Anxiety part 2

About 6 to 9 months later, when mother leaves the room or becomes out of sight, we experience that tension, anxiety, fear, loss of “love” or helplessness that our needs are not going to be met because of her separation. This is called separation anxiety. We also began to experience anxiety when we are punished, as we now are afraid of the loss of mother’s love. Receiving punishment compared to receiving “love” are diametrically opposed. In other words, as infants, the basis or the blueprint of helplessness and anxiety have been established. The dynamics of separation anxiety, and loss of love are re-experienced throughout one’s lifetime over and over again.

Psychologically, our job is to deal with all the emotional storms of a lifetime of stress; overcoming obstacles; by employing a variety of strategies or substitute gratifications to master the unpleasantness of anxiety. More often than not, we are unable to identify the root causes of our anxiety. As a result, we distort the real, or underlying reasons for it.

Because it’s difficult, for many, to identify the signs of anxiety, the following physiological symptoms may help per DSM. Dyspnea or difficulty with breathing; palpitations; chest pain or discomfort; choking or smothering sensations; dizziness, vertigo or unsteady feelings; feelings of unreality ;parenthesis or tingling in hands or feet; hot and cold flashes; sweating; faintness; trembling or shaking; fear of dying, going crazy and doing something  uncontrolled during an attack are just a few indicators. Additional psychological components or signs of anxiety include excessive brooding, worry, preoccupation, rumination, anticipation of misfortune to self or others, difficulty in concentrating, and insomnia. This list is far from exhaustive.

With the assistance of our ego, we consciously or unconsciously [not knowing it] experience a threat internally; detect some great external danger; or predict that some calamity is about to happen. Helplessness, then occurs, and with the help of our ego, we spring into action to confront this unbearable or unpleasant situation. In our culture, there are numerous ways of escaping this terrible feeling of anxiety. According to Hans Selye, It could be flight, fight or freeze. Typically with fight, different aspects of aggression, contempt, resentment, or scapegoating follow. On the other hand, we can also rationalize it; deny it; narcotize it; or avoid thoughts, feelings, impulses and situations which might arouse it.

To be continued

Anxiety

While writing the Hon. Brett Kavanaugh post, I thought more about how anxiety impacts our lives. For instance, allow me to provide a few rationalizations like having a graduate degree from the University Michigan, being a former college football player, the author of Bo’s Warriors – Bo Schembechler and the Transformation of Michigan Football, and being a featured guest on Coach Jim Harbaugh’s radio show, in order to identify with the University of Michigan’s football program. Whether I attend a game at the big house or watch on TV, I am in a state of tension, anxiety, or worry especially when the score is close. I am powerless to affect any score change in the game. I can only reduce, but not eliminate my inner uncomfortableness, or helplessness by engaging in rituals like yelling, cheering, booing, clapping, standing, shaking my fists, doing the wave, etc. Unfortunately or fortunately, I continue to put myself in this state every football season. This post briefly addresses anxiety and a few of the ways in which we deal with it. I shall take the liberty and use the terms tension, anxiety, worry, nervous, agitated, scared, obsessing, detox, pressured, concerned, panic, stress, distress and uncomfortableness interchangeably.

Anxiety, consciously or unconsciously plays a significant motivational role in the lives of all of us. Anxiety is experienced as being uncomfortable and we Homo sapiens psychologically attempt to discharge it. Anxiety disrupts the state of homeostasis. With an unbalanced equilibrium, there’s a drive to bring it back to balance, or to a homeostasis state.

We begin life as an infant with physiological drives for food, water, and warmth etc., but we are helpless and dependent in our ability to meet or satisfy the drive. Behaviorally, all we can do is cry and exhibit some form of restlessness. Then, we have a mother or caretaker that satisfies that uncomfortableness and helplessness, let’s say with feeding, to bring us back to a homeostasis state. Over time, hopefully with mother regularity, our drives are satisfied or fulfilled. As a result of introjection and identification mechanisms, we learn to anticipate and associate the fulfillment of our drives with that mother figure. One might speculate that when that consistently happens, we learn and develop a sense of basic trust, or the beginnings of “love” for our mother.

To be continued

Hon. Brett Kavanaugh Part 3

When we have an important emotional belief and are verbally or physically confronted with a dissonant view, we consciously or unconsciously experience anxiety, which is a reaction to danger to our ego or self. Because of identification dynamics, a perceived attack on judge Kavanaugh becomes personalized as an attack on us, which we therefore defend.  Anxiety is unpleasant and although we may or not be aware, psychically. we attempt to defuse it, avoid it or to eliminate it. So when one member of the tribe, hears that the judge sexually assaulted Dr. Ford, they rationalize and refute the accusation and put their energy into proving the statement wrong like “it happened 35 years ago.” Or employ denial, “How could she remember that it was him?”

Another member, of the tribe inserted the idea of him being a sexual predator. He added something to the effect that there were no current charges of sexual assault and therefore the Hon. Kavanaugh cannot be a sexual predator because he doesn’t fit the profile. That’s an example of rationalization by misusing, creating and employing a distortion of the facts with pseudo- logic.

Being human, it’s not surprising that the Hon. Brett Kavanaugh was anxious during the second hearing. He could not escape the feeling of helplessness, nor the anxiety associated with it. This anxiety becomes almost unbearable for a person mainly in control of most situations .The greater the anxiety results in aggressiveness or hostility as a defense against experiencing it.  The Hon. Kavanaugh felt danger and threat as if he was attacked. The anxiety surfaced and anger and hostility followed by him becoming more entrenched in his view of being right and perfect. As a result, his fighting back behavior exemplified partisanship, an anxiety reaction with episodes of anger; exposing character during his job interview.

The existentialists are correct in that man has strong irrational forces within him, and he cannot be comforted by political or other illusions. It doesn’t take much for man to express his biases based on his perceptions and defense mechanisms as a consequence of living in our society as conflict is inevitable.

