Formidable Barriers

 

Functional medicine doctors  Hyman, Goldman , Klatz and others talk and write about longevity and its implications.  These knowledgeable and formidable doctors have collected data regarding how to live a healthy and long life .  I'm in agreement with their ideas but will present  barriers affecting a healthy longevity. 

Currently, over 80% of our population have a chronic disease which is defined as persistent  and long-lasting that includes diabetes, functional gastrointestinal disorder, arthritis, asthma, pulmonary disease, dementia, cancer, and so forth. Also, about 68% of those individuals with one of these diagnoses  have an additional disease.  How can those numbers be accurate in a country that's considered "wealthy," with outstanding medical doctors, with much medical  research in our highly functioning capitalistic, military-industrial technological complex ?  Moreover, there is a flood of information regarding theories of aging, the right  hormones, minerals ,vitamins, exercise, diets, apps, physical fitness materials , gyms ,  etc.  In fact, one's biological and chronological age can also be determined as well as the characteristics of centenarians living in Blue Zones.  It's  been said that people from Blue Zones who come to our country die faster than they would if they had remained  in their own country. In other words, we are the home of the  free,of the brave and of death. 

Genetics , behavioral choice , society, and nature  are barriers that affect health significantly .  For example, my grandfather passed away when dad was nine years of age from diabetes . Dad had juvenile diabetes, and lived until his early 70s.  As a teen, on some of our outings, we traveled to Windsor, Ontario to buy insulin.  We then had lunch and then a haircut for me .Dad knew his fate regarding  eventual loss of eyesight, poor circulation and amputation. Dad called this disease a  curse. In the end, in a nursing facility he was depressed as the amputations progressed. In essence, genetic influences are terrible . . .

Lifestyle has been attributed to as much as a  50% causation in contributors to disease, as in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.  When I was 68 years of age. I suffered an equine injury resulting in broken neck bones.  The orthopedic surgeon told me that if I continued my equine activities, I would wind up like Christopher Reeve. I  believed the message  and quit riding .  Linda in her 80s, had an equine injury resulting in TBI and cognitive decline.  A number of my football buddies have sustained injuries that have affected their  ongoing health. 

Other health barriers relate to being in the  military , police force, a firefighter and other dangerous occupations affecting health,  suicide , physical disability , toxic environment,s as stress rates indicate . Also, smoking , alcohol, drugs, eating ,movement, partners,divorce, death, separation, incarceration ,being fired , retirement  children and even dementia caretakers are risks and factors or barriers interfering with health outcomes..

What about food and nutrition as risk factors?  Two thirds of the population are overweight and/or obese; an average American consumes 152 pounds of sugar and 133 pounds of starch per year.  If you visit a supermarket, one finds it at both ends of the store. fruits and vegetables. The rest of the store is filled with packaged processed foods filled with sugar, salt and flour.  These food  isles have little phytonutrients, or  health benefits but harm aplenty .  

 

Yes, the farmers grow food and have to deal with drought , insects and use pesticides that affect a profitable harvest.  Shelflife is important for foods in this industry . Organic foods are expensive but recommended.. Does it make a difference that the CDC ,EPA and other federal agencies are being downsized or putting in charge anti-vaccine Kennedy Junior  of the Nation's Health ? Drinking water ,chlorination, and polluting the environment  are other toxic contributors to poor health and disease..

TV advertising of foods, products and meds picture  smiling individuals.  This propaganda is also a barrier because it suggests that  all you need to do is to eat , drink , take a pill, consume some product and you'll be happy too.The message is superficial ,demeaning, and a  lie.  So what if Premarin is derived from pregnant horse urine. So what, if lying is the norm . 

A brief word about incorporating a healthy mental and physical lifestyle.  Decisions, decisions seem to be a major problem since a decision today affects an unknown future situation.  In other words, a decision in the here and now may be correct, but not in the long-term as situations and variables change.  It's true that the information regarding  health is progressing and that it takes time and energy to keep abreast

Obviously socioeconomics is an important variable regarding making right decisions regarding  health.  Time is also required to understand and locate the right foods along with the proper movement or exercise.  Cardio and strength training for one hour a day may be available for some.  Obtaining the right amount of sleep, hormesis, availability of hot and cold showers. sauna, yoga, bands,and  free weights require time, money and commitment.  Simply put, one's  behavioral goal ,consistency and purpose tells the story.  In my read It Has Nothing to Do with Age, I listed a number of prescriptions for healthy aging, but omitted nutrition.On the other hand, the frailty, the irrationality and the ego need of abasement are the reality bearers related to man's self-destruction and interfere with a healthy well-being. 

The stress related to nature's realities of climate change flooding, hurricanes, fires and earthquakes also play a part because of related stress and are significant barriers to well-being  

A few articles found in the February 23, 2025 edition of The New York Times pertaining to stress: 1.  How a CryptoCurrency Scam  Destroyed a Small Town.  2.  As Prices Soar, Coffee Growers Are Worried 3.  Noise Complaints Led to a $ 750,000 Legal Settlement and a Shattered Friendship.  4.  Shoppers Go Online to Pay Clearly for Beloved Items that have been Discontinued.  5.  Requirements by Insurance Companies Add to the Burden After a Devastating Fire 6.  Kathy Hochul's Plans for Changes to Mental Health Laws Face a Barrage of Opposition 7.  New York Pulls School Funding From Two Yeshives That Ignored Laws 8.  Key to Trump Success Is His Knack For Creative Lying 9.  President  Ousts Top US General As Part of Purge 10.  They Escaped From Mass Shooting, But Teacher Never Left Students of Room 1214 11.  Landslides in California Creep  Along.,  Then Speed Up 12.  Fired Top Navy Officer Recorded Historic Firsts 13.  Layoffs at Safety Agency Investigating Musk's Cars 14.  Do you really know what you're injecting into your body?  15.  No Rest For Federal Judges Ruling on Executive Orders 16.  Under Trump, DC Braces for Economic Shock 17.  The Real Reason Trump Pushes Tariffs 18.  Roberts's Entire Life Has Led to This Moment.  19 Real Estate  listings$1,995,000 midtown condo; $1,399,000 New Rochelle Victorian; $1,699,000 Turtle Bay condos;$ 1,700,000 Westport Colonial and$ 765,000 Clinton Hill co-op.

Stress is a  serious mind-body connection associated with loss of appetite,and increased blood pressure.  When stress becomes negative it's our responses to it that creates a number of ailments from mental frustration  such as anxiety, depression, headaches, allergies, ulcers, and heart disease.  

In conclusion, engaging in a healthy lifestyle is a choice.  The variables of heredity, nutrition, exercise, are important considerations for positive mental and physical health.  Statistically, our Republic's health is severely lacking. However, adding a fascist component, as a stress variable, suggests a decline in mental and physical health outcomes.  This additional government factor adds an inordinate amount of uncertainty to the socioeconomic welfare  or stress to our Republic’s well being .

