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2/28/2009

I thought I could make it - trying to rescue another person...


[Slightly edited March 1]. From an article with the heading “I thought I could make my brother free from drugs”:


In this article you can read that all power and energy is directed towards the one who is addicted. My addition: from all the other people in the family (relation). The article writes about persons standing near (sister, brother, lover etc.) wanting to help.


And about the clever (no needy) one:

“I have always been the one who has managed on my own.”

My wonder: was this the one becoming burnout? Thought of a family where the siblings (or even all family members) were allotted different roles. And whose fault was this? Who was to blame for this? he older sibling? The youngest? The one in the midst? Or ANY sibling?


Don't all children have needs? The same fundamental/basic needs? And are entitled getting those filled, irrespective of how many kids there exists in the family, if one or both parents are sick, if one child is born disabled or becomes disabled, has problems etc? (why does a child get problems? Why so many kids if there are many? Do kids come from God, with the stork?)

“I gave and gave without getting anything back, it was a one-way-communication and you can’t manage this long term.”

You break down (or become invisible) or break with the person in question.


When you can manage the situation (if you can, get the help to develop an own self to a certain degree) you at last get strength for yourself.

“When you are co-dependent you want to help, one thinks one is the one who can change the situation, but now I understood that you don’t help the addict through always standing by him/her.“

For the one used to taking care of other people and putting her/his own needs last it’s a big step doing something else then taking responsibility for a grown up person, but letting her(him take responsibility for her/him. Not fixing things for other people, letting them take responsibility for their own stuff, themselves.


The most important isn’t the addict, but that you yourself feel well, you can read in this article.

“I feel much better and have gotten a better self-esteem. I am gladder, my eyes are sparkling. I am doing things more in my own interest, as attending courses, meditate and listen to mental relaxation.”

It’s usual that the one living near an addict gives up her/his own life and focus on the other person (and his/her dependency). At the same time one is struggling with fury, disappointment and hopes. Often the addiction becomes something shameful that the close standing (feels she/he) has to hide, making the co-dependent alone, and thus making her/him having no one to talk to. But one of the most important things a co-dependent can do is finding such a person, a person to talk to.


Realizing the truth is extremely painful struck me all of a sudden when I read this article.


How many children haven’t been taught to “think of other people”… Not being egoistic.


And how many have heard:

“He (she) is so caring (about other people)!”

about a sibling, with a warm voice from a mother? As if this isn’t natural! And as if this doesn’t come naturally when time has come? If the child has been treated with respect and care.


How many haven’t heard parents (mothers) saying:

“He is… She is… and she is…”

Meaning another child isn’t this way!? Meaning this child should be a model or a deterrent example? Or what?


And I think the phenomenon trying to rescue another grown up person can occur in other circumstances too... Not always is about rescuing a person from addictions to drugs...

8/21/2008

Barndomen och dess effekter (senare) i livet…

[Lätt redigerad på kvällen, samt 22 augusti med länkar i slutet, för min egen skull]. Mitt i jobbstart med tusen saker i huvudet… Ville bara få ur mig detta.

Ju mer man är i förnekande desto större konsekvenser får den misshandel man blivit utsatt för, för en själv och andra. Jag tror att Alice Miller har rätt:

“Feeling and understanding the causes of our old pain does not mean that the pain and the anger will stay with us forever. Quite the opposite is true. The felt anger and pain disappear with time and enable us to love our children. It is the UNFELT, avoided and denied pain, stored up in our bodies, that drive us to repeat what have been done to [and which gives us all sorts of troubles]." (Alice Miller in an answer to a reader’s letter May 24, 2008, relating to a talk between Andrew Vachss and Oprah