Friday, March 27, 2020

Fear and Anxiety


A doe or buck responds to danger with either a fight, a flight or by freezing. Humans, on the other hand with more advanced brain evolution, respond to danger with fear and/or anxiety. Both conditions are the result of an overpowering danger, powerlessness, defenselessness and inability to combat it. With the case of fear, the danger, comes from an outside threat, is reality based and accompanied with the feeling of helplessness that has been previously conditioned. Now with anxiety, the danger is generated, and /or magnified by intrapsychic factors in which the helplessness has been conditioned by one’s own attitude. With both fear and/or anxiety, the physiological sensations exhibited can be trembling, perspiration, or rapid heartbeat. Moreover, death can also be a consequence of fear. A fear response or experience can be objective like with the Covid-19 pandemic especially if you are 65 or over, have a respiratory illness, are mentally or physically disabled, or have an impaired immune system.  In the case of anxiety, it differs from fear in that it is subjective and hidden underneath some intrapsychic conflict. Moreover, anxiety can exist even without knowing it. This brief essay pertains to a fear and anxiety response to Covid-19.
Tom Brady, perhaps the greatest quarterback ever, is a good example of a person experiencing anxiety and may not even be aware of it. It’s clear that Tom Brady is highly competitive and wants to play as a first string quarterback at young age of 42 and rapidly approaching age 43. Recently, Brady signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Bucs for $30 million. For an oversimplification regarding Brady’s intrapsychic dynamics, let’s postulate using his competitive nature accompanied by his dread or fear of failure. For Brady, his fear of failure easily goes back to adolescence. For example, he began his high school years, as quarterback, sitting on the bench. At one time, he started out as the 6th string quarterback for the University of Michigan. After graduating from the Michigan Wolverines, Tom was in the NFL draft. He was selected by the Patriots near the end of the draft selection. Initially, Tom, at first, sat on the bench.  This player had to demonstrate and prove that he could compete at the next level. What followed was historic. Once again, Brady had to prove to himself and now coach Arians .He had to avoid failure all over again. Again, he has to prove to Patriot Coach Belichick that he can still play at this high level. Brady is not physically gifted by any means. However, his dietary, physical and psychological regime, early bed time and football drills are legendary suggesting he employs an excessive amount of discipline required to compensate for his dreaded fear of failing.  With this being said, for Brady, the possibility of contracting Covid-19 is anxiety producing. This virus could interfere with him playing quarterback by negatively affecting his readiness and body conditioning and thus interfering with his career. Being concerned about one’s body, a 10th century BC Chinese saying comes to mind “To Manifest the Way, First Keep Your Body Safe.”
Would Tom Brady, if tested positive for Covid-19, be fearful or anxious about losing about $30 million this coming year? Probably not, as his wife has been reported to earn more than him. Would Tom Brady, if tested positive for Covid-19, be fearful or anxious about not having a doctor to treat him; not having a respiration device available to him; or not having a hospital bed for him? Probably not, as the Tampa Bay Bucs and the NFL have the finest medical health availability in our country. The Bucs are going to protect their investment. These athletes have to be given the latest medical knowledge and technology because of their income value that they generate to their teams. Are the other 99+ % of the US population as fortunate as an NFL superstar? Of course, not as fear and anxiety are now staples for the rest in our country.
We humans, often go to any length to escape anxiety and/or to avoid feeling it like in Covid-19. There are number reasons for not wanting to experience anxiety. First, with anxiety an individual perceives danger and feel helpless with a loss of power/control in dealing with the threat. With Covid-19, in addition to being without treatment, does being 6 feet away from another guarantee that one does not contract the virus? No!  In fact, one could contract the virus and not even know it. A second element of anxiety might be the apparent irrationality of contracting Covid-19. For instance, one could become contagious in a nursing home or even while going to a hospital for testing or treatment. A hospital, at the moment, is the last place that I want to be near. Linda, for this reason, is postponing her cataract treatment consultation. Stay away from the hospital as you might contract the virus there. A third reason related to this irrationality suggests that we might have to overcome or even change our behavior by challenging our delusion that we are really doing everything we can to protect our self from this disease. Linda, for example, was wearing gloves while cleaning and disinfecting the kitchen. Then I saw her put her gloved hand in a bag of food for a snack to eat.
There are generally four ways we, with higher developed brains, use to escape from our anxiety. With intelligence, we have perfected defense mechanisms like denial. Some deny the existence of the virus by excluding it from consciousness. Witnessing, from TV, the young at a Florida beach during spring vacation milling around is a good example. I’ve had people tell me that they’re not infected. I asked them if they been tested and they replied no? They might even reply with” I have no symptoms. It’s a hoax. “Are you a carrier? Some, even make a conscious decision to overcome their anxiety by putting themselves in situations where they could contract the virus. Interacting with others while going to work, train or even frequent visits to stores are examples. Even though one may exclude anxiety from consciousness, a physical  concomitant could be shivering, sweating, accelerated heartbeat, choking, frequent urge  to urinate, diarrhea, or vomiting  .On the mental side would be a feeling of restlessness, being rushed, bored  or  paralyzed.
Another defense mechanism employed to escape anxiety is rationalization which consists of turning anxiety into rational fear which is simply the evasion of responsibility. This is like arguing with an individual and suggesting that they are not taking the best precaution of protecting self and others from Covid-19. The individual will mobilize and generate and put a tremendous amount of intellectual energy in proving you wrong. It might be like” I don’t have pneumonia symptoms; my immune  numbers are good; I’m wearing a mask and gloves; I’m working in a good and safe environment;  or I’m staying 6 feet away from people at all times.” With these responses or responses like these, individuals can feel rational and justified in their behavior. And they have the delusion that they are able to realistically see or understand the motivations for their irrational behavior. Defense mechanisms do not protect from this virus.
A third way of finding some release from anxiety is to ingest alcohol or drugs. One can also engage in social activities and/or become extremely busy. Our psychological needs to affiliate and have sex is a real challenge when it comes to telling the community to hunker down and isolate from others. When anxious, we often want to be around and associate with another human as well as engaging in sexual activities. So avoiding others, can be really conflictual and actually produce more anxiety from the isolation because of our primary need to affiliate.
It’s also difficult to avoid thinking and hearing about Covid-19. If we watch or listen to news on the TV or radio we are given numerous updates regarding this deadly virus. It’s important to seek out credible and reliable sources of information and use reason to filter the good data and updates from the bad. Listen to Dr. Anthony Fauci. Going to Mars to escape the virus doesn’t help, since we take our fearful and anxiety driven mind with us. Our mind is who we are.
In conclusion, any individual in our country not experiencing fear and/or anxiety about Covid-19 is either unaware or lying. If you experience fear and anxiety you are normal. This deadly danger is real and affects all individuals, male-female, young-old, different colors of one’s skin, all religions, where you reside, and all socioeconomic groups. It doesn’t matter if your movie star, in Congress, medical doctor, a head of state, a super star athlete or even Jeff Bezos. This virus does not have boundaries and has affected too many of us. Stay safe.