Existentialism Part 2

 

Associated with irrationality is the inability of experiencing life in the here and now , in part because of anxiety, and of being compromised by long work hours, low paying employment ,economic stress, drugs , alcohol, TV, apps, movies, novels,  electronic devices, vacations,    purchasing  and some “addictions”. The 60s was called the Age of Anxiety with the abuse of Valium. Today is the Age of  Addiction. Addiction is a repetitive involvement of behavior despite it being harmful to self and others. Do you know anyone that can leave home without their “ I”phone or other electronic devices ?  Separation  anxiety occurs when the device is missing or when it's not working properly.  In fact, some create special pockets to carry their precious device.  Research has found an association with a variety of mental illness traits with the over use and reliance on electronic devices. And ,it's also been reported that bulling on  social media has resulted in suicide.

Truth has been distorted by the massive amount of  propaganda, advertising ,and  technology of  algorithms. The political figures on TV frequently  repeat the same without any reference or any depth but generalizations .  It's true that there's been a flurry of executive orders, it's difficult to follow and remember all that's going on.  Suggestion: follow the money ,check out the credibility of the source and the theme . 

The dumbing down in our schools has also  contributed to impaired intelligence , not being in the here and now and the inability to employ logic and reasoning.effectively  Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims over four years with most being hateful and malignant designed for harm .He is still going strong as every one of his sentences indicate that he and his  malignant lies are synonymous. Truth and  beliefs are not always the same. 

Do not rely on technical achievements or this government to give life  meaning and solve human challenges is the third existential point.. The electronic addiction provides many examples of  interfering with a meaningful and productive life and is also  harmful to the brain .

Science created vaccines for Covid-19 and people were advised  instead to purchase phony items . We now have Kennedy Jr being the top government public health official.  His credentials are suspect and his attitude towards vaccines are outrageous. With  a measles outbreak  in Texas and deaths , medical people are attempting to educate the unfortunate about getting vaccinated for this most infectious disease. 

Science and  technology will not solve our problems in part because of all the crazy people in charge with malignant character, and the rest being like sheep,and  following the crowd. Climate change denial is an example of discrediting  science for profit. The March 2, 2025 edition of the New York Times titled "Trump  Undoes Years of US Climate Policy In Just A Few Weeks" is an example. Science says that we are in danger from the climate and there's an absence of outrage, in part because manipulation and  propaganda keeps the power structure in charge. This administration is cutting medical research  funding as medical progress becomes limited. Also, are self driving vehicles more fun and safe? What about Tesla ? 

Many are  worried about the AI revolution.  A few dangers  include 1. When controlled by the scrupulous, the potential disaster and consequences are infinite for the rest . 2. The US is in competition with China for dominance.  3 . A I will replace too many humans in the workforce.  4 AI might wind up being smarter , with control and enslave man.  In other words, this new technology does not necessarily solve man's being  but creates additional  stress, anxiety and worry. Further, it's not surprising that the billionaire tech people from Silicon Valley and elsewhere donated heavily to Trump.  They certainly want to maintain their  geopolitical control and keep ahead of China.  As a result ,they need government funding and  a steady supply of  intellectual talent from India . In order to take advantage of that top 1% from India, the expansion of the H-1 B visa program is necessary. Also, no social media regulation keeps the algorithms  intact for more disinformation ,power and control . In other words, skilled immigrants are okay so the American Empire  can rule the world. along with keeping  the algorithms and lies going etc.  

Hollywood movies like Ex Machina, The Matrix and Inside Out and  the novels  Brave New World and  1984.  perhaps  foreshadows our  future. Will AI and genetic engineering trap us and will we  be controlled in an outer world dealing with human emotions ; being controlled by robots  and  without  a” free will”?  Will our brains be managed by a collection of biochemical mechanisms being manipulated by someone in  some headquarters? That suggests  that  we may someday soon  become at the mercy of an implementation of AI neurological engineering by a powerful entity

In tHuxley’s novel , people were controlled by biotechnology and social engineering through the use of love and pleasure as opposed to fear and hate.  However,  John the Savage  who was reared in  a real  or primitive civilization can't adjust to the present  form of government . And ,in the end, because of his inability to adjust to the new society, committed suicide. 

Mass production , mass communication ,propaganda  conformity ; societal forces and roadblocks  also impede the  development of humanism and morality . The development of a fully functioning human being with authenticity is the fourth existential point . Maslow’s Self Actualizing individual is one definition. In other words, societal forces get in the way of man dealing with his own existential crisis of insignificance, powerlessness, being alone and  facing mortality . All the above interfere with man being able to love himself  and others; be productive; utilize truth ,rationality;  be autonomous and not worship false idols . It’s difficult to  become authentic . Instead, today’s society distorts a productive being by putting  forth myths pertaining to the American Dream, family, children and  a home in the suburbs. And, chasing fantasy  ,the capitalistic dream places many in an  enormous amount of debt  Some believe, it’s too late, and authenticity is no longer possible to obtain. 

Our mind seems to be actively working whether we like it or not.  The amount of energy we spend on an idea during consciousness or in a dream state suggests its  relevance and importance.  Beliefs, ideas, fictions depending on their strength and importance  influence our actions.  These beliefs, ideas, fictions come from a variety of lifelong experiences and fill the workings of our mind.  The power of our species  ,like authoritarians , depend on creating  the fictions   Our mind is susceptible , easily influenced and ,if agreed upon in numbers, form cooperative groups, political parties and/or cults ,In essence, the  workings in the mind relates to authenticity  or inauthenticity depending on the  agreement  or disagreement with known facts and objectivity. On the other hand, the  authoritarians create their own  beliefs, fictions  irrespective of truth.  It was easy for Trump to incite a mob on January 6, 2020 and attack the Capital and its police.  Acting, submitting and believing the fiction of the stolen election is associated with being inauthentic.

Many illusions  and propaganda interfere with the reality of man becoming authentic and instead, he attempts to fit in , join the crowd , becomes a number , a cog in the wheel ,on a treadmill resulting in inauthenticity.  One  example of conformity is when the TV camera focuses on college kids at a basketball or football game. They all  yell, cheer, smile, put up a finger and shake all over.Inauthenticity is also exemplified with statistics on decreasing sex per certain  age groups , Increases in suicide,  child and marital abuse ,low college graduation rates for males, drug deaths, obesity, heart disease, and cancer with declining longevity. 

Another example of inauthenticity occurred when 77 million “stated “ they were dependent on a person who : 1. Was impeached twice and a convicted felon  2.  Whose primary concern is himself ,is transactional - will do for you only if you do for him  3 .Against the constitution, rule of law, government institutions, fair elections , people of color,  the poor , public education, scientific research, freedom of the press,,free speech by others , climate change and truth 4. Favors authoritarians and the wealthy .5. Above the rule of law ,wants to rule like Putin . However, some might not be happy about the tariffs, cost of eggs and the threat to Medicare , Social Security, Medicaid, etc.. The contradiction of dismantling the government is okay but don't take away my Social Security.  

