How to explore Scott Alexander's work and his 1500+ blog posts? This unaffiliated fan website lets you sort and search through the whole codex. Enjoy!

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Aug 16, 2014
ssc

Burdens

12 min • 1,553 words • 209 comments
Scott examines the feeling of being a burden in depression, arguing that society owes individuals support and suggesting a need for new ways to find meaning beyond traditional 'contribution'. Longer summary
Scott discusses the concept of feeling like a burden, a common theme among suicidal patients. He explores how this feeling relates to depression and societal expectations, and argues that society owes individuals support due to how it has changed the environment humans evolved in. The post critiques the idea that people must 'contribute' to have worth, suggesting we need a new value system as automation increases. Scott proposes basic income as a potential solution and advises patients to focus on less tangible ways of finding meaning. Shorter summary
Jun 16, 2014
ssc

Things That Sometimes Help If You Have Depression

51 min • 7,128 words • 239 comments
Scott Alexander offers a comprehensive guide for treating depression, covering professional help, lifestyle changes, and supplements, emphasizing the importance of persistence in finding effective treatments. Longer summary
Scott Alexander provides a comprehensive guide for people with depression, covering diagnosis, treatment options, and self-help strategies. He starts by explaining how to determine if one has depression and strongly recommends seeing a doctor or psychiatrist. He then outlines a step-by-step treatment algorithm for doctors to follow, including various medications and therapies. The post also covers lifestyle interventions, supplements, and other strategies for those who can't or won't see a doctor. Scott emphasizes the importance of persistence in finding effective treatments and reassures readers that depression is often treatable with sufficient effort. Shorter summary
Apr 25, 2013
ssc

In Defense of Psych Treatment for Attempted Suicide

28 min • 3,895 words • 95 comments
Scott Alexander defends psychiatric treatment for suicide attempts, arguing that most are impulsive decisions by people with treatable mental disorders rather than rational choices. Longer summary
Scott Alexander argues in favor of psychiatric treatment for attempted suicide, emphasizing that while there may be rare cases of rational suicide, most attempts are impulsive decisions made by people with mental disorders. He presents evidence that the majority of suicide attempters later regret their actions and that psychiatric treatment can significantly reduce suicide rates. The post discusses statistics on mental disorders among suicide attempters, the temporary nature of many suicidal crises, and the effectiveness of psychiatric interventions. Scott also addresses common misconceptions about psychiatric hospitalization and argues that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for most patients. Shorter summary