Friday, March 20, 2020

It's Real



Covid- 19 is here. This essay addresses the behavioral health differences between and among individuals. In the past few months, more and more information surfaced about this deadly virus. In fact, we along with another couple, had tickets to attend Hamilton in San Francisco on March 7. On March 3, I called my friend, who happened to be in Florida visiting his brothers, about my concern about attending the show. During that conversation, I told him that Linda and I decided not to go but that I would pay for the tickets. He understood but Dave and his wife attended Hamilton anyway.
I remembered hearing president Trump state something like “we have good numbers; we got this-no problem; once the weather changes and becomes warmer, the virus will go away” in an attempt to downplay the health concern. Did Trump know or realize the seriousness of the threat? However, medical people had a very different slant regarding this virus and gave a contrary message.  Despite the evidence, Fox News individuals like Pete Hegseth stated “the more  I learn about this, the less there is to worry about;” Trish Regan “liberal media using the coronavirus to impeach the president;” Sean Hannity and Laura Ingram “the press are panic pushers stirring up mass hysteria.” It was reported by the other press that in 2018, Trump reduced funding for the disease-control unit of the CDC prevention unit by 16% from the 2020 spending levels.  Did you believe or see through those lies and propaganda messaging?
Then last Friday, the 14th, while going into the local market an individual that I didn’t recognize yelled out to me something to the effect that “he’s on top of this, he’s providing a stimulus.”  This past weekend, Linda called her friend to tell her that she would not host next month’s Winning- Women gathering nor would she attend this month’s gathering due to the health concern- a group of women that get together and drink wine.
More recently, the president changed his tune about Covid 19. It was now recommended that no more than 10 people gather at one time in one place.  The NBA, NCAA, MLB and other leagues had already been canceled. Airline flying restrictions were implemented along with subsidies going to corporations and businesses. The House submitted a bill to the Senate. Governors like Andrew Cuomo implemented closing of businesses, schools while recommending limiting the number of people in groups. More and more restrictions surfaced from canceling a primary election in Ohio to news that basketball super star Kevin Durant tested positive for the virus. One doesn’t have to be over 60, have a respiratory illness or be in superb physiological health to test positive for the virus. According to Johns Hopkins University, there are now 13,314 cases and 199 deaths and rising across the country. The stock market continued to decline.
As of Tuesday, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and CNN’s interviewers were appalled and worried about the number of Americans not taking this virus seriously. They talked about partying of college students, on their spring break ,in Florida, attendees at Disneyland’s theme park, and video of San Francisco residents walking hand-in-hand, lack of social distancing, skateboarding, jogging, being on bicycles like normal. They asked how individuals could continue this behavior? Don’t they know that they could be carriers and infect others? Don’t they know that they are putting our health system, our health workers, the number of hospital beds, and the number of ventilators at risk? The media said these people must be selfish and not care about others. They are harming all of us. We have to be together.
Let’s examine these assertions more critically. We know that when born we continue, for a number of years, to be the most helpless of all. In fact this physical and psychological condition sets the stage for man to develop various needs to confront his emerging insecurity, dependency and helplessness. Not only that, but man eventually realizes that he’s going to die and return to that inorganic state.
In man’s development, the existential problem of his birth and of his existence are somewhat satisfied based on the conditions of his various physiological requirements and psychological needs and passions. As man evolves, he becomes aware of his aloneness, separateness, powerlessness and ignorance. The need for affiliation or to unite with another becomes of paramount importance. There are various ways to reduce that anxiety of being alone. One way to achieve this human dilemma and to transcend loneliness is by submission to a person, a group, an institution, political party or to God. By submitting to something bigger than oneself, is to identify or to connect with a larger power. This submission or masochistic behavior allows a sense of identity and union. But unfortunately it facilitates that individual becoming dependent on and becoming dominated or heavily influenced by it. A person, a group, an institution, a political party or God can be sadistic and controlling.  With submission, facilitates a buying in to various messaging that does not have to be truthful or even moral.  We can be easily misled.