In conclusion, there are a plethora of childhood problems .Parents are  being overprotective , holding on tightly to their children in fright . Will their children be killed at school, in the supermarket, at  a movie theater or in a crowd?  It's obvious that strong, irrational impulses can't be controlled successfully or comforted by religious ,political or scientific endeavors, which are  man made . In other words, if the existential crisis of being  can't be dealt with  effectively and is too anxiety producing, man can't achieve ,develop his potential and  let alone live  a holistic fulfilling and meaningful life ,especially in an authoritarian  run technological society.

Reference

Fromm, Erich.  The Dogma of  Christ

Harari,Yuval Noah.  21 Lessons for the 21st Century

The Real Battle To Define Trumpism Has Only Just Begun.  January 19 2025, The New York Times

Existentialism Part 1

 

The philosophy of existentialism is in reference with a human’s struggle of being per the writings of  Kierkegaard , Nitschke, Jaspers, Heidegger, Sartre, Camu, May and others. Some of their ideas were previouslyIt expressed by Socrates, St. Augustine and Pascal. This essay applies four ideas of existential  thought to Trump's America.

Years ago, Nitschke created quite a stir when he said that God’s dead. Nitschke's point was that the religion of the day had  less meaning than earlier Christianity as people have  less faith and a contradictory  practice of morality .Today, the same could be said to many evangelicals who represented a significant number of the 77 million that voted for the felon Trump. These evangelicals have failed to incorporate  and apply the messaging of Jesus and his prophets . 

The early followers of  Christ were poor,unemployed ,and hungry  proletariats .The rural masses of population were stressed by an extraordinarily heavy tax burden and as a result, these individuals were left out economically and socially from the upper class   as well as from the whole Roman Empire. These Christians suffered and  were exploited. They were also revolutionaries that harbored hate and revenge against their own rulers and especially the Romans. Jesus’s  message to the poor, oppressed and suffering was  for a place of immortality in God’s kingdom of heaven.  This message was based on the promise of a not so distant future in which the primary  needs of the poor and oppressed would be  satisfied  per Luke 6:20 ff.  “Blessed are you poor for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you that hunger now ,for you shall be satisfied.  Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh....... in other words, there was a complete socio-economic reversal from realities on earth 

Jesus said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  Luke 18:24. Do today's Christians  have the same degree of hatred against the wealthy rulers as was found in the early Christians?  And, whom do they hate ? Another example of the hatred of the rich "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.  Your riches have rotted and  your garments are moth-eaten.  Your gold and silver have rusted and their  rust will be evidence against you and  will eat your flesh like fire......... You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man; he does not resist you.  Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.... Behold, the judge is standing at the doors ( James5:3 ff)  Trump's Christians bow down to the billionaires.

Many of today's Christians might not be well-off, but in debt . They might be hungry; they might be distressed and angry about the cost of a dozen eggs; they might hate Biden ,Harris and the Democrats but not the authoritarian billionaire authorities that have political and economic control. Early on, 1/3 ,in one poll , replied that they do not care , in agreement nor are aware  that thousands of civil service workers have been fired; foreign aid to the poor and other countries have been cut off; vaccination updates for the measles  outbreak and next year's flu vaccine are in jeopardy , the Constitution  ignored and the lawlessness  of executive actions ; medical research is in jeopardy etc . There has been a recent outrage and court rulings going in the other direction .

Love thy neighbor, and Christian brotherhood seems to be an illusion based on the massive plan to deport hard-working ,paying taxes  of millions and sending them to places like Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba or El Salvador .Jesus was about love and righteousness. Certainly, rhetoric from Trump , his disciples,  Fox News, and social media  messaging is not about love and unity but about hate , division and malignant aggression..One recent example was the White House horror show with the President of Ukraine.

Jesus died for the sins of mankind with messages of hope and a better afterlife for the masses.  Currently, this current father figure is about accumulating  money, possessions,control and status.  His messages are all about him and he's on his way of securing more profit and power.  These are two totally different  moral and humanistic models.  And, all the crazy "conspiracy" irrational ideas  suggest a loss of faith that has been replaced by  cognitive decline, paranoia, and the pursuit of greed. Greed is good.

Impoverished thinking leads to a second existential idea - the denial of the supremacy of reason and rationality. The strong malignant impulses  of hate, hostility and domination affect reason.  Defense mechanisms like denial, rationalization, intellectualization, distort the hazards  and difficulty of the anxiousness of reality.  Also, apparent  is cognitive dissonance in which  algorithms are employed in providing simplistic lies and a distortion of reality . And recently, Trump is not only controlling the press corps that follow him, but changing the format to limit information regarding him and his policies. According to him , the press is evil if they report the facts.

An article titled "The Six Principles of Stupidity "  was found in the February 2, 2025, edition of The New York Times.The article addressed  some of the craziness displayed in the Trump administration and gave examples of his vague rhetoric without constructive implications; ideas that were not reality based; giving all the power to one person; not being aware of one's actions and that stupidity is the opposite of rationality. The article did not ask the question, how 77 million people could have voted for a convicted felon; impeached twice ; instigated an insurrection on January 6 and said he'd be a dictator on day one.

A February 10, 2025 New York Times article  titled "May We Have Our Attention. Please?"made the following points: regarding social media and irrationality 1.  Social media engineers how we relate to one another online by selecting content that whips up strong emotions to draw us deeper into the feed 2.  More communication does not necessarily lead to more understanding.  3.  Left to our own devices, so to speak, we can get vain , careless, resentful and cruel.  4 Different points of view are not seen as opportunities to learn, but as provocations to attack 5 News ,entertainment ,conversation and all other forms of human expression would from now on be in direct competition angling for both the consumer's fleeting attention and the  algorithms blessings..

A neurological point of view assessing Trump voters  employing a brain-body connection  based on plasticity, loss of cognitive reserve and;the reciprocal mind -body interaction follows: :1.A decrease in cognition resulting in voting against their interests .2. There is an absence of significant  neurogenesis in their brains occurring along with the  level, if any, of cognitive reserve 3. Research  demonstrates  that  aging brains either shrink or expand , as evidenced in neuroscientist McGuire's  hypothalamus findings.4. Super agers  brain  functions rejuvenate and expand while the brains of the control group have decreased functioning  accompanied by  a shrinking  brain .5. The workings of the anterior cingulate with  its  (cognitive,emotional,attentional functioning ),hippocampus (primary  memory formation  )and cerebral cortex( ( comprehension of language, abstract reasoning ,social behavior) are necessary for rational functioning  Further, a February 2, 2025 article titled Think Big in the New York Times  stated the following "What appears to be a difficulty with life is in fact a difficulty in our thinking about life." And, Einstein said, "Once you stop learning, you start dying."

