.
16 min read 2,326 words
ACX
Lavender's Game: Silexan For Anxiety
Scott Alexander evaluates silexan, a lavender-based anxiety supplement, finding promising but potentially biased evidence, and recommends cautious trial use.
16 min read 2,400 words
ACX
The Precision Of Sensory Evidence
Scott Alexander examines a theory proposing that depression, anxiety, and trauma are characterized by low precision of sensory evidence, leading to overreliance on negative priors.
14 min read 2,167 words
SSC
Survey Results On SSRIs
Scott Alexander presents results from an SSC Survey on SSRI usage, covering effectiveness, side effects, and discontinuation experiences among 2,090 users.
11 min read 1,596 words
SSC
SSRIs: An Update
Scott Alexander revisits his stance on SSRIs, discussing new meta-analyses, broader trends in psychiatric medication efficacy, and potential explanations for the discrepancy between statistical and clinical observations.
11 min read 1,642 words
SSC
The Chamber of Guf
Scott Alexander uses the Jewish legend of the Chamber of Guf as a metaphor for subconscious thoughts, exploring its implications for behavior, OCD, and self-defeating thoughts.
10 min read 1,449 words
SSC
Anxiety Sampler Kits
Scott Alexander introduces an 'Anxiety Sampler Kit' for testing various anxiety supplements, aiming to personalize treatment and gather data through self-experimentation.
7 min read 933 words
SSC
SSC Journal Club: Friston On Computational Mood
Scott reviews a paper proposing a computational model of mood and emotions based on predictive processing, discussing its implications for understanding mood disorders.
20 min read 3,081 words
SSC
Things That Sometimes Work If You Have Anxiety
Scott Alexander reviews a wide range of treatments for anxiety disorders, from lifestyle changes and therapy to medications and alternative remedies, emphasizing the importance of exploring multiple options.
28 min read 4,251 words
SSC
Future tense
Scott Alexander discusses his anxiety about potentially not getting a US medical residency and explores various backup career options and plans.
12 min read 1,834 words