Another way to overcome separateness is to unite or merge with others by making others part of oneself. In this way, it’s a transcendence of individual existence away from domination as well as not being involved in a symbiotic dynamic. The push for affiliation can then become more of a union, a bonding, or a solidarity. This is a move toward others, an involvement in a more humanistic and productive way.
In his separateness, man can also move toward others in an aggressive, manipulative, destructive or hostile manner. The move against another can be passive, aggressive, verbal and or physical. It doesn’t take much as man is easily frustrated, and the consequence results in one individual dominating another. History, has demonstrated over and over  man’s dominance over another be it female, male, color of skin, religious belief, state, country,  economic and/or other reasons.
Narcissism is also related to the affiliation need. At first, we are all narcissistic. Our only reality, as an infant, is our physiological needs for warmth, affection, or food. The “I” is not experienced differently from the “the other.” Slowly through perception, and with cognitive development, we begin to differentiate changes. We form individual and separate entities. The capacity for love can now be established as well as the reality that one’s thought process, feelings, and needs can be distinguished and are different from another’s. The importance is the ability to experience and perceive another’s realities as being separate from one’s own. In other words, through nurturing development, we begin to experience it’s not about only “me,” “me,” or “me” it’s about the importance of” you” as a separate, significant and human individual as well. However, with excessive narcissism, my partying on a beach is about me and I don’t care that I might infect you by being a carrier of this deadly disease.
Another way to view man’s behavioral health interactions with another is to be able to look at the world, nature, other persons and oneself as they are and not to be distorted by ones desires and fears. Reason, in man’s development with maturity, is his faculty for developing objectivity and reality with thought. Intelligence on the other hand is man’s ability to manipulate the world with the help of thought. Reason assists at arriving at the truth, while intelligence are man’s tools to manipulate the world within his subjective need structure.
Reason must be practiced in order to be developed. It’s about acquiring knowledge about the world, oneself, and one’s society. If we have illusions in one aspect of our life then our capacity for reason is restricted or damaged while attempting to utilize the use of reason. Reason can also inhibited with regard to other factors. Reason can help us with orientation and help us to be in touch with reality or in other words to look at the world more objectively. Reason is important and fundamental for man’s well-being. With intelligence, we create mechanisms that distort reality. We can deny, rationalize or use other defense mechanisms to prove to ourselves or others that our actions are right, just or even moral as in I feel great, and I do not have the virus. This is what Epicurus meant when he said “nothing is good or bad but thinking made it so.”  We can explain away any action by ourselves or any action by others as being ”okay”  even by God as in Manifest Destiny.
There are a significant group of individuals that have submitted, identified and are being dominated by president Trump, the Republican Party and certain media. The messaging is brainwashing propaganda. One buys into the messaging regardless. Truth or the use of reason does not have to be utilized. Intelligence or folk science with the defense mechanisms are apparent. Information that counters the message has to be viewed as evil, wrong, terrible, bad and threatening. Thus, one becomes easily angered by hearing the opposing view. One does not use reason as it’s simply not available when one submits to a force greater than oneself. Covid 19 is just a plot, it’s not real are examples.
When one disregards a physician’s recommendation based on science, and goes on and acts as if nothing is wrong, this suggests that narcissism is interfering in the interaction with others. By potentially infecting others and creating possible overwhelming demand on the health system and its workers, is not only hostile but destructive. When we treat others with disrespect and hostility, we are disrespecting ourselves as well. This behavior is not only counterproductive it also speeds up our own mortality. Once again, reason is not employed but intelligence is misused to distort reality.
Yes, to deny and to disregard health recommendations and information coming from most Governors, Department of Health or CDC are not just selfish but suicidal. The human need to submit to a force greater than oneself can also be detrimental. The degree of narcissism affects the ability to relate to others in either hostile, productive or creative ways. When there’s an absence of reason, we have distorted reality with an emphasis on common sense, defense mechanisms, nonscientific, self-defeating and irrational thinking. We are in this together like it or not. It’s serious and real.