The preponderance of physical and mental disabilities, like obesity, diabetes,cardiovascular disease ,cancer, dementia, aphasia, language, depression, chronic pain  and so forth affect  brain health and rational thinking . Chronic pain becomes a major factor and interferes when it comes to searching for truth and objectivity for those suffering individuals . It's no surprise that the irrational thinking and behavior of too many of these voters have become the norm and  a significant variable for that population seeking safety, comfort ,relief and protection from a political leader as they are saddled with emotional pain and in a crisis of despair.about the here ,the now and future  ..

This section concludes the first two ideas of existentialism.  The next section completes this essay with two more existential  ideas  

An Evil Human

 

Elon Musk  is the news  And, his massive contribution to Trump's reelection puts him in the White House.. In fact, the White House has given him a special position with neither  oversight nor significant negative consequences .Favorable consequences come later.  This essay provides a character orientation supposition of  Musk.

Homo sapiens are saddled with existential anxiety, biological and ego needs during  development.. Existential needs of separateness, dependency, powerlessness, insignificance are based on awareness, intelligence and imagination  This  condition results in a state of constant disequilibrium as man has to deal with  being.  As a consequence, various passions, such as love, justice, truth, hate , cruelty, sadism and masochism affect and are represented in the character orientation of man..Moreover, In dealing with the frightening reality of life, the tendency for unlimited power, possession and status become neurotic for some .

Man requires an orientation and a devotion. He requires a map, a concept of his national ,social,economic and psychological world .A frame of reference  or roots that incorporates ideas often derived from the consensus of others ; rational and/or irrational doctrines pertaining to morality, socialization, economics, politics and religion. These reference points  make man vulnerable to  following false prophets. Money can be an object of devotion . Needs, goals of  devotion  become a focal point for his strivings, which are unsuccessful strategies employed  in an attempt to protect him from his loneliness, his isolation,his existence and  to provide security  which gives some meaning to his life.

Homo sapiens begin life in the womb that provide nurturance, warmth, security and safety.  Then with birth, there's a trauma resulting in terror, symbolically and realistically of being alone, helpless, insecure and not safe.  Mother becomes the fountain of life as she provides nurturance, safety, warmth and meeting the biological needs.  The first three years present psychological trauma as in the oral , anal and pre phallic stage of development.with significant  psychic implications during these formative years and present themselves in various degrees and intensity throughout one's lifetime.  Notably, the birth trauma separation represents a longing for situations as it once existed psychologically  but never ceases completely.  In other words, every adult is in need of assistance, warmth , dependence and protection for being . The dynamics of these needs continue to be repeated during a lifetime.

Elon was born in 1971 to wealthy parents in South Africa.  His parents divorced in 1980 and he  initially chose to live with his father.  He stated his father beat him after learning that he was beaten severely by a fellow student  leading to him being hospitalized for his injuries.  He hated his father and later reunited with his mother.

These early traumatic experiences resulted in him being  dependent and emotionally tied to his mother  especially during  the oral, anal and phallic stages of development.  What are Elon's dependent , emotional and cognitive ties?  How does Elon recapture that need for warmth,  affection and security  ?  Because of him being early tied to his mother, what other  avenues has he chosen ? 

For instance, a few Issues associated with the anal stage  of development  for Musk are as follows: 1.  The sphincter battle for autonomy  between mother and son.  Who was going to win this conflict of when to hold onto tightly or when to let go of his prized or special possession ? A bowel movement is a thing , not a person as in  an example symbolically of dehumanization.  All the people that were fired were simply things; all his companies are just possessions; all his wives,girlfriends, children are his possessions.  These possessions are associated with malignant hostility ,and control 2.  Will there be a defiance or fear that's associated with being sensitive to a loss of love?  How many wives and how many relationships are required to find and recapture symbolically that first love?  How much power, money and possessions are needed and required to fill his depth  of insecurity ?  3.  His  defiance of norms, humanness and morality expressed suggest  that there is only one way of doing things and it's his way?  Dismantling and destroying without significant consequences the federal government.is his way .The legal system and monetary fines are irrelevant .  4.  The tendency for noncompliance, negativism, controlling others and invoking arbitrary rules with no consequences are sadomasochistic and hateful with contempt.

Proceeding to the pre-oedipal and oedipal stage of development suggests the following :The pursuit of love ,comfort and security results from his first identification and imitation of his mother or his first sole love object.  His second identification  and imitation was his father.  2 How and to what degree is he expressing” love “ for all the relationships and with his 13 children?  Does he  model his mother or his father?  3.  The origins of his conscience, and superego of good ,bad ,right ,wrong are established.  And his transactions with his mother and father set the stage and range for him being a helping ,loving or a hindrance, hating mankind.  His actions toward government employees and programs are sadistic and cruel.  4.  Oedipal fears are related to sadomasochistic tendencies. Are his wives, other relationships sexually motivated or are they simply object possessions that he acquires ? Are his children likewise possessions too? 5. With the  castration anxiety dynamic,follows  anger, jealousy , resentment and the talion principle of revenge. His symbolic chainsaw  attack is simply one example ..6. His narcissistic unfulfilled fantasies and wishes seem to be symbolically acted out hatefully. They are clearly sadomasochistic  with malignant aggression . 

 How many wives , divorces and  impregnations  ?  He obviously can't find safety, security, affection and dependency in any one woman. His notion of marriage and  family ?  Perhaps his relationships do not have to do with sex and pleasure, but with fathering children.  He fathered 14 children and one  died as an infant.  How much nurturance ,love, affection, attention   and personal involvement as a father does he  exhibit with his children?  Also, his malignant sadism is unconsciously expressed in subjecting his wives and children to divorce.  His wives, girlfriends and children are simply possessions.  His malignant sadism is also expressed in naming the children on their birth certificate  letters that are impersonal ,nonhuman characters,and symbols. associated with an oral and anal character, tendencies  

Other illustrations  of an anal character orientation are possessions as  pleasure in his possessions and in his properties. Characteristics of a anal character orientation are associated with being stingy, suspicious, cold, anxious, stubborn, indolent,obsessional and possessive.His possessions over the years have included: 1.  Zip2 2.  X.com and PayPal.  3.  Space X 4.Starlink: 5.  Tesla 6.  Hyperloop 7.  Open AI and X AI. His foundation donated money to his Open AI and the assets reached 9.4 billion by the end of 2021 but he only dispensed 160 million to charities that year. His self-serving foundation received another 6 billion . A World Food program director David Beasley said the money could have fed 42 million people for a year .Musk says he’s  a christian with what moral code? He pays what in federal income tax ? He knows fraud with intimacy. 

