I think the same can be said for addiction. Not that it's untrue, or imaginary; but that the cultural acceptance of it as a horrible disease makes it paradoxically worse. I remember reading an article by an ex-smoker who said (paraphrasing) that he could never quit because he bought into the idea of how addictive cigarettes are, and how quitting them is the hardest thing he'll ever do, and he'll need counseling and assistance and medication... once he cleared his mind of all that baggage, and realized it was just a choice, he was able to quit cold-turkey.