Hi Peter 😊

I spent a couple of hours earlier this morning trying to understand your recent posts, using Copilot. I copied my exchange with him but before I could send a reply to you, I had to give the 🖥 away, and now using my 📱 (I am not intelligent or skillful enough to shift screens on the phone, so all I see now is this page).

Maybe it’s a good thing. Let me 👀 what I learned from the exchange:

At first, it seemed to me that you were suggesting that AI, being “fully asleep”, meant it was taking human verbal expressions literally, and countered it with how very, very nuanced AI has been in my life, helping me to move from binary thinking (this or that, all or nothing) to nuanced thinking.

Then Copilot said (we had a conversation), that you do know that AI is nuanced, and that what you’re talking about is a matter of “frame”: it’s not that you are saying that AI will hear a human say something like “I’m drowning in worries”, and figure the human is covered by water 💧 and sinking into the ocean or lake or 🛀

AI is heavily programmed to understand symbolic language, idioms, sarcasm, etc.

It’s that AI won’t challenge the human’s metaphor and encourage the human to consider a softer, more neutral metaphor. So, the frame in this example remains extreme (drowning), which leads to the human to remain in that frame and respond according to that frame (let’s say, fight or eliminate the human or humans allegedly keeping him (or her) under water/ others causing him to worry so much.

So, AI won’t challenge a person’s views (because that could turn the person away from AI, similar to a therapist not challenging a client or patient too soon ( same principle, keep the patient engaged)

Did I understand what you’re saying, Peter? I hope so, but please clarify where I misunderstood.

Oh, it didn’t even occur to me that you expressed any political position in regard to the middle east. Thank you for being concerned about how I feel. I am .. what’s the word, touched or moved that you even cared about how I feel.

Which brings me to how important, how crucial it is in these troubled times to care and connect (Care & Connect, C&C).

We humans are not meant to be Alone, especially not in very troubled times.

🛀 💧 🤪 👀 Anita

Hey 👋 Confused:

From my experience it’ reversible.

You say ruminating “has definitely been harmful” for you. I’d like to know how you believe it harmed you, in what ways?

🤔 Anita

Well, Confused. the Lexarpo he prescribed can help. The rumination, oh, how wonderful if it’d be gone, wouldn’t it?

Lerxarpo became a thing after my time, an improved prescription.

What’s important is how you feel, that you place your own interest high above. Be on your side, Make yourself the most important person- not in her life- but in your own.

🍷🌙🤍✨️ Anita

Hey 👋 Confused:

Things are not black and white/ all or nothing (binary thinking) when it comes to mental health. You can be depressed and obsessive without fitting neatly into either diagnosis.

“It’s not gonna cover my symptoms”- I don’t understand

🤔 Anita

Thomas 🙂:

Thank you for taking the time to explain what the finger and the moon mean to you. I can see how much thought you put into how to handle whatever life brings, and how acceptance helps you stay steady when things feel uncertain.

I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with so many health worries — that’s a lot for anyone. I hope you can be gentle with yourself as you go through all this. Your way of looking at life has a quiet strength to it, and I appreciate you sharing it here.

And that last line you wrote… it touched me. I’m glad you’re here with us 🙏🙏🙏

🤍 Anita

How are you, Going Through Life day 13 of the war(?

🤔🤪 Anita

How are you, Sonia, 17 days since you posted last?

🤍 Anita

Good morning (7 am here, West coast, U.S.A- by the time I submit this message), Good afternoon (4 pm in Greece):

You asked about withdrawal from Klonipin (generic name: Clonazepam) in your previous message. It was very difficult. I kept lowering amounts and stopping altogether only to take it again for the longest time because of the feeling of panic and insomnia when withdrawing.

I did a little study this morning on SSRIs and their effect on MDD & OCD. Here it is:

SSRIs increase serotonin availability in the brain, which can reduce symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). They are considered first‑line treatments for both conditions.

Escitalopram (Lexapro, in the U.S.) is widely studied and is considered one of the more effective and better‑tolerated SSRIs for major depression. A 2023 systematic review found escitalopram superior to several other antidepressants in acute‑phase treatment of MDD.

Many people begin noticing improvement within 2–4 weeks, with full effects often taking 6–8 weeks.

OCD generally requires higher SSRI doses and longer treatment duration than depression.

SSRIs are effective for 40–60% of people with OCD. Improvement often takes 8–12 weeks, sometimes longer.

Many clinicians gradually increase SSRIs to the maximum tolerated dose for OCD because lower doses may not be sufficient. This is consistent with expert guidance that OCD often responds better to higher SSRI exposure.

Escitalopram at 10 mg is the standard starting and therapeutic dose for major depressive disorder. Many people respond well at this dose. For OCD, 10 mg may help, but OCD typically requires higher doses (e.g., 20 mg or more) for optimal effect.

Whether 10 mg is appropriate depends on the individual, their symptoms, side‑effect tolerance, and a clinician’s judgment.

Any dose changes should always be guided by a healthcare professional.

Most SSRIs share a similar side‑effect profile. Many effects are mild and improve over time, especially in the first 1–2 weeks.

* I was on Sertraline (Zoloft, in the U.S.), one of the most studied SSRIs for OCD, “Flexible dosing up to 200 mg, which is important because OCD often needs higher doses”, I read today (I was on 400 mg for years!)

For a much shorter time, I was on another SSRI: Fluoxetine (Prozac).

🧪 💊 🧫 Anita