Elon's exploitive character orientation has been  certainly more on public  display since January 20.  Behavioral tendencies , of him, include being exploitive, aggressive, egocentric, conceited, rash and arrogant.  How many civil service and federal  employees, agencies, government contracts have been severely affected by his cold, narcissistic, malignant actions?  He was seen smiling on the stage with a  chainsaw . A chainsaw is used to cut wood. Limiting democracy, stealing  data , neutralizing investigations into his companies  and use of government funds and technology are his goals .Also,,his sadistic representation of people is characteristic of his dehumanizing hate. Furthermore, this smiling dependent apartheid  South African has terrific  use of his sphincter muscles with his expulsions on people of color ,vets, and our country.

Aggression

 The behavior of Homo sapiens are varied , contradictory,  complex and it can be argued whether or not man has an essence or human nature.  With that in mind, are a couple of  ideas pertaining to man’s motivational tendencies including  benign and malignant aggression 

A few examples of ideas from the days of old, depicting man, incorporating  his ability to think and his aggression related to good  or  evil. 1.Socrates suggested that it was man's ignorance that was the source of his disposition.  His evilness was a vice and  man's error 2.  The Old Testament described man's  disobedience. This disobedience (benign aggression) was a basis for man's self-awareness ,for his capacities to choose between good and that of evil, and that man must choose between good , evil ,blessing,  curse,  life and death. And it was the messengers and prophets that taught the norms which led to the realization of goodness.; Identify the evil and to warn and to protest but it was man's decision and his alone. They also recognized that if man does evil, he becomes more evil as represented by Pharaoh's heart which hardened because he kept on doing evil . 3.  In the Middle Ages, Augustine described man's nature as corrupt( Adam's fall  was malignant aggression.  Each generation was born with the curse caused by man's disobedience and only God , the church and its sacraments could save man.   4.  Later ,in the Middle Ages, were the ideas  and beliefs in man's dignity, power and natural goodness  5.  Luther and Calvin expressed man's intrinsic (malignant aggression) evilness,and powerlessness .  The greatest obstacle for man was his  pride that he can only overcome by guilt feelings ,repentance, unqualified submission to God and faith in God's mercy.

Psychologically speaking, Freud believed in reason ,the right to protect man’s natural claims against societal conditions within the existence of cultural pressures;. He saw man as lazy, self-indulgent, and had to be assisted to be socially useful . He also saw man's irrationality and destructiveness .Further, a mentally healthy individual was one that was able to love and work productively.

In the  “archaic “ and “old” brain structures of Homo sapiens are areas associated with aggression ( Hunger ,fight or flight ,fear responses, defending territory, keeping safe) and research has shown they can be activated or deactivated.  Aggression is built in and necessary for man's survival and has been identified as an ego need.  We witness the newborn expressing aggression by biting the nipple, crying , thrashing all related to its survival ; in  the terrible twos we see more aggression, disobedience, and the power of no which is not  related to the infant's survival. Furthermore, when a youngster says to his mother,  "I hate you" that's an example of benign aggression and very likely the  child is angry with no  intellectual concept of  the emotion of hate. 

 Aggression can be classified as benign when it's in the service and associated with survival. It's a biologically adaptive defensive reaction.  Of course, another response could also be fleeing and escaping the danger.  On the other hand, malignant aggression is not associated with survival and in fact at times, the individual perpetuating the aggression seems to enjoy , find favor and satisfaction in those actions.

With development the following occurs in various degrees depending on a multitude of factors. 1.  A tendency  for  moving toward another as in dependence , love  and cooperation.  2. A tendency for aggression, domination, exploitation in moving against another. 3. A tendency to withdraw from others as in self protection   4. A tendency for thinking rationally ,  irrationally , feeling , perceiving and sensing .. 

As a child, I didn't like Brussels sprouts.  I complained but didn't understand that Brussels sprouts were good for me and perhaps if they were prepared differently,  I might've liked them.  Thinking, feelings of disgust and benign aggressiveness were displayed .  Much later, I began playing competitive football. In this game, in order to get the coaches attention,  I  aggressively dominated a teammate.  During those benign  aggressive encounters, I didn't like my teammate.  I didn't hate  him, but he certainly wasn't a friend at that point.but an external obstacle or threat  . As my football career progressed.  I learned about Denby's bitter rival-Pershing.  I didn't hate them, but I thoroughly disliked them.  One Friday evening during a football game.there was a knife fight and someone was seriously injured . That was the end of Friday evening football and the  games were moved to Friday afternoon.  Certainly, there was irrationality ,feelings of hate with sadistic  and  malignant aggression expressed between those combative individuals.

Currently, an article titled "Hate 'Em  If You Want.  They're Still on Top"  In the February 9, 2025 edition of the New York Times was about the Kansas City Chiefs dominance; they are hated just like Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were before because of, in part, the envy over Mahome's ability and the Eagles seeking revenge. What goes on between one's ears and stays there even if irrational, can be classified as benign aggression.  However, once those thoughts or feelings are expressed against another, it  becomes malignant aggression.Thinking that you hate and are envious of Brady  or Mahomes  suggests shortcomings and the irrational .Blaming them is  scapegoating . That thinking suggests that man's intellect is weak un reliable and influenced by various desires and passions. However, expressing hate, slander, and misinformation on social media is not benign aggression but malignant aggression. That passion of hate and expression  is irrational  and malignant because Brady and Mahome pose  no real  threat to one's well-being, safety and security.  However, with malignant aggression, that  passion  of hate comes from within and is a character flaw of that individual. 

There's a relationship between rational , irrational thinking, feeling and behavior.  Emotions influence thinking and behavior and thinking influences emotions and behavior.  In other words, a certain type of thinking leads to and is in concert with a certain type of emotions and behavior as described by Albert Ellis. For example,the emotion of hate can be based in some form of rationality like when there's an actual  external threat affecting  freedom,  ideas  or  life like in war. Yes, the government can and does create  illusions of some external threat and create hate.  Do we need to acquire Greenland for security purposes ?  I thought Russia's now an ally .Hating  or disliking Pershing , Brussels sprouts ,Brady or Mahomes is not a threat to  freedom, ideas , survival  or life.  It was simply irrational hateful  thinking .

On the other hand , a hostile person who is committed to hate ,expresses a malignant aggressive  tendency to hurt and harm another . In this case, the stimulus comes from within. This  inner hate is a component and associated with one’s character orientation  . These individuals blame and scapegoat others for their hate  and their actions are then  rationalized .

Frustration is one example  related to aggression. Take the propaganda related to the so-called   2020 stolen election  that resulted in violence.  In this example, Trump’s needs, desires were frustrated when he lost and as a result, an enemy  was created and scapegoated as the cause.  In other words, frustration of a need, a desire can result in  malignant aggression.  Also, with Trump’s frustration and hostility the feeling of envy(wanting what Biden has) and feeling of jealousy  was triggered by emotions of inadequacy, helplessness, anger, fear  and resentment .