Hon. Brett Kavanaugh Part 2

After Dr. Ford finished testifying, the Hon. Brett Kavanaugh again testified before this same committee. This time, his demeanor was noticeably different. Employing Dr. Paul Ekman’s model of measuring nonverbal expression or facial expression and its accompanying emotional component, the Hon. Brett Kavanaugh clearly displayed wrath or anger numerous times by the expressions on his face. His verbal tone, pitch correlated as well. A heart monitor reading would have told the same story as in an anxiety reaction. When Senator Klobuchar asked him about his drinking behavior, the Hon. Kavanaugh, defensively shot back and asked her about her drinking habits. For example, when she asked him whether he ever got so drunk that he could not remember what happened the night before, he gave an exaggerated response, “you’re asking about a blackout, I don’t know, have you?”

The Hon. Brett Kavanaugh also heatedly accused - projected, as if a conspiracy, the Democratic senators of trying to derail his nomination with false sexual allegations as revenge for Hillary Clinton losing the White House.  At the hearing’s end, Hon. Brett Kavanaugh said he believed in God, and that he had not sexually assaulted anyone.

There have been other reports of two women, in college, that claimed the Hon. Brett Kavanaugh, when drunk, acted sexually inappropriately. Other Yale males said that Kavanaugh drank a lot and was aggressive during these episodes. Judge Kavanaugh admitted to drinking beer and liking beer. He denied ever blacking out, but admitted to falling asleep.

To Be Continued

Hon. Brett Kavanaugh

The media is engrossed with the Republican Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. The public is not surprisingly divided as to support or nonsupport of this current judge. This situation provided an excellent example of how conflict or psychic conditions are addressed by Homo sapiens. Psychological components such as introjection, identification, identity, emotions, anxiety, defenses, perception come in to play and exposed our biases, and/or differences.

We learned very early in life about the political beliefs of our parents as a result of the mechanisms of introjection and identification. This early learning was not in depth. Cognitive learning or the establishment of formal operations or abstract reasoning, logic, rational evaluation of facts per Piaget or secondary process has yet to be developed. Our parent’s attitudes and their perceived omnipotent knowledge influences the early likelihood of becoming primarily a conservative, liberal, Republican or Democrat. My father was a many times union president and I was named after FDR. My political orientation was clearly established. This political identification becomes part of an identity, as well as a public persona. I might add that this significance has a long-standing emotional component embedded in the limbic system of the brain, notably the hippocampus and the amygdala.

The Hon. Brett Kavanaugh recently testified before a congressional Senate committee made up of Republicans and Democrats regarding his confirmation for the position of an appointment to the Supreme Court. Last week, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified and claimed that she was sexually assaulted some 35 years ago while both she and Kavanaugh were attending high school. She told the judiciary committee that she’s hundred percent positive that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her while he was intoxicated during a house party. The Hon. Brett Kavanaugh denied watching her testimony because he was preparing. Maybe he was rehearsing and likely didn’t not want to confront regrettable past memories by witnessing her testimony.

To Be Continued

Jonathan Jordan, Esq. Part 3

Gypsy and I arrived at the next vet check at about the 93 mile marker with no Jonathan in view. I told the veterinarian that Jonathan hadn’t caught up. He arranged a search party and left looking for him. Shortly thereafter, somehow Jonathan arrived. Again, we partnered up, completed the event, coming in first place. Looking back, I remember being worried about Jonathan and wondered what I would tell Tara about him being lost. Jonathan, I miss your humor.

About six years ago, Jonathan had radiation and drug treatment for his cancer condition. He lost a lot of weight that never came back. That treatment was just awful. I remember visiting him during recovery, as we went out for a trail run. With his cancer in remission, I looked forward to our phone conversations and visits. He was the type of friend that asked how you were feeling; a person you would confide in and expect his utmost attention and feedback. With open communication, it’s easy to develop that special loving bond between males. There was only one Jonathan. I miss you and am angry that you passed. However, Jonathan, you are alive in my mind, and I have so many fond memories of you, dear friend.

PS

 Jonathan, all you had to do was tell me that you did not want to run next year’s 50 K. Okay, I’ll run it with Ethan and Elijah

Jonathan Jordan, Esq. Part 2

Jonathan was a great storyteller, well read, with a larger-than-life, outgoing extrovert personality. He was humorous, serious and knowledgeable about numerous life events. He had a number of sayings such as “well, my daddy would say…. .” His daddy was an attorney who practiced in a small Georgia town. Jonathan and his brothers were athletes and excelled in playing basketball. Jonathan played college basketball; attended law school in California; and was a defense attorney in San Diego. Jonathan, I miss your friendship.

 In addition to being my friend, my running compadre, Jonathan was also my 100 mile Swanton Pacific Ride and Tie partner in 2008 with my equine Gypsy. In that event, we were in the lead, arriving at the vet check at the Butano Airstrip at the 50 mile marker. At about 85 miles, we passed Steve Anderson who was helping out by running a mini aid station. It was pitch dark and the thick ocean fog rolled in. At one point Jonathan said he needed to go to the bathroom so I continued ahead with Gypsy.

To Be Continued

Jonathan Jordan, Esq.

Last Sunday, after my trail run, Linda greeted me, “I have some bad news; Jonathan died.” I looked at her in disbelief. How could my dear friend have died? Jonathan was trail running at Horse Thief Canyon with Elijah Saturday. Elijah being faster, took off ahead of his father. He stopped after some distance, turned around, calling to his father, while running back in the direction of Jonathan. He finally came upon Jonathan who was propped up against a tree, only too late.

The last time I saw Jonathan, Elijah, and his two other high school aged boys. Ethan and Atticus were last February. Atticus was a designated driver as he dropped us off at the start of the Salmon Falls 50 K. I miss you Jonathan.

I first met the tall, good-looking, charming Jonathan with a southern drawl dressed in a cowboy hat, T-shirt and sweats at the Quicksilver Ride and Tie, about 16 or 17 years ago. We struck up a conversation at the event, and quickly became friends. Whenever I would compete in a ride and tie in the San Diego area, Linda and I stayed with Jonathan, his wife Tara and the three boys. Reciprocally, whenever Jonathan or his family came to our area, they stayed with Linda and me. In fact, for the last 12 or 13 years, Jonathan came up to run either the Cool 50 K or the Salmon Falls 50 K.