Friday, March 13, 2020

Taking Cuts


Let’s place Jeff Bezos first, Bill Gates second, Warren Buffett third and so forth followed by the rest of the 300 million or so in our country. In other words, imagine a straight line of people going from the richest to the poorest.  Everyone has a place on that line up regardless of income inequality. There may be a significant wealth gap between the person ahead or the person behind. The idea is that everyone has their place on this imaginary line.
Let’s go back to the time of our founding fathers. In the 1770’s, imagine a line going from the wealthiest to the poorest. The WASP’s were at the head of the line and the slaves and indigenous followed. That socioeconomic system continues today with capitalism being the engine. Today, the concentration of capitalistic wealth and power continues to exist and favors a few individuals, Wall Street, corporations etc.  Further, the politicians are elected and reelected based on the contributions of the elite wealthy groups and keep the power structure secure and in place.
 Humans are competitive and there is a significant positive correlation between competition and capitalism. Capitalism favors, in large part psychologically, on competitiveness. Humans are also self-centered, prejudiced, stingy, exploitative and narcissistic. Humans think and act in the present. Humans have difficulty delaying gratification. It’s about gratification and short-term pleasure in the here and now. Forget about tomorrow and take all that you can when you can. Corporations similarly think in the short-term with their quarterly goals, and maximizing profits. One never knows about tomorrow. In fact, the fossil fuel industry is speeding up the process of self-destruction regardless of the existential threat of climate change and the Earth’s demise. They certainly don’t care about the grandchildren. In fact, the second coming of Christ or Armageddon may happen first. So, don’t worry because we have honor, glory and power.
Let’s focus on the current president and his party. This WASP has a history of lying, cheating and taking advantage of others in order further his self-interest. So when he says Make America Great;  I’m going to build the wall and make Mexico pay for it to keep out the rapists, criminals drug’s etc.; or calling somebody a traitor, a snake etc., he’s sending a clear fear  message. The message is to the uneducated white males and others. The message is that people with a different skin color or people who believe in a different religion or God are not going to get ahead and pass you in line. Your place in line is secure. You may not like him, but like his policies of tax cuts for the elite and keeping others out of the country because he’s saving your place in line. Furthermore, the same God that’s on our coin; the God reference on our Pledge of Allegiance; also gave the Wasp power elite the permission to wipe out the Indians as in Manifest Destiny. Our God further supports the discrimination policies against the poor, vulnerable and weak.
Immigrants and these other peoples are not going to receive citizenship, minimum wage, health insurance, Social Security, or even Medicare for all. A socialistic government that provides subsidies and entitlements for farmers for not growing crops; for the fossil fuel industry; or for Wall Street, Boeing etc. is okay because they’re God-given entitled. But, if we start paying people a minimum wage and give them health insurance then this form of a democratic socialistic government is bad because these people may get ahead of you in line.
Politically, Bernie Sanders is bad because he’s saying “no” to the corporate world with their money influencing lobbyists. More importantly, the country’s demographics are changing and people are supporting Bernie which, if elected, will enable many people to pass and then take cuts in line in front of all those old, uneducated, white male WASP folks. Forget about love thy neighbor as thyself and replace it with me first, me first and me first. Keep your place in line at all costs and certainly do not allow others to take cuts. As far as messaging goes, what propaganda group is behind not wanting workers lose their health insurance? Who loves their health insurance? The goal of each health insurance group is profits. Medicare for all will interfere with profits for the insurance company.
If most understood about pure or traditional socialism, Bernie would be the hero and not the capitalist villain. Instead, the politicians, the brainwashing by the sophisticated government media system cleverly equated socialism with Soviet and Chinese communism. These totalitarian systems are diametrically opposed to pure socialistic practices in which the workers control production. The truth doesn’t matter when it comes to government propaganda. The uneducated belief is that socialism is bad and evil just like communism. Bernie does not have a chance because too many are ganging up on him with their hands extended out to the lobbyists. Who wants to bite the hand that feeds them?
In our form of a Republic, capitalism is our God with the pursuit of greed, profit, power, exploitation, destruction. and control. Thus, the pursuit of happiness is largely defined and based on socioeconomic status. Within our political and economic system, competition, aggression, narcissism, dominance, and achievement flourish. The result allows the powerful to rule by keeping most others in their place. The antithesis is Judaic-Christian principles and moral socialistic ideals with its qualities of humanism. Love thy neighbor, assist the poor, welcome strangers, not lying, killing and cheating, absence of jealousy, rule of democracy , highest development of man etc. are principles and qualities of and for the people. Jesus, a true socialist, and his teachings are not requirements for our mixed-oligarchy-autocracy --limited democratic, capitalistic republic.