Violence and aggression are also associated with revenge even though the injury( lost election,impeachment etc.) has already occurred . And revenge won't magically change the original assault .  It's an eye for an eye mentality  and  Gandhi once said “Makes the whole world blind.” Trump has selected numerous individuals in his cabinet and others to go after his political enemies.  This active revengeful malignant aggression will not restore his self-esteem.  It's simply his neurotic desire to protect his inflated ,unrealistic image of himself to regain control and reduce anxiety.  The intensity of the revenge resulting from him being impeached ,the breakup of his economic holdings in New York, and being a convicted felon are some of the obvious factors pertaining to this man's character inadequacies 

.More specifically, hate, and/destructiveness are inherent in all humans.  However, note that in Albert Maslow's theory of self-actualization, there was a significant absence of hateful malignant tendencies toward others. These individuals were more fully developed- intellectually ,emotionally, sensually and productively.  Individuals studied gave to others and helped create a better society . One can be aggressive or oppose forcefully when necessary .His sample achieved, mastered , overcame obstacles, excelled, and surpassed others.  They cooperated with others, were affectionate and were loyal individuals.  They were healthy . Spinoza ,Marx ,Freud, Spencer and others also wrote about man's developing self and being productive within society.

One's early experiences, genetics, socioeconomics, and other factors influence development of character, personality ,create and influence  tendencies for  developing mental health ,illness and hate.  With illness and hate , these individuals have limitations, blockages ,and traumatic experiences in their experience during development.  They are not self-actualized, but with their limited intellectual, emotional aspects, they fail to fully develop themselves .And as a result of these limitations, their  malignant aggressive destructiveness is directed  inward toward self and outward toward  others.  When the self is fully actualized, there's an  important absence or limitation of hate and malignant aggression toward others .

According to Freud, man has a certain amount of psychic energy .If there is blockage of a  spontaneous expression of sensory, emotional, physical and intellectual energy, this occurrence affects the ability to grow  and develop .In other words, man’s productivity and potential  for fully living becomes compromised. This blockage  is the result of individual and social casualties .Then,the blocking of  life furthering energy becomes  transformed into destructive energy  Thus, when a significant amount of the psychic energy is directed malignantly, that leaves little or less opportunity for growth, well-being and benefiting others .  

In summation , the actions of benign and malignant aggression characterizes man.  There are many examples of benign aggression in sports and everyday interactions.. Unfortunately,  current examples of Trump’s GOP ,social media, movies, TV, novels  etc. are filled with malignant aggressiveness that characterize man's negative passions such as hate, sadism, masochism, destructiveness,  jealousy, envy, narcissism and so forth. Further, the power of malignant suggestion in  propaganda is too prevalent and  reflects divisiveness. Human passions of love and tenderness don't seem as prevalent today.  The governmental actions of Trump ,Musk, the GOP are deplorable and yet a recent poll found that 30% trusted Trump’s positions .

Reference

Brain Injury. Institute for Natural Resources.

AD

 

January 26, 2025 article Fraud Has Delayed A Cure for Alzheimer's article in the New York Times deserves a  much needed response .  This devastating disease affects nearly 7 million Americans and about one in every nine people over the age of 65.  Additionally , up to 420,000 adults in the prime of life suffer from early onset of Alzheimer's.  The annual number of new cases of dementia is expected to double by 2050. IIrrespective of this information, Trump and his crazies have curtailed an Alzheimer's and dementia research facility .  A Stanford neurologist raised concerns about the research with its present and long-term implications.Also, cutting medical research funds  affects the development of drugs and vaccines for the treatment of cancer. genome, heart disease and other biomedical  diseases.

The New York Times article found evidence of questionable findings regarding the study of A D. Eliezer Masliah who once led the National Institute on Aging was found to have "changed" photos of human tissue  in the study of Alzheimer's. His photo images showed the presence of a protein in the blood or tissue sample called amyloid.  Apparently, this finding of amyloid became a significant hypothesis in the study  of Alzheimer's. This amyloid finding influenced drug manufacturers to develop medicine based on this hypothesis. 

Information titled Understanding Dementia from the Institute for Natural Resources follows stated  Dr. Alois Alzheimer ,in 1907 found plaques and tangles in a diseased brain of one of his patients . The A, D disease is the most common cause of dementia for adults age 65 and older . It’s an irreversible life devastating progressive disease which affects brain cells. The neurons deteriorate, resulting in the loss of cognitive functions primarily memory, judgment, reasoning, movement, coordination and pattern recognition.In  advanced stages of the disease, eventually, all memory and mental functions may be lost.  The condition predominantly affects the cerebral cortex and hippocampus causing these structures to atrophy.

There are two main types of AlD. The  Early Onset Familial Type comprises 5% of all Alzheimer cases.  Symptoms usually occur in the 30s, 40s and 50s and are highly genetic with causation. The second is called Late Onset Sporadic Type which  is 95% of Alzheimer's cases.  Symptoms usually do not occur until age 65 or older. The average age for diagnosis is in the 80s - perhaps 50% genetic and 50% lifestyle factors . Specifically, the.Apolipoprotein e e4 variant is the main genetic risk factor.

The top 10 warning signs of AD include 1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life.  2 Difficulty with planning or solving problems.  3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks.  4 Confusion with time or place.  5 Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. 6. Problems with words , speaking or writing 7. Misplacing things and losing ability to retrace steps 8 .Poor judgment.  9 . Withdrawal  from work or social activities, and 10.  Changes in mood,and  personality.

Is not surprising that independent living centenarians have almost no symptoms of AD.  Perhaps the best way to reduce AD risk is to live like a centenarian because of the biomarkers of this disease. It's no wonder that drug treatment has proved to be nonsignificant in slowing the decline of daily functioning in most patients.  In fact, Linda had two trials of meds, but found that the side effects were so bad that we immediately stopped those  drugs

Unfortunately, various supplements have no established benefit for this disease i  These supplements include vitamins A, E,C,B6, B12, folic acid, 2. Calcium 3. Celebrex and other NSAIDs 4. Ginglo's biloba 5. Coenzyme q10 , L carnitine and alpha lipoic acid 5. Statin drugs 8 Coconut water 9. Antipsychotic drugs 

A.D. is a progressive disease and has been classified into five stages, ranging from Mild Confusional State; Mild to Moderate Impairment; Moderate Impairment, Severe Impairment and finally, Very Severe Impairment.