To Be  Continued

There Are No Do Overs Part 3

Economics was another subject mentioned during the game. Although everyone is retired from their primary occupation or profession, one individual continues to make money. Some commentary: “How does Musk continue to generate income even though his Tesla Motor Company loses money each year? “ “Warren Buffett is not a genius as he only invests in standard safe companies; and he stays away from the dot-com’s because he doesn’t understand them.” “Steve Ballmer has billions and realizes that he can’t spend all his money, so he is giving money away.” Warren Hellman during his 20s, ran Lehman Brothers. Warren, was one of four individuals that completed a 100 mile ride and tie, 100 mile Tevis equine race and the 100 mile Western States endurance run. These three events were one day competitions. He founded the Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco and donated money after his death, to run that Festival for 15 more years. Warren came to the ride and tie events in wrinkled clothing. He never talked about money and at times you would think he was homeless.

Yes, economics is important, but it is just a commodity or a vehicle for exchange. Well-being or life satisfaction is complicated. Yes, Orman and winners of the Swedish lottery, and our Monday night football group have economics in play. Money is important in our economy. However, it’s not one of our basic psychological needs, even though some pursue it in an attempt to gratify some unconscious or conscious deficit. Accumulating more and more dollars does not seem to satisfy or fulfill that desire, or fill up what’s missing. In fact, Gates, Buffett, Ballmer, Bezos, Hellman and others give it away. What about Larry Ellison? How much does he donate?  Ellison owns two military jets. Is that his Second Amendment right?

Having an automatic weapon and an organized militia were also discussed on MNF. Everyone in the group has guns. In fact, one of us killed a rattlesnake, on his property, with his rifle.

 Health, relationships, meaning in life, acknowledging death and reaching a state of integrity are important conditions regarding evaluating life fulfillment. Answering and responding to a survey provide limited information at best. Further, one does not always tell the truth in a survey. In order to tell the story, an in-depth interview provides more significant wisdom into one’s story. Asking someone if they’re happy or fulfilled is scratching the surface. Plus, I don’t know of any 40-year-old that desires to trade places with a 70-year-old. But likely, more 70-year-olds would like to be 40 again.

PS

Yes, I remember the final score of the game.

There Are No Do Overs Part 2

Eric H Erikson addressed critical stages with psychological crises for the young and the old. Briefly, the tasks of the younger generation or the bottom of the U-shaped had to do with developing and achieving intimacy. Therefore, the significance of a union, based on mutual trust, so that one achieved the ability to regulate the cycles of work, procreation and recreation were paramount. Also significant, was the ability to be invested in guiding the next generation. Can both Erikson and the U shaped idea both be accurate? As far as the last stage of development, or the top of the U, the question has to do with developing or achieving ego integrity. In this stage, the ability to accept one’s life; and to defend the dignity of one’s life cycle against all physical and economical threats while approaching the end; and accepting the fact that we have only one lifecycle. In other words, there are no do overs. Once the train leaves the station, it’s gone.

Although not a research study, but instead our Monday Night Football group is an example of male bonding. We watched last Monday’s game between the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks. This glimpse provided some insight into those individuals 65 years of age and older per topics discussed. One topic had to do with race. For example, we viewed a game played by predominately black millionaires that are under contract to white billionaire owners. Yes, it is a game that is played by elementary and secondary school children. Some were critical and put down a player’s ability during a playing mistake. The zebra liked officials were also criticized on certain penalties rendered. On the subject of education, one individual stated that all kids couldn’t be saved and we should focus on those that could be saved.

Talk was also political. Depending upon the party affiliation, an individual was talked about many times as either being good or bad. Hillary was called the worst candidate put forth by the Democrats, in part, because of her lack of being elected to any public office. It was stated that she couldn’t even beat Obama, at the time, who also had a limited political resume. It was stated that Trump was a criminal, and a reply: “what did he ever steal from you?” Reason, facts and rational judgment were only in the eye of the beholder. Emotions permeated the discussion. No one’s beliefs or thoughts were changed, regardless of the facts.

To Be Continued

There Are No Do Overs

 Where does this title grab you?  “The Surprising Joy of Old Age” was found in the September 17, 2018 edition of Time. In the article, a number of studies were referenced. In one, a group of 30-year-olds were compared to 70-year-old’s as to their happiness. Were the 70 -year-olds defined by sorrow, dread, or regret? Or, were they defined by peace, gratitude, and fulfillment? According to the study, 70-year-olds were happier than 30-year-olds. Another author claimed that there is a U-shaped course in life. The happiest times are in childhood and old age, while the unhappiest were in their 40’s and 50’s. Further, it was stated that this U shaped phenomena runs across nations, cultures and incomes levels. According to one author, older people have more ability to normalize crises and realize that they will survive them.  One other study compared successful CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, aged 50 to 70, to younger people on tests of reasoning and processing speed. Not surprising, the younger people scored better. However, the CEOs were running huge, stable and profitable companies. Further, the article indicated that death is inevitable and that so many of us may reach that end smarter, and even smiling. Really, it doesn’t fit my limited experience.

A second article, this time, in the New York Times, dated August 26, 2018, was titled “Winning the Lottery Beats Losing, A Study Finds.” In this article, a study of lottery winners in the Swedish lottery were compared. They found that lottery winners on measures of “well-being “and “life satisfaction” differed. Responses to a question asking about happiness however, showed less of a connection to the amount of lottery winnings. On the other hand, life satisfaction as measured by taking fewer mental health prescription drugs were found with lottery winners. Come on, what about other prescription medications? These researchers and other studies found that money increased life satisfaction scores when they compared those that had greater winnings on the lottery than to those that had less lottery winnings. Winning the Swedish Lottery might increase your life satisfaction?

Suze Orman’s “New Rules of Retirement,” found in the August/September 2018 edition of AARP listed 7 guidelines. Number 1 was “Embrace Your Age” while 5, of course, of the next 6 had to do with economics.