Friday, March 6, 2020

It Ain't Easy


For those of you that are auditory learners, the article “Get Healthier Through Listening” found in the New York Times dated February 2, 2020 might be a good fit. The article lists seven interesting podcasts regarding health. This essay pertains to both physical and emotional health.
The following are the 7 podcasts:
1.     Hurdle- pertains to stories from numerous experts and their useful tools in the fitness world of health. The starter episode is titled “How to Start [and Stay] Running.
2.     Mental illness Happy Hour-pertains to intimate and private conversations with guests about their humorous and traumatic psychological issues. The starter episode is titled “Best of: Rob Delaney [2011].”
3.     The Nutrition Divas Quick and Dirty Tips for Eating Well and Feeling Fabulous- pertains to variety of topics, dietary advice and simple lessons by being better informed. The starter episode is titled “10 Nutrition Worries You Can Stop Stressing About.”
4.     An Arm and a Leg-pertains to dealing with the cost of healthcare and wellness and how to navigate the pitfalls. The starter episode is titled “Can They Freaking Do That?!”
5.     Food Psych-pertains to stories about how individuals unlearn years of restrictive unhealthy behaviors by listening to various body cues. The starter episode is titled “Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size FAQs.”
6.     Outside Podcast- pertains to stories set in the great outdoors where well-being is placed at the intersection of physical endurance and psychological upheaval while looking at the amazing ability of the body in overcoming many stresses. The starter episode is titled “Struck by Lightning.”
7.     The Model Health Show-pertains to overall health by overhauling lifestyle, accelerating fat loss and building muscle mass. Combatting chronic pain from generative disc disease is one example. The starter episode is titled “T MHS 383: How Your Thoughts Control Your Biology and How to Transform Your Thinking.”  

These podcasts fit well within today’s electronic media savvy population and provides much information. Just sit back and listen. However, 200,000 years ago our ancestors were hunters and gatherers. This suggests that they just didn’t sit around and learn by listening. For information gathering, they used other senses for survival too. Then, about 10 to 12,000 years ago agriculture was introduced and with its many labor saving devices that diminished physical activity. So presently, one suggestion, if you’re going to listen to a podcast, begin by standing. Sitting in chairs, sofas etc. are unhealthy.
 Consider, taking a look at what might be holding you back from engaging in and in making better decisions regarding physical and mental health. Obviously we are talking about lifestyle and the numerous behavioral reinforcements or lack of reinforcements made over time. Another factor to consider but related is that likely the problem is not about lack of information but about doing or simply put, motivation to do.
As for motivation goes, it’s important to have a significant, important and meaningful measurable goal. It takes more than saying to yourself I want to get in better physical and emotional shape. There has to be an important reason; a priority; enough time and energy; realistic markers that show growth and improvement; and ability to navigate and work through the barriers or obstacles. Saying I want to get in better physical and emotional shape does not work because the goal has to be measured or evaluated effectively. For example, I’ll list 6 of my goals: 1. Consuming a minimum of 7 servings of fruit and vegetables a day 2. Writing at least one essay per week 3. Running – walking at least 45 to 55 miles per week 4.Competing in at least three   10 mile trail running events per year 5. Taking I scoop 100% Whey Protein, 1000mg Omega3, 100mg B1  ,and  100mg  B2  daily 6.Performing  at least 300 crunches per day
If you are auditory learner, the seven podcasts might be helpful as a starting point. Physical and mental health take a lot of work and as I said in an earlier post “It Ain’t Easy.”