 

Since lifestyle is estimated to be related to 50% of this disease,a few of the following risk factors include  1.  Genetic and family history 2 . Age and sex 3, High blood pressure.  4. Cardiovascular disease 5 .Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. 6. Traumatic brain injuries. 7.  Low educational achievement, low mental stimulation and smaller brain size 8. Poor diet ,toxins, lack of exercise and obesity  9 . Smoking and  excessive alcohol consumption.  10. Chronic inflammation, hearing loss, low social support.  11. Chronic stress, anxiety, depression and sleep disorder.  12. History of caregiving for family members with dementia.

As if AD is  not one of the most horrible progressive diseases, don't be surprised that the following information was found from a combination of studies: AD caregivers had significantly higher levels of obesity, osteoporosis, type II diabetes and muscle atrophy.  Another study found that AD caregivers had double the risk for developing heart disease,.And another reported that AD caregivers  had six times the risk of developing AD themselves compared to  a matched control group of non caregivers. For those interested, there's a caregiver stress test.

Linda's past history was associated with excellence, competitiveness, joy , happiness, pleasure and satisfaction with all her outdoor sporting events.  Unfortunately, her trail bike and horse lady experiences resulted in traumatic brain injury or TBI.  As a result, her current lifestyle is  associated with a cognitive slippage .. 

Linda’s current regime is as follows: 1.  For procedural memory. Linda drives the golf cart, ties her shoes, plays pickleball ,rides her exercise bike,and elliptical, attends an exercise class 3 times a week and has  an one-on-one Yoga session with Trula twice a week.  We continue to dance and walk . When it gets warmer, Linda intends to resume  swimming, kayaking  and fly fishing

Other strategies  and daily exercises pertaining to Linda’s cognitive issues include 1. Short and long term episodic and declarative  recall; time orientation;  receptive language  and  object naming ; reading, word finding , spelling, writing, and arithmetic exercises .It's about repetition. If you don't use it ,you lose it.

A July 9, 2023 edition of The New York Times described the " evils" of that bad word socialism in an article titled  "Safe Harbors Amid the Tempest of Dementia ,"  Socialized medicine in Amsterdam and Norway have created a treatment environment that integrates dementia patients within the communities around them.  For instance, in their settings , are townhouses, public theaters, supermarkets , a Plaza , a Café and restaurants open to everyone . They established the world's first "Dementia Village.". 

On the other hand, we are number one, we are the richest , and we have a capitalistic model healthcare system .And , we proudly have one dementia daycare  location in South Bend, Indiana.  We are number one when it comes to wealth , for a few,but we sadly are behind when it comes to our flawed healthcare system.  To make things worse the GOP  power structure wants to cut the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid , and withdraw from the WHO. and other research centers  with Kennedy Jr. and other undesirables  in charge.  The GOP's mission is based on greed,  control , discrimination and exploitation.. They are obviously not concerned about the mental and physical health of the majority  in the country.  They  do support the  capitalistic tool  of  a loneliness app to solve our loneliness crisis . Yea for GOP’s capitalism.

PS

The February 2, 2025 article in the New York Times titled "Silver Tsunami" provides insight into capitalist thinking  strategies regarding the wave of aging.  Their questions and concerns are as follows: 1.  What  about the departing workforce ?  Should investors focus on pharmacy, long-term care facilities ?  2 Will there be a collapse of the housing market.? Are the  old-timers going to stay in their homes or are they going to downsize ? What about senior living communities?

Longevity and Mythology

 

This essay has to do with a few of man’s.ideas pertaining to health ..Man for centuries  has denied, rationalized, created myths, fantasies and illusions regarding knowledge about his being. Articles from The New York Times are main references .

The article  "The Pursuit Of Longevity Lives Forever, but We Don't “ was published January 19, 2025.  Roughly 4,000 years ago there was a Mesopotamian king named Gilgamesh.  As the story goes, he set out to find a life of everlasting youth  in a certain plant . Then,, a Chinese magician named Xu Fu convinced the Emperor that there was an elixir granting  eternal life  across the Yellow Sea. The Emperor supposedly gave this man 3,000 virgins and an Army for his quest.  End of story  as the magician was never seen again. Everyone knows about Alexander the Great and his dominating quest . Apparently ,he also had the desire to live forever. He died in his 30’s. The  irrational pursuit of immortality is  an  example of man’s craziness and stupidity .

What about Ponce de Leon?  Did he find the fountain of youth?  Apparently he did. Just look at the number of older individuals living in Florida today. That population number just swells during the winter months.  Even my younger sister Bev moved to Florida.

Maybe  Isaac Newton was on to something when he believed that his alchemical research would create a drink that  granted immortality.. Then, during the Age of Enlightenment, the word longevity emerged in the English dictionary.. Its current relevance is apparent and a  few notable characters follow: 1.  Luigi Cornaro wrote the first longevity diet book and subjected himself to sparse daily portions, including a lot of eggs, milk, broth and vegetables and lived into his 80s.  He also practiced caloric restriction and abstinence.  2.  A Chicago urologist began replacing people's testicles, including his own with those of younger men.  He died at age 65.  3. Dr. Eugene Steinach’s vasectomy  procedure was the cure for aging.  

In the 19th and 20th centuries ,anti-aging gurus, newspaper writers and charlatans  promoted lifestyle changes, such as avoiding excessive sleep, forgoing water, marrying and even living in Nantucket . Other suggestions were not reading sexy  novels that poisoned  the  mind.  Even insurance companies preferred to insure one Jew rather than two Christians.  Soda fountain clerks told customers drinking sour milk would cause them to live to be 200 years old; cosmetic companies sold electrotherapy devices already established and useless ; and testimonials from Americans to reporters  said that they drank a daily bottle of old and good wine, took medication, ate candy ,hunted whales and  smoked at least one cigar a day. Dr. Cyrus  Edson,  told people that men of genius  lived remarkably long lines.  He died in his mid-40s.  Alexander Bogomolets developed a serum made from horse blood and cadaver marrow that he believed would allow one to live to 150 years of age.  Alexis Carrel claimed  to have kept alive the tissue of a chicken heart for years.  

Longevity increased in large part to the establishment of public water filtration , chloration, discovery of antibiotics like penicillin and the arrival of vaccines for deadly diseases like: polio.  Now , researchers from Harvard and Oxford recently  thought the market value in  expectancy research  with breakthroughs  would be worth $367 trillion.

It's clear that immortality is fictional and can be found in novels, movies, and so forth. On the other hand, aging is not as evidenced by the fact that it's developmental as well as normal and pathologic.  With that being said, there are numerous theories of aging.The main ones include: 1 Wear and Tear.  2.  Neuroendocrine 3.  Genetic Control 4.  Free Radical .Other theories proposed throughout the years  include water accumulation; cell division, limited number of cell divisions,, Hayflick Limit,, Death, Hormone, Thymic-Stimulating , Mitochondrial, Errors, and Repair, Redundant DNA, Cross-Linkage, Autoimmune ,Calorie Restriction ,Gene Mutation , Rate of Living,  Order to Disorder,  and Telomerase per  Klatz and Goldman “Stopping The Clock.”

