More Potholes on the Road to Happiness
Claudewell S. Thomas, MD, MPH, DLFAPA, is an established psychiatrist who is currently retired ,, He received his medical degree in 1956 at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and specializes in social psychiatry, public health psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry. Dr. Thomas was board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry... more
It is reasonably obvious that anxiety/depression is an unhappy state that destroys interpersonal relationships and intrapersonally (intrapsychically) is a threat. Not only to function, but to life, and is connected to addiction and suicide. Its connection to a common but puzzling form of dermatitis called atopic dermatitis has been considered possible but unproven. In a recent issue of Medscape Silverberg, Angeland et al present a sophisticated statistical analysis (above my pay grade) showing that there is a positive correlation between anxiety/depression and atopic dermatitis.
A Wave of Anxiety/Depression
Directionality, which comes first, is important but for our purposes may not matter. What we can see is someone driving a convertible, top down, developing or worsening atopic dermatitis and suicidally crashing or inserting an intermediate stage of alcoholism or opioid addiction before suicide/homicide. The automobile is not an essential component of the potential tragedy. Sunbathing or swimming (salt water or chemically treated fresh water) could also trigger a wave of anxiety/ depression.
There have been a number of ads on radio and television pushing aggressive interaction with our environment. These are versions of "seize the day" and exemplify Karen Horney's "urge to vindictive triumph" with her hero Julian of Stendal's "Red and the Black". These attitudes represent aspects of homosapiens and are not particularly American, although drug companies, car salesmen and travel bureaus would have it so. Most people are wise enough to respect the potential disruptiveness of the aggressive use of OTC medicine. The drug companies are encouraging the pressuring of LMDs by patients for their prescription compounds. As usual there is differential risk. The elderly and the adolescent may be unusually vulnerable.
Avoiding Unhappiness
The essence of being happy or (not quite the same) avoiding unhappiness is quid pro quo interaction with other human beings. Recognizing the humanity and vulnerability of your physician or healer can help him (her) with burnout, depression or bad practice. Anxiety/depression, addiction and suicide are increasing among physicians including psychiatrists. Unostentatiously trying to improve one's real community is worth an effort either by volunteering or fundraising. This unlike creating virtual communities can be substantive in developing a sense of belonging.