Saturday, February 29, 2020

American Virus



The Coronavirus is our latest threat, once more, placing our country at risk.  Just follow the Dow. Yes, there was a press conference on Wednesday. The president, on one hand, gave incorrect statistics and minimized the health threat of the coronavirus while, on the other hand, he appointed the vice president to be in charge. Further, medical doctors provided more realistic information about the threat of this virus .The very next day, the Dow dropped close to 1200 points. This essay illustrates the mental and physical danger that the Republican Party poses to our country
For a brief background, let’s return to the “Founding Fathers”.  Jefferson’s Preamble of the Constitution began with “We the people of the United States……” Jefferson’s” We “however, referred only to White, Anglo- Saxon, Wealthy, Male, Protestant landowners. Further, per Madison, the Senators were appointed by the state legislatures. Power was placed in the hands of the few.   The Senators, under the Constitution, were given the power to convict or remove the president from office. These founding fathers also established and implemented the biased Electoral College as another power-control mechanism.
The plutocracy model or minority rule of the rich was based on past Greek and English philosophers. The idea of a consolidation of power was also referred to as an oligarchy. These people were considered distinguished by their ability, wealth, education, corporate, political, religious or military control. Related was the belief in Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny meant that it was sanctioned by God to expand the US throughout the American continents. It was considered both justified and inevitable. Since 1945, we took over the world. Thus, we had Power and Possession held by the elite in order to control and withhold from the masses. The masses were seen as uneducated, morally inferior and ruled for their own good.
Let’s view some of our current economic problems for the populace: A. 1. A fraction of 1%, in the country, holds an enormous amount of net worth 2. Since the 1970s, the middle class has been shrinking along with stagnant wage growth and an absence of savings 3. College debt is in excess of $1.5 trillion 4.  We have an increase in part-time employment with no benefits. 5. Subsidies go to Wall Street, automobile manufacturers, farmers, oil companies, fossil fuels, foreign countries, Boeing etc.  6. Tax cuts are primarily for the corporations and upper 1% 7. Corporations don’t pay  taxes; manufacture products in low-paying countries; hide money in offshore accounts 8.We have the greatest  ever increase in the budget deficit 9 Our massive military expenditures dwarf all other countries.
Current health problems for the populace: B. 1. About 16% are uninsured including 8 million children 2. Opioid epidemic continues 3. Health care and prescription costs are excessive compared to other countries 4. We have cuts and the deregulations to EPA which affects things like mercury emissions, climate change, pollution of chemicals, radiation, fuel economy etc. 5.  There are state attempts to eliminate and overturn Roe versus Wade rulings 6.  We have over 500,000 homeless 7.  We have had numerous legislative attempts to eliminate the Affordable Care Act 8.  There is a denial of the science of climate change and a withdrawal from both Paris and Iran climate and nuclear accords 9. Our obesity statistics rage10. There’s approximately 400 bills from the house and senate that are controlled by Mitch McConnell’s withholding 11. There have been recent cuts and limited funding for the Center for Disease Control or CDC.
 Current social problems for the populace: C. 1. Gun murders are out-of-control 2. We have lack of common sense gun laws because of NRA lobbyists 3.  We have excessive racial incarceration rates 4. We have discriminatory hiring and firing practices 5.  We have discriminatory housing availability 6. Voter suppression and gerrymandering practices exist 6. The labor unions have been diminished in power 7. The Senate is easily controlled by a few states with its limited population.8.Voter plurality in an election does not always work. 9. Believing one’s vote does not count or matter exists 10.  House Republicans opposed legislation against teaching a curriculum of climate change in the schools 11.  Every Republican running for president in 2016, with the exception of John Kasich, denied the existential crisis of global warming 12. The Doomsday Clock has moved us closer to midnight thanks to this Republican administration.
The elite with its control of the media affects attitudes and public opinion. George Romney called it brainwashing.  Charles Wilson Sec. of the Defense allegedly said “What’s good for General Motors is good for the country; “and Colin Kaepernick of the NFL kneeled during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial inequality in 2016, his last season of football. He was also criticized by the current president.
 Socialism has been labeled bad and dangerous to capitalism and democracy. However, Karl Marx wrote that man could become more human when he became more aware of his socioeconomic conditions. By becoming aware, then it’s up to the working class man to produce goodness with changes. By changing conditions, man doesn’t have to become exploited, but can achieve self-realization on the road to maximize his human potential. Karl Marx believed that the subordination of the individual for the economic ends of the powerful state and of the concentration of capital results in man’s alienation and feelings of powerlessness. Further, Marx thought that no privileged group can become associated with humanism.
Bernie Sanders has been called a democratic socialist and supports climate change legislation, universal healthcare, pro-labor, free college, eliminating college debt etc. Bernie is a front runner with much populace support. In order for him to win, he requires a high voter turnout with those believing that their votes count too. So, having a Bernie movement is a threat to the few with their power and possession. Remember power is to control the masses and possession means withholding from the masses based on socioeconomics. Therefore, we can expect a negative media onslaught against Bernie’s candidacy in order for them to discredit him. Being truthful about Bernie does not matter. The spreading of doubt, lies or to cast a dark shadow is what matters for those doing the smearing. Power, possession for the educated elite is what matters. It’s not about the masses. They need to be controlled for their own good.
Workers unite, come together, protest and change the system.