There's a plethora of information regarding aging in our wealthy country.  Yet ,the oldest living do not nor have never resided in the United States.  Yes, Loma Linda, a "Blue Zone"  community  has people reaching 100.  The following four articles titled "A Tricky Diagnosis and the Lure of Women's Health Scams.  January 12, 2025; “How Extreme Religious Liberty Undermines Public Health” September 18, 2022; “Best Measure of Health?  Body Roundness Index Find Support over BMI “September 8, 2024; and “The Joyless Quest For Peak Happiness “ August 11, 2024  are just a few articles affecting  aging . And, I'm omitting all the toxic exploitive Trump policies associated with anxiety, fear and increased cortisol levels..

Briefly, the first article had to do with the difficulty with accurately diagnosing female conditions .  An example of this was based on the polycystic ovary syndrome.  This disease has resulted in both over and under diagnoses.  That being said, there are a number of scams for treatment, especially on social media that were financially motivated by uncredentialed health types.

The second article had to do with recent rulings by the courts that favored the beliefs of a small group of conservatives. These rulings favor corporations and limit various treatments, especially drugs related to infectious diseases like Covid-19 and HIV .  It's the court promoting corporate profit over public health.  Generally, the insurance companies, because of the Affordable Care Act, had increased the amount of coverage and the courts seem to be on the path of changing that because of religious craziness based on some primitive idea.  It's not surprising that the motive of profit rises.  Back in the day when I was practicing psychology.  I had a contract to provide psych  services with a limited number of Rx visits allowed. When I exceeded those limitations, they told me they found another provider that they could pay less..

The next article suggests that perhaps the BMI index -body mass index should be replaced by the BRI - body roundness index.  As far as the BMI index goes, every time Linda and I have visited a Dr. ,they asked  for our height , we were weighed  so BMI index scores were recorded.  I can't recall any doctor or nurse ever commenting on our BMI index.  Perhaps the BMI index fails to capture the health  or illness of many.? Okay,  the BMI is only one measure of health.  Yes, there are many measures regarding health. Is the BRI a better index than BMI ? 

The last article was about measuring and being preoccupied with happiness. Recently, researchers created a critical positivity ratio which is a precise numerical value derived through complex mathematical functions to describe the ideal relationship between positive and negative emotions.  As a matter fact, this mathematical  ratio has been used in a number of apps pertaining to happiness.  Also, the article went on to suggest that one can become preoccupied with their apps and that in fact can and does create negative outcomes with certain individuals depending upon their  anxiousness or depression .

I have not read  any current research that suggests using one of these emotional apps relates to longevity.  Assessments for longevity are very detailed, covering a wide range of topics, experiences of each individual.  In any event, apps are a tremendous source of income with questionable outcomes. Years ago, Paul Ekman stated "emotions are a process, a particular kind of autonomic appraisal influenced by our evolutionary and personal past, in which we sense that something important to our welfare is occurring, and a set of psychological changes in emotional behaviors began to deal with that situation."  He identified seven emotions that included anger, contempt, enjoyment, fear, sadness and surprise.  I would add that emotions change rapidly and that they are difficult to identify and label based on private practice and personal  experiences with others.Notice that five of Ekman's emotions are negative and Jefferson’s pursuit of” happiness “was nowhere to be found. I admit that Jefferson ,the brilliant wealthy land owner and owner of other humans had a pretty good life.

Albert Ellis’ theory was based on the fact that emotions affect thinking and thinking affects emotions which often results in irrational thinking and  behavior . With that being said, emotions are significant but do not tell the whole story as far as longevity goes.  Yes, Jefferson told us to pursue happiness , but he didn't say it would lead to longevity.

For the purpose of this essay, let's assume for a moment that  apps differentiate pleasure and non pleasure . Aristotle referred to a hedonistic concept  suggesting  that the attainment of pleasure is good because it's the absence of pain; it's the ultimate goal of life.  Plato suggested that pleasure can be true or false, and that good men have true pleasures but bad men have false pleasures.  In other words, pleasure is subjective .

Pleasure, success, and satisfaction can be considered good depending upon the perception of the holder.  Those Hamas terrorists ,who are still alive, likely considered their attack on the Israelis as pleasurable, satisfying  and good.  Also, eating a hot fudge sundae might be pleasurable and satisfying at that moment . even if one is  obese and has diabetes . Obviously the long  term perception of pleasure, satisfaction and happiness can often be detrimental and self-defeating.  Further, a sadomasochistic type seeks and strives  for  pleasure and satisfaction with their sadistic, cruel and dominating behavior.  However, who wants to be in a relationship with that type of individual ?  In essence, the pursuit of pleasure, satisfaction and happiness can be and is often self-defeating  and harmful to  well-being.

Pain and unhappiness also occur in the unconscious.  To illustrate, often  a person, who is unaware ,who doesn't have success as he desires because of impaired health or from inner defects is unable to understand  or make the connection that these unconscious forces  contribute to his unhappiness .He believes he's happy.  Recently, I chatted with  a friend  In his  60s .Steve told me that he was delighted, happy because he recently sold a number of items. He can not afford to live independently. He also mentioned his high blood pressure. He was almost disqualified when  in his 40’s ran Western States .He claimed that high blood pressure for him was normal and was never  a big deal.  He also told me of his recent heart byway operation and again told me that high  blood pressure was just high blood pressure.  He didn't acknowledge any relationship between his high blood pressure, and his heart condition . Simply put, individuals have an illusion of happiness which is self-contradictory.  Happiness and unhappiness are not only states of the mind as they are expressions of the entire organism and  personality.

Spinoza, Spencer ,Marx   Freud ,Rand and others wrote about the necessity of being productive  ; It's of value because it contributes to the  emotional development of the individual and these actions benefit other individuals . In”It Has Nothing to Do with Age,” I prescribed 7 prescriptions that relate to mental and physical health, resulting in lengthening one's life span.. Happiness is subjective and conjugated with  living a productive and healthy life .  

Happiness and unhappiness are more than just thoughts within the personality ..The belief in happiness can be related to a  lack of productivity, emptiness of life, incapacity to love or be loved found in the unconscious.  Often, individuals rationalize the illusion of being happy.  Happiness is conjunctive.  with an  increase in vitality of feeling, thinking  and productiveness . Unhappiness is conjunctive with the decrease of these previously mentioned capacities and functions of personality.. The workings in our body and its reactions are clear expressions  of the unconscious workings in one's reality .  In other words, the body is less capable of being deceived.  Facial expressions ,listlessness, being tired  and headaches are a few examples. In essence, subjective feelings of happiness are illusory and unrelated to genuine  happiness. They are  simply pseudo and illustrate man’s ignorance. In closing, Aristotle stated, "all I know is that I know nothing."