Show HN: DIY Freud. Automated therapist on the cheap (opens in new tab)

From the title I was expecting an updated version of the Eliza program created by Joseph Weizenbaum in the very early days of Artificial Intelligence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELIZA

If anyone is interested in diving into various implementations of this idea, there is a collection here https://github.com/jeffshrager/elizagen.org

I like this idea. The core concept of recording yourself talking about a particular theme for a set period of time probably does have some therapeutic value.

Talking, like writing, can help you crystallise your thoughts and see things in a different way compared to how our inner (unspoken) dialogue can tend to frame things.

I agree that you don't necessarily need someone listening to get some of the benefits of this kind of talking therapy!

In a similar vein I've recently rediscovered the power of written journalling. And in particular, journalling on paper as opposed to on a device. In my experience the act of journalling, can be incredibly therapeutic too.

I think getting negative thoughts down on paper (or on "tape") dissolves some of the power they hold over you - in a similar way to how some meditation techniques teach you to "label" thoughts and feelings as they emerge. Labelling them is supposed to help you see them for what they are - ephemeral, impermanent, and not part of your identity.

So I think the author is on to something with the self therapy idea.

In all approaches to therapy, regardless of the psychological flow behind them, it's the patient who heals himself (or herself). Therapist role is not exactly to be a blank screen, more like responsive socratic human mirror. It's up to experience, knowledge and gut feeling of the therapist to know when be quiet, when ask questions and what may have better chances to help given patient.

In general, inner monologue is fantastic tool for self-reflection. Yet, if one is struggling with living, it's a good approach to seek help of other human being, rather than relying solely on oneself.

Summary: "Yesterday I had an idea": record yourself talking, have a schedule, optionally charge your own debit card.

I like the AI therapist from this unique sci-fi novel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_(novel)

that unlike the sequels reads more like literature than genre fiction.

For my emotional healing I have used many different things. In the last year I have used Betterhelp on and off. Most people would think it is pricey, but it has the big advantage that you can get started almost immediately whereas if I tried seeing a therapist at Family and Children's in my town I'd probably have to wait three months. Betterhelp also has high turnover from therapists who are often working at home while taking care of kids.

The right physical exercise can make a big difference for typing problems. I got relief by doing good old fashioned push-ups. Right now I am getting back into lifting weights but being careful about it because I am limited not by the strength of the primary muscles by but what the tendons and other secondary systems can handle which is frustrating but I know I'll get nothing but more pain if I don't respect it.

Getting into some activity which satisfies your emotional needs could also be a big help. I am a super-introvert and many of the things I do to cope involve withdrawing and I find this really satisfying until I see the opportunities I've lost -- however I can also charge up when I am solitary and be able to out-extrovert most extroverts for a short time. That's my puzzle to solve, your puzzle is different but probably has the same structure.

This guy sounds like a huckster but you shouldn't let that put you off -- even though he leads with bombastic headlines and sells like a TV infomercial (no wonder he has books on writing sales copy in his Zoom background) what he says is congruent with what what I've learned in studying other things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u27JO1aRN4

That video has some exercises for dealing with emotional suffering connected with physical suffering manifest in the body and I think they work pretty well. If I hit the right target with one I will tell my wife the next day exactly what happened to me. For me it is stirring up feelings and overcoming my resistance to the CBT that my therapist wants me to do... I tend to resist confrontations of 'cognitive distortions' because I'll say I am thinking like a poker player or a chess player and just because I think something unrealistic here it is OK because I am exploring a contingency or I don't really believe it. When I have gotten a lump of crazy feelings on the surface and identified with me however I can go right down the list and find a bunch of thoughts that are just plain wrong that I can take responsibility for.