Friday, February 21, 2020

It Ain't Easy



We expend an enormous amount of energy inside our heads. We have more conversations with ourselves than with anyone else.  We think about the past. We recall many of our decisions that we should have done differently; of what we should have said; as well as the many conversations about what we should not have said. We obsess and ruminate as well as engage in rehearsing lines and conversations for interactions. We hold on to many irrational ideas, beliefs as well as falsehoods. Often, inner conversations can be negative. Negativity affects mood, anxiety and depression as well as self-esteem. Irrational thinking and beliefs, more than not, leads to ineffective behavior. We can also think in positive ways and make positive behavior or choices.  Negative thinking about future often leads to worry and anxiety along with inappropriate behavioral decision-making. We make ourselves ill by our predictions and behavior. Are anyone’s predictions any better than chance? We also plan, fantasize, synthesize, create and use our imagination.  It should be obvious that we can spend too much inappropriate or nonproductive time with thinking. The Greeks warned us about thinking and as Epicurus reminded us” nothing is good or bad, thinking makes it so.” The article in the January 26, 2020 edition of the New York Times was timely. This article was about mindfulness. Mindfulness, briefly, is keeping our thinking in the present while concentrating on our breathing. While in a mindfulness state, we withdraw and protect ourselves, for a moment, from irrational and stupid thinking and beliefs. This essay addresses mindfulness. Can mindfulness can be effective in combatting high blood pressure?
Mindfulness is pertinent within the religion of Buddhism. Factually, Buddhism is the fourth most popular religion at present. During the drug revolution in our country, the enlightened found insights from this Eastern religion. Gurus went to India to learn and Indian gurus came here to teach. 50 to 60 years later, mindfulness is a $4 billion industry. Its technique has been taught to our enlightened major capitalistic businesses; to our military; to educational systems and of course has been used therapeutically. There is a tremendous amount of reading material that can be found on Amazon-60,000 titles regarding mindfulness. Many mindfulness research articles on mental and physical illness can be found.  However, our illegitimate health care insurance system does not subscribe. Our healthcare system instead is in love with the pharmaceutical industry and would rather promote a pill to treat the populace.
As a tool, mindfulness is used effectively within psychotherapy practices to help assist with treating depression and anxiety.  Roughly a third of all adults in United States have high blood pressure which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. According to The New York Times article, there were inconclusive research findings when employing mindfulness to treat high blood pressure.  Perhaps, a clear cut definition of mindfulness is one issue.
Actually, the definition or an operational definition of mindfulness is one of the most important parts to any research design. Therefore, let’s criticize research design. In any research design, the operational definition and the random sample of those studied are pertinent. Since all studies, do not employ a truly random sample, generalizations from the study are limited to the collected sample. It’s no wonder why there are so many inconclusive findings regarding mindfulness. Moreover, mindfulness is one variable in the study of high blood pressure. Other important variables are necessary to be controlled such as diet, physical activity, philosophy of life etc. in any research design model. Furthermore, in studying heart disease, we know that individuals with high blood pressure have made poor lifetime health decisions. More than likely, these individuals would prefer to take a pill, to increase the profits of the pharmaceuticals, than to change lifestyle choices. Thus, the importance of a random sample of the population cannot be overstated. It’s also much more difficult to study mindfulness than comparing it to a study using a pill and a placebo. Why not have the pharmaceuticals fund research regarding mindfulness, high blood pressure etc.?
Another way to study mindfulness is to take a look at individuals that do not have high blood pressure and heart disease for study. Let’s find individuals with the following characteristics: 1. Individuals that employ mindfulness as a philosophy and behavioral choice 2. Making nutritious and healthy food choices 3. Employing regular physical activity and exercise 4. Not smoking 5. Limited drinking of alcohol 6. A life engaging in inspiration and meaning 7. Having an enriched emotional life. I’ll wager that in sampling these individuals, high blood pressure will not be found.
In my book “It Has Nothing To Do with Age, I met athletes who participated in extreme sports. Not surprising, none of my sample of athletes had high blood pressure or heart disease. In my book, can be found a prescription for optimum life expectancy. In essence, optimum mental and physical health are a result of consistent numerous healthy behavioral choices. Consistent and numerous healthy choices are underlined.  There is no one magic bullet.  It’s clear that mindfulness can be used as a tool for a healthy life. And per David Bowie  “It Ain’t Easy.”

