From Placebo to Insight

September 15, 2018 Cognitive Insights, Health & Healing, Placebo No Comments

… there should be a gentle slope. Not a downfall.

(This text is not about what concretely is or is not a placebo.)

Gentle slope – principle

Many people do depend on their placebo, like a kind of crutch. To abruptly take this crutch away can have negative results: people fall and break another leg.

So, the gentle slope is not for being afraid of change. Actually it is (part of) what is most efficient towards change. In many cases, the non-gentleness in ‘change’ rather appears to be a resistance, since it’s quite probable that such change will like a pendulum… soon fly the other way again.

How-to

As far as I can see, an aggressive fight against placebo – or worse: aggression against placebo-engaged people – very seldomly leads to success. In many cases, the result is opposite: a hardening of parties, both in the trenches, internally being miserable.

So, how-to? Some ‘tips’:

Keep being rational.

Don’t be afraid to bring rational arguments. Of course, make sure they are rational.

Talking about them at several occasions may make them stronger and may also make you stronger in bringing them. It’s not altogether evident. Certainly not if you think it is without you doing your proper research, your homework. It takes some work to really help people, which is of course what you’re aiming at.

However: not coldly. Rationality may quickly turn into a cold stance that appears cold-as-ice. So:

Show your warm emotions!

It’s a mistake to think that this goes against rationality. On the contrary: both need each other [see: ‘AURELIS USP: ‘100% Rationality, 100% Depth’].

Come to the issue again and again.

A ‘side-effect’ of placebo can be that it makes people deeply dependent. Never underestimate this.

Also, never see in it a diminishment of someone’s worthiness. You may better see this as what a placebo does to people. So, repeatedly tackling the issue – in a gentle way! – may be needed. Every time you touch the person, you may find a new opening. Eventually, you may get inside.

Motivation. No manipulation. Thus, always respectful.

TRY to help in ‘not breaking another leg’.

An alternative may be your empathy. Another helpful factor may be – guess who writes this – AURELIS.

Actually, it’s best to have an alternative in place before the dependence on placebo disappears. This way, you really help the other person (or yourself) who might even be grateful to you. I guess (s)he will be if you give it enough time.