To Be Continued

Thank You Mom Part 3

Seems to me that the task of optimum proper mothering requires a stable, reliable, trustworthy mother figure. What is the percentage of mothers that can bring these personality traits to the table? What if mothers themselves have been mothered with a terrible model so they themselves have not developed basic trust, and then how can they be expected to provide the necessary and important mothering techniques for their infant? It is clear that the amount of trust derived from earliest infantile experience does not seem to depend on absolute quantities of food or demonstrations of” love,” but rather on the quality of the maternal relationship.

Additionally, many unions between men and women fail, as evidenced by the high divorce rate. We know that individuals often marry for the wrong reasons. In a failed or troubled union, becoming pregnant and having a child does not provide the fix or solution. It’s no wonder that so many of our children, through no fault of their own, start out with at least two strikes based on ineffective mothering.

Two psychodynamic defense mechanisms during this critical developmental stage include projection and introjection. In introjection, we experience and act as if an outer goodness has become an inner certainty or an outer “badness” has become an inner certainty. While in projection, we experience an inner harm as an outer one. As a result, we can endow significant people with an evil that is actually within us. With this being the case, the use of reason and rationality is compromised. In other words, crises pertaining to love, trust and faith can characterize irrational attitudes toward adversaries and enemies in many “normal” individuals. Unfortunately, there are many who profess faith, yet express mistrust in life and in man.   The diagnosis of depression is one outcome. Yes, mistrust is all too common in our society.

Thank You Mom Part 2

When the infant learns to anticipate help, he becomes quiet when he hears and sees preparations being made to feed him, even though nothing has entered his hungry mouth. The expectation or anticipation of the reduction and satisfaction of the tension of the inner needs becomes associated with the mother or familiar figure. If under favorable circumstance when this occurs, the infant can develop a sense of social trust [being all right, inner certainty and predictable goodness, sense of personal trustworthiness]. The Infant, not only begins to trust another, but begins to trust oneself as well. However, if maternal techniques or responses have failed, forms of discomfort and people associated with them surface. Behaviors such as discomfort or tension of his bowels; unwillingness to let the mother out of sight without undue anxiety ; perhaps biting or unease during feeding; or interference with the depth of his sleep  suggest infant  problems.. If and when this occurs, a sense of distrust is developed [having been deprived, having been divided, and having been abandoned] .Now we have a disruption of mutuality between mother and child. The perception, and imagery that help is on its way is necessary and critical for trust to develop. If not, we have the beginnings of anger, frustration coupled with a perception of a “bad” non-loving or non- giving mother .Further,  a sense of worthlessness, inferiority, and inadequacy follow.

On the other hand, if the mother is too overzealous or overprotective in her behavior, the child may not be able to learn or develop that anticipation or the expectation that assistance is on its way. Some frustration is necessary for optimal development with the key word being “some.” If the mother is too nonresponsive or neglectful with her child, again, the child may not be able to learn, develop, anticipate or expect that assistance is on its way. Too much ignoring or frustration is not good and once again a perception of “bad” mother develops. If so, infant behaviors of  sucking, watching, searching, fingering, babbling, playing, and imagining may not work for the specific satisfaction of some pressing need.

To Be Continued

Thank You Mom

The importance of proper mothering, of the   infant, in the development of personality has been well established. The infants first two years are identified as a critical period because this is a crucial stage for personality development. The infant, in this stage of development, is likely to develop a sense of trust or a sense of mistrust per Eric H Erickson. That outcome, in this stage, plays a major role for later development.

Initially, or in the early weeks of life, the child suffers from identifiable stress that comes from hunger, pain, discomfort, loud noise or rough handling. As a result, the child, in an attempt to relieve the tension or stress, can be seen as crying, or exhibiting some form of hyperactivity. Crying or hyperactivity are the only mechanisms available for the infant to express its painful tensions as talking or locomotion releases  are not yet established. This painful tension is referred to as primary anxiety.

How can a mother or anyone else be on hand to always anticipate the infant’s needs, since these needs cannot always be known? It is inevitable that the infant is repeatedly overwhelmed by the stress or primary anxiety of his needs, which he himself is powerless to satisfy. There are old wives tales regarding allowing or not allowing the child to cry during this painful period. However, there is no authoritarian external source or cookbook that has the right absolute answer for this maternal behavior.

The infant’s developmental task is to gain some control over the many uncontrollable tensions; so they become less intolerable; or so that a little delay in satisfying them becomes less of a disaster. In other words, as time goes on, the demand for the immediate satisfactions of these tensions becomes more manageable and becomes less imperious as the result of proper maternal intervention.

To Be Continued

Fear Part 3

Another example of fear common to highly competitive individuals is called the fear of failure. The fear of failure has motivational qualities in which the individual attempts to avoid the failure. Personally, years ago it was about six weeks prior to the 100 mile Western States trail run, when I developed an overuse injury. I was running with Tony, Tom and others on our usual Wednesday night run. I was showing off by keeping pace with my younger friends. I was scheduled to run a 50 mile trail run with my friend Bob on the coming Saturday. The injury was a setback. Instead of getting proper rest and smart rehabilitation, my logical and rational thinking got hijacked by my emotions. Foolishly, I thought that I still had to train hard, after just two weeks of minor rest and rehabilitation. I was irrationally fearful and my clouded thinking believed that I had lost significant muscle memory and muscle strength in that short period of time. That example was neither the first nor the last time that I overcompensated with fear getting in the way. My overcompensation was strictly -based on fear.

On the other hand, the desire, or seeking out of experiences that are consciously or unconsciously feared are called counter phobia per A Psychiatric Glossary. There are numerous examples that one places themselves in a situation that is dangerous and scary. For some, all it takes is for someone to say “you are a scaredy-cat” or “I’ll bet you that you can’t or won’t do that” for that individual to make the leap. In adolescence, with its peer pressure, numerous behavioral examples of fear-based stupidity can be found.