Friday, February 14, 2020

Trumps Mental Health



The following is a clinical description of Donald J. Trump. Information was found based on his words, newspaper articles, television news, documentaries, and tweets. The dynamics of anxiety, power, prestige, possession, narcissism, sadism, competitiveness, fears of failure and lying account for much of this man’s behavior.
Underlying Trump’s personality and character is considerable anxiety which affects inner insecurity and accompanies his push for power. This is an unconscious process. The purpose for this “power” behavior is an attempt to alleviate from feeling helplessness, fearfulness, weakness and/or inadequateness unconsciously. Therefore, it’s an attempt to reduce the unpleasantness which is anxiety.  Hostility accompanies the expressing of “power.” Often, anger-hostility is pushed away from consciousness by the defense of repression. As a result of repression, it doesn’t take much to provoke him, and he is quick to react or explode. So he is trapped by his own anxiety, inferiority and hostility.
 Trump is extremely sensitive to any appearance or perception of being weak or inadequate. To compensate for this insecurity, he displays being in control and by dismissing anyone not loyal or subservient. He appears not to give in nor ever admit to being wrong. He does not seem to take advice from experts and even boasts about knowing more than the general’s or anyone else. To illustrate, Trump visited Dover Air Force Base to witness the return of a Navy Seal killed in air raid gone bad. He shifted the blame to his generals by remarking “This is something they wanted to do.” These character traits are compensations and a defense for his anxiety, inferiority, insecurity or weakness. He has to dominate others and project power regardless of the situation. For instance, at the recent National Prayer Breakfast, he did a fist pump while addressing the crowd.
Trump is fearful of feeling of being regarded or perceived as being insignificant. His “power” rigid bravado of sadistic verbal assaults provides a distortion that promotes his illogical belief that he can master, influence or dominate any situation, no matter how difficult.   Any display of insignificance or weakness for him is simply a disgrace. He has to be in charge or in control.   His need to control results in permitting few to join his circle. Make no mistake- he is the boss. By being the boss, hiring and firing become the norm.  He classifies people as either strong or weak .He despises, with contempt, those that are “weak.”  Really, was war hero John McCain weak for being a prisoner of war.
Trump’s recent attempt to hold up the aid to Ukraine was another example of his drive for power, dominance and control. His phone call was perfect, which meant for him that he was right. His passive aggressiveness was evident by keeping witnesses from testifying and ignoring subpoenas. This is Executive Privilege?  He would not give in because striving for power means that he can’t give in nor admit fault because that would be a weakness. In fact, his attorney said that if the President thought that it was for the public good, then this would be ok. The president holds the most powerful position in the world. This is a perfect fit for this man’s character.
With his anxiety is also his drive for prestige, admiration or stature.  He has a narcissistic desire to impress others, to be admired and respected. To be admired, he flaunts money lavishly and conspicuously. He displays his name on buildings, golf courses etc. Prior to obtaining office, he had numerous radio interviews with Howard Stern. Made contact with reporters from the New York Times in order for them to print stories about him. If you do not admire nor worship him, you are his enemy. He calls various networks and reporters who criticize him as fake and the enemy. In other words, you have to display admiration for this man because if not, you’re seen as a traitor and an enemy. These behaviors do not extinguish his anxiety nor remove him from experiencing an unconscious feeling of humiliation. However, once again, the result of this unconscious mental ordeal or process is met by the repression of hostility. This results in more anxiety and explosiveness. Pelosi, Romney and others, who do not admire him, are seen as enemies.  His turning his back to Pelosi and not shaking her hand during the State of the Union and his diatribe at the Prayer Breakfast are examples of his rage, hostility, verbal abuse and an attempt to humiliate another. He has to humiliate others with his verbal sadistic attacks. He does not forget nor forgive his enemies. He gets even in his passive aggressive ways. Just ask, Comey ,Sondlund, Kelly, Mattis, McMaster. Lt Col Vindman and his brother, Cohen etc.? What can be more humiliating to this narcissist than to be impeached?
His push for narcissistic prestige including his competitiveness, result in him leading, being first and having more than the other every single time. He told others that his inauguration crowd was larger than Pres. Obama’s; his Mexico-Canada trade deal is the best in history; his beautiful  border wall ; claims he’s the most successful president ever and won against impeachment. His self-promotion boasting goes on and on. This prestige drive once again is his defense against unconsciously feeling humiliation. His competitiveness with his drive to avoid failure is strong. He cheats at golf by moving his ball in a more advantaged position or in bending the rules to lower his score every time. He hides his tax returns from scrutiny as it would likely   expose some form of cheating resulting in embarrassment. Furthermore, he even wants Congress to expunge his impeachment from record. Will these behaviors reduce his anxiety or sense of worldwide public humiliation?
This Presidents striving for possession hostility takes the form of a tendency to deprive others by exploiting and restricting them.  He believes that he can outwit others and/or injure them in some way. Earlier discrimination against Blacks from obtaining housing, numerous bankruptcies and withholding money payment from others, not paying taxes are examples of exploitation and withholding. The exploitation from his phony University and Foundation are other examples. He withheld government money from the Ukraine in their war against Russia; received foreign help to win an election; and outwitted the Congress in the impeachment proceedings. The personality tendency to deprive or exploit is anxiety based. His unconscious belief and projection is that others take advantage of him. They cheat and exploit. This is simply a projection He is the liar, cheater and exploiter.
He deprives others with his executive orders and government policies of keeping “others” out of this country with walls or executive orders on immigration. It doesn’t seem to matter that he hires “illegals” to work at his golf club establishments. On top of that, young at the border are taken from their parents. Why should any child have to be taken from their mother during critical periods of their personality development? For many, these separation anxiety scars never heal. Why take away healthcare, pre-existing conditions and deprive so many ill Americans with no plan for improvement? It’s an attempt to deprive regardless of it being Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Budget cuts to Social Security, EPA, CDC, etc. are more of the same. He is sadistic, mean-spirited, hurtful and foolish. This emphasis to begrudge is exploitive and is meant to further divide the haves from the have-nots.
In essence, underlying the striving for power goes back to feelings of inferiority. The quest for prestige is narcissistic and the striving for power and possession are sadomasochistic and withholding. With these personality dynamics, we find anxiety and repression of hostility. He cannot control his anxiety, hostility and attacks. Unfortunately, these make up Donald J. Trump’s sad character and unconscionable behaviors.