Fear of failure is just one example how we attempt to compensate, overcome and deal with fear and anxiety during our lifetime. Some seek power, control, fame, money, etc. in order to compensate for their underlying fear or fears. It doesn’t matter how much power, control, fame, money, etc. that one accumulates. The fear being internal will always be there because fear is constituted in our brain and is part of our nature.

As far as existential thought, the following ideas are relevant regarding fear: 1. Man is a being that will someday die.2. Man has strong irrational forces within him 3. Man cannot be comforted by religion {sexual abuse}, political {toxic Republican –Democratic divide}, scientific {nuclear bombs} or other illusions.4.Man, by living with these realities, finds life difficult and coupled with anxiety and dread.

Existential philosophy foreshadowed the Human Potential Movement with more current ideas pertaining to self-actualization, well being, and happiness. Thank you Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Sartre for insights regarding human motivation. You influenced my thinking.

 On the bright side, keep moving, build muscle, and eat healthy to reduce the fear of aging.

Fear Part 2

Homo sapiens created religion and government in order to control the social order. Man has been perceived as being intrinsically good, as well as evil because of his weak will, evil spirits, ignorance and corruption within the society. Insightful philosophers Machiavelli in the 16^th century and Hobbes in the 17^th century came to the conclusion that the population at large could be manipulated through fear. Are they right?

Politically, our leaders have employed fear throughout the ages. Our most recent presidential election had slogans like “make America great,” build the wall, restrict immigration, tear up that Iran nuclear deal, etc.  These slogans all have underpinnings of fear. Repeat the slogans over and over and eventually it works.

Turning to individual pathology, there are a number of disorders that illustrate the negative dynamics of fear and anxiety. A few of the anxiety disorders include: 1. Agoraphobia-avoidance of certain situations and/or being alone in public places. 2. Social Phobia-avoidance of certain social situation like public speaking. 3. Simple Phobia-persistent irrational fear of a compelling desire to avoid an object or situation other than being alone. 4. Panic Disorder-physical disorder 5. Generalized Anxiety Disorder-generalized persistence anxiety 6. Obsessional Compulsive Disorder-excessive brooding, rumination or preoccupation. 7 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-existence of recognizable stressor that would provoke significant symptoms of distress in almost anyone per Diagnostic Criteria from DSM.

To Be Continued

Fear

Trail running has many advantages aside from the natural health benefits. For example, when I run with my Border collie Sherry, I often, in my mind, outline my ideas for a post. On this particular 10 mile trail run, the subject of fear came to mind.

Homo sapiens have been around for about 70,000 years and our biological beginnings have not changed. We are born helpless, dependent, and fragile. We cannot exist independently. We can’t speak; grasp things with our hands; have indiscriminate vision; have no muscle mass; are unable to locomote; nor able to use our prefrontal cortex effectively. We are unable to protect ourselves from heat or cold. Essentially, we are born fearful, needy and autistic in our early development. We rely on our caretakers. However, in our amygdala, fear is registered. Emotional fear is with us until we pass and that is certain.

Just think, back in the day, of a few natural dangers like wind, fire, rain, cold, heat, and the large meat eating animals looking to satisfy hunger. These elements certainly gave ancient man reasons to be fearful within his environment.  About 70,000 years ago culture started to be formed; and about 12,000 years ago the agricultural revolution began the evolution that resulted in producing more intelligent people.

Man in an attempt to deal more effectively with the hazardous environment, reduced his fear by creating  multiple gods , along with various rituals like sacrificing animals or humans to pacify the angry God’s. Then came the  Greeks who  depicted  numerous  fearful ,powerful  Gods like Apollo - who could be cruel and destructive; Hades  -of the underworld and dead;   Hera –driven by jealousy and vengefulness ; Hermes-he protected livestock ; Poseidon, the goddess  pertaining to floods ,droughts and earthquakes; Ares, the God of war, bloodshed and violence;  Zeus , King of the gods ,weather, thunder, lightning to name a few. The Hebrews followed and simplified the ideas of deity’s and settled on one God. This God was a masculine like father who laid out rules for man’s behavior and could protect this small insignificant tribe.  Man required protection from fellow man. How has that worked out? Now, one can argue that we have become like Gods. We’re in the process of “taming” nature and on our way in polluting and destroying our planet as we know it.

To Be Continued

It's Difficult Being Healthy Part 3

I’m going to take issue with our do-nothing Congress and radio and TV news that seems to focus over and over on presidential tweets, pardons, immunity, impeachment and the most important upcoming election in history. It’s obvious that most of our risk factors for Alzheimer’s, CTE, and dementia relate to personal choice. Personal choice is complicated by our greedy capitalistic food, beverage, pesticide and drug cartels. Congress by severely limiting regulation [thank you, lobbyists], has allowed these industries to flourish and make money at the expense of the population at large. It’s difficult to name many foods that haven’t been genetically modified with ingredients that we have difficulty pronouncing, let alone have any insight to knowing what they mean for us. These industries, with Congressional assistance, have taken advantage of the biological characteristics of man, in that they create highly emotional addictions for the bad and hazardous ingredients that contribute to our ill health. It’s no wonder that three quarters of Americans are either overweight or obese. These industries and its representatives along with the congressional assistance are committing crimes against humanity. They are exploitive man made creations.

Non-healthy individuals have problems with exercise and being active. We all know that physical exertion is difficult, with labored breathing and muscle soreness. However, movement It so very important for our mental and physical health. Forget about antiaging and focus on improved physical and mental health. Electronics or the various apps have not made us any healthier. Keep moving or atrophy. As in the Nike commercial, “Just Do it.”

It’s clear that we require hands on” alternative” government, public school and meaningful corporation intervention to create, regulate, and educate about healthy, nutritious foods and diets; proper dietary supplements; realistic movement and exercise programs.  Having strong thumbs may be good for electronics, but does improve anyone’s health. It takes education and professional modeling or personal tutoring to assist in making the changes as too many people are failing on their own.  Perhaps, radio and TV could do more like public TV in displaying good taste, education with professional input in programing.  We need the Greek Goddess Hygiela, Athena and God Ares now.

It's Difficult Being Healthy Part 2

German psychiatrist Dr. Alois Alzheimer first described the symptoms of this disease in 1907. Alzheimer’s is an irreversible progressive disorder in which brain cells [neurons] deteriorate resulting in loss of cognitive functions. These functions are primarily memory, judgment, reasoning, movement, coordination, and pattern recognition.  In the advanced stages of the disease, all memory and mental functioning may be lost.

A few sobering statistics: 1. 5.7 million in our country are living with Alzheimer’s disease. 2. 14 million in our country are expected to have this disease by 2050. 3. 277 billion $ is the estimated cost in the United States from Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia for 2018. 5. Number of drugs, 5, approved by the FDA to treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s, but not the root cause. The only way I would get on that train, if that was the only train leaving town.

The Time article addressed the Sprint Mind research study that tested whether aggressively lowering blood pressure would have an effect on people’s risk of cognitive decline, including symptoms of dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease. The study involved more than 9,300 elderly people who had heart problems or were at a higher risk of developing heart disease, because they had high blood pressure. For the study, Individuals that lowered their blood pressure to less than 120mm HG, lowered the risk of developing MCI or probable dementia as measured by the various test by 15%, compared to people who lowered their blood pressure to 140 mm HG.

The article pointed out that two drugs BAN2401 and aducanumab are drawing attention for those unlucky. These drugs only address the symptoms and in the best case, slow the deterioration of the nerves. Slow means that your impairment lasts longer.  According to one study in the UK, those with an excessive drinking habit [8 glasses of wine in a week] or those that didn’t drink at all, had a higher risk of dementia than those who drank moderately.

Significant Alzheimer’s risk factors [Institute for Natural Resources] include: 1. Genetics and family history 2.Age and sex 3. High blood pressure 4. Cardiovascular disease 5. Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome in diabetes 6. Traumatic brain injury 6. Low educational achievement, low mental stimulation and smaller brain size 7. Poor diet-Mediterranean diet lowers risk; toxins, lack of exercise and obesity. 8. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption 9. Chronic inflammation, hearing loss, low social support 10. Chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorder 11. History of caregiving for a family member with dementia.

To Be Continued

It's Difficult to Be Healthy

There is limited, but not enough, significant action when it comes to major issues facing us like global warming; income inequality; nuclear threat, and racism. Likewise, there is hardly any focus in the media or congress , except for an article in the newspaper or magazine when it comes to obesity; opioid epidemic; air and water pollution; paucity of regulation when it comes to the food, pharmaceutical,  and beverage industry; lack of physical activity and  mental and physical health. These gigantic concerns provide a backdrop for an article titled “New Hope for Alzheimer’s” found in the August 20, 2018 edition of Time.

Thanks to NFL football. the MCI acronym or mild cognitive impairment is on the minds of many, especially parents and their concern about whether or not to allow their children to play football. Unfortunately, the MCI diagnosis is increasing and currently found in about 10 to 20% of Americans 65 years of age and older. The good news is that many with the MCI diagnosis will not necessarily progress to dementia. However, about 5 to 15% of those with MCI do progress to Alzheimer’s disease. Also, older men are about 50% more likely than older women to develop MCI. However, more women develop Alzheimer’s disease than men.

Although MCI impairment does not have a strong genetic or familial component, the major risks are to no surprise- lifestyle factors. 1. Having a vascular risk factor is a powerful predictor of those that proceed from MCI to dementia. 2. Having three or more of: excess weight, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low “good “HDL cholesterol and high blood sugar markedly raised the risk of MCI of people 65 and older. 3. Women over 75, who had a sleep disordered breathing and sleep apnea are twice as likely to develop MCI or dementia, compared to women without these conditions. 4. Regular vigorous exercise - 45 to 60 minutes a day, four times a week improved cognitive functioning in a group of people with MCI. And those getting moderate physical exercise like brisk walking, swimming, yoga, aerobics, strength training in mid-life, are 39% less likely to develop MCI.

Mild Cognitive Impairment Due to Alzheimer’s disease is a new diagnosis. Another concern is the diagnosis of dementia. Although dementia is not a specific disease, it is a group of symptoms caused by different disorders that affect the brain. For example, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 75% of all the dementias for adults reaching age 65.

To Be Continued

Ego Identity and Young Mothers Part 4

Being unmarried, pregnant and dependent affects her child’s psychological development in that the mother’s identity was flawed with a sense of role diffusion. What values of right and wrong did the young child incorporate? What did he/she learn about choices and consequences? Generally, a mother and father dynamic, provides the child with a better opportunity for the development of an appropriate gender role. If the young mother was unable to be independent and had difficulty separating from her family, then it is more than likely that she is going to pass that  personality trait on to her offspring. Likewise, if she was unable to accept herself, that’s not a good formula for the development for healthy self-esteem of her child as the apple does not fall far from the tree. Her lack of acceptance for self can also be passed on to the child by her being overprotective. Overprotective mothers are commonly hostile mothers, and restrict their child’s freedom. By being over protective, these rejecting mothers likely employed an exaggerated denial of their indifference and rejection.  Difficulty knowing herself, has negative consequences for child rearing in that her anxiety and ambivalence, regarding decision making ,make it difficult for the child to  develop trust with his mother.

We have too many disturbed children, adolescents and young adults per statistics on antisocial behavior, poor school achievement, depression, drug use, suicide gestures and suicide behavior. A major understanding of why these statistics happen to the child, goes back to child rearing practices as personality is primarily formed within its first five years of development. This fact places tremendous responsibility and consequences on both parents. Mothers initially establish a symbiotic union with the youngster. It is in this most critical phase, that correct loving, nurturing and psychological based mothering is necessary. Because of this delicate and important period, state funds should be made available for the young, less educated, identity diffuse mothers. It’s clear that major changes are necessary if these psychological problems are going to be reversed. Parenting, takes more than stating that you view yourself as conservative or religious.

Perhaps the state could divert dollars from the overstuffed defense budget and create and implement a realistic parenting program for our future resources. This program would require professionally male and female trained non minimum wage staff; sufficient housing; additional education and/or career choice training opportunities; and creative and competent, psychological and medical care. There are certainly enough experts in government; at the universities; and local government to address this challenge. It might be unpopular to suggest that parents are failing, but it is a realization. Let’s start at the beginning and attempt to break this vicious cycle of ineptitude, inappropriate and misinformed parenting.

Ego Identity and Young Mothers Part 3

I concluded, from my research, that non-pregnant teenagers did not have the same concerns about their femininity; thought more clearly about their own     values and personal ideology,  were more  self-accepting [egocentric, determined, outgoing] and able to perceive their behavior patterns more  clearly [less denial]; and had less negative worries about their present and future self.

The non-pregnant were also better adjusted psychologically; more dominant [aggressive, confident, forceful, strong]; more sociable [Intelligent, talkative, self-confident}; had a stronger need for achievement within the structured environment [efficient, loyal, reliable, reasonable]; and were more intellectually efficient [clear thinking, confident, logical, rational].

No one can argue the child rearing is not difficult and our countries future is based on the optimum development of this natural resource. Yet, it is overlooked and not addressed enough. It’s as if all women were born to be natural mothers. I beg to differ.

Briefly, some characteristics that correspond to healthy development, since the mothers personality is of prime importance for the child’s personality growth. A mother’s sense of ego identity is extremely important as it means that her values, ideas relating to career, morality, intellectual efficiency, independence and her sense of self in the present and future become clearer and more coherent.  The mother’s development of conscience, ego ideal and identity development, require meaningful and significant interjections and identifications. They are necessary and play a significant role for her and her child throughout the life cycle.

To Be Continued

Ego Identity and Young Mothers Part 2

To provide insight into the importance of ego identity on the personality development of young, limited educated mothers, I turned to my research that I presented to a professional   association of therapists and school psychologists years ago. In my study, 19 never pregnant adolescents were compared to 19 pregnant adolescents. Both groups were matched according to intelligence and  level of education attained by both father and mother. In the non-pregnant group, 84% of the parents were married and 16% divorced .For the pregnant teens, 53% of their parents were married and 26% divorced. Another difference were that 88% of the mothers, of the never pregnant adolescents, were employed in non-manual occupations compared to 50% of the mothers in the mothers to be group.

Ego identity is an important component in the development of personality. According to Erich H. Erikson, the major task of adolescence was to form an identity by successfully completing [by synthesizing and integrating all previous social roles as well as by incorporating the many new identifications and additional roles] these tasks so the adolescent can develop a sense of ego identity. This means that the adolescents are expected to become increasingly clear about their commitments and values in the areas of personal relationships, career choice, morality, ideology and sex as they prepare for their adult role. If unsuccessful, the adolescent developed a sense of role diffusion instead.

The success or relative lack of success, in this ego identity stage of development, has implications for dealing with the next stage of psychosocial evolution as well. The adolescent in the next psychosocial stage was expected to master the intimacy versus isolation task.  When successful, the adolescent then should be clear about who she is and what she stands for, if she is to establish a mutually satisfying intimate relationship in preparation for marriage. Ego identity personality components follow.

The statistically significant results of my research were as follows: 1. Pregnant teenagers had higher scores associated with identity diffusion. 2. Pregnant teenager’s drawings were more feminine. 3. Non pregnant teens perceived their behavior with less distortion 4. Non pregnant youth had higher self-acceptance scores 5. Non pregnant had less maladjustment scores 6. Non-pregnant had higher dominance scores 7. Non pregnant had higher sociability scores 8. Non pregnant had higher intellectual efficiency scores.

To Be Continued

Ego Identity and Young Mothers

An article titled “Data on Mothers Reveal Schisms across America” in the August 5, 2018 edition of The New York Times highlighted another major concern facing our country. For instance, the age of first time mothers varied according to level of education and geography. Analyzing birth certificates since 1985, they found that women with college degrees, on average, give birth to children 7 years later than women without a degree .These degree women were in their early 30’s while non degree women were in their early 20’s. Moreover, first-time college educated mothers were older and lived in the big cities and on the coasts while the less educated resided in rural areas, the Great Plains and in the South.

The researchers found that the first time, less educated and living in the rural areas, Great Plains and South mothers were more conservative and religious; had younger grandparents who lived nearby; were  unmarried;  had difficulty affording birth control; were  economically challenged with unplanned pregnancies; did not consider abortion; and  were without  a  nearby medical provider . These mothers also had identity formation difficulties, along with a dependent personality.

 Regardless of age, becoming pregnant is easy, but caring full-term and child rearing is difficult. We know that the nutritional and emotional state of the mother is of major importance for her and her embryo. Also, the quality of the mother’s relationship with her partner adds another important positive dimension.

 On the other hand, the older mothers, the researchers reported, tended to be liberal; splitting bread winning and caregiving responsibilities with men; had middle-class wages; had more years of  earned money for investment in children’s lessons  and their  college accounts, had advanced in their careers before giving birth; tended to be married and were   less likely to be  divorced.

To Be Continued

Bo's Mental life Part 3

A lack of perfection occurred when Michigan had a punt blocked while playing Missouri in 1969. The following week, in practice, Bo had his players perform numerous punting drills. In fact, he boasted that he would pay a player who could block a punt. Then, the unforgivable happened, and a punt got blocked. Coach Schembechler believed that Jim Brandstatter made the mistake allowing the punt to be blocked. Bo, ran after Brandstatter and caught up to him, yelling, spitting and berating his player. Even though Coach Jerry Hanlon, told Bo that Jim was not at fault, Bo told him that Jim needed it anyway. Once again we see the power of the emotional need for perfection and the fear of failure reality. In other words, the unrealistic drive for perfection and fear of failure go hand-in-hand. Another example of the identification and introjection was illustrated by Bo’s father was when the senior Schembechler was taking a civil service exam for a job promotion. He found out that his competition had the test questions prior. The senior Schembechler went into a rage about how unfair that was. However, playing by the rules were modeled and Incorporated in Bo’s psyche. While Michigan’s head coach, Bo was told of an alumni booster who paid a player to cut his mother’s grass in Buffalo. At the time, the NCAA would have penalized the Wolverines for violating one of their rules. Schembechler told Fritz Seyferth working in the Ad’s office to take away the boosters football tickets, and to that overzealous booster from the football program. The ground floor for Identification, introjection, ego ideal, conscience and self-begin early in the development of one’s mental life. It’s like the standard is set and we add to it with the identification of numerous idols, celebrities, literary figures, stars and so forth throughout a lifetime of experiences. For Bo, there was nothing greater than the roar of the crowd; the adulation; the team; the mastery -satisfaction and all the positive feelings fulfilling his personal ambitions. The losses and all the accompanying negative feelings like guilt, unworthiness, disappointments and shame fueled his fear of failure and drove him in an attempt to obtain perfection. His teams became his family. At times, being human, he was unjust to himself as well. For more about Bo Schembechler and his Wolverines, check out Bo’s Warriors Bo Schembechler and the Transformation of Michigan Football.

Bo's Mental life Part 2

As an adolescent, Bo did have a fantasy and in his imagination and dreams, he was pitching in the seventh game of the World Series. In reality, Bo had an opportunity to become the hero for his high school baseball team. Bo was brought in as a relief pitcher with the bases-loaded in and all-important playoff game. Unfortunately, Bo gave up a hit that cleared the bases; his team lost; the team was knocked out of championship contention; and Bo never pitched again. Bo, in his psyche, let down his coach, teammates, school, self, and of course mother .In his conscience, he felt a tremendous amount of guilt and shame along with negative self-talk. Within one’s conscience and ego ideal, one’s sense of self gets established. That game loss resulted in being “bad” with tremendous behavioral consequences. It set up and reinforced the dreaded mechanism for fear of failure. Bo’s fear of failure was significantly reinforced again when he played in an all-important and the most physical high school football game of his life. Again, he experienced failure when his team lost that game 7-0. Bo cried after that heartbreaking loss. Those defeats and negative feelings were implanted in the memory of his conscience forever. Psycho dynamically, this was a narcissistic injury for Bo. Other heroes, identification figures, and ego idols for Schembechler included legends from Notre Dame Football like Knute Rockne-the Gipper, The Four Horsemen, and Elmer Layden. Bo wanted to be a star and play football for Notre Dame, but was not recruited. Instead, he was recruited by Sid Gilman from Miami of Ohio. Gilman was fired, and then replaced. Bo’s head coach became Woody Hayes. Once again, another major disappointment and the fear of failure was highlighted and reinforced in Bo’s psyche as he did not become a football hero for the fighting Irish. Bo, essentially learned from Woody Hayes about compensating for the fear of failure through practice and the endless repetition of do overs. Football, like other sports has the human element of making mistakes. Woody, in order to minimize mistakes and shoot for perfection or mastery, ran the same offensive play over and over. The same football repetition occurred when Bo took over as head coach for the University of Michigan. Further, Coach Schembechler had the players performing unorthodox and gut wrenching conditioning during the winter. Once again, one has to become stronger than his opponent and hope that it protects and is a defense against failure. To Be Continued

Bo's Mental Life

Bo Schembechler was born in 1929 on April Fools’ Day. He was given the reins 40 years later to become the University of Michigan’s head football coach in 1969. He retired from that position in 1989. Schembechler’s Wolverines were victorious in 194 games and lost just 48. During his tenure, his Michigan teams won or shared in 13 Big Ten titles, and made 10 Rose Bowl appearances. He was voted national coach of the year 1969, by the American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America. The psychodynamic basis for Schembechler’s coaching success follows. At about three years of age, Bo’s ego ideal and conscience began to be developed as a result of the introjection and identification mechanisms that resulted from his parents, parenting. Ego ideal refers to the unconscious desire, wish to attain perfection and achievement or the idealized picture of self [stronger than Hercules, smarter than Athena, more attractive than Helen, faster than Damysus and so on]. Conscience is related to good and bad, right and wrong, ethics and moral behaviors. For instance, if you strike out while playing baseball, that feels awful or when you make a basket in a basketball game, that feels terrific. Bo’s mother was a devout fan and follower of the Cleveland Indians. She listened to their radio broadcasts and even attended games. Her favorites likely were pitcher Luke Sewell and perhaps Lou Boudreau. Bo interjected his mother’s favorable attitude regarding the Cleveland Indians and more than likely, young Bo in latency, these Indians became lodged in his ego ideal. Cleveland Indian idols and heroes like pitchers Luke Sewell and or Joe Dobson became his heroes, and young Bo created fantasies, and dreamt about being a major-league pitcher in the big leagues. Listening to the radio broadcasts, the announcers embellished the miraculous athletic feats to the roar of the crowds of these larger-than-life athletes. Bo’s imagination ran wild with Herculean exploits of greatness and fame. With sports, individuals experience a wide range of emotions, within the safety of the group. As a result, Bo had permission to express and feel emotions. To Be Continued

Functional Medicine and Nike Part 2

Although this was not a random sample of runners and there were problems with actual identification of various running shoes, the conclusions supported Nike’s claim. For example, the speed increases associated with the Vaporflys were consistent with the increases in a Nike funded study. Runners who improved their performance in the Nike shoe and then switched to another shoe found their running times got slower. At the moment, the shoes cost $250, even though some runners claimed that they were good for only about 100 miles. Further, Nike’s newest version of the shoe, the Elite Flyprint cost about $650 and will be used by a limited number of runners in the 2018 London Marathon. I do not have a dilemma at the moment. I am determined to evaluate if my amino acid supplements work in my 2019 races to see if my running times improved. After completing those 4 runs of two 10 milers and two 50 K’s, I plan to asses and decide whether or not to purchase the Nike running shoe. Another option would be to begin track workouts as another variable. In essence, I shall have at least three options for consideration. In any event, I plan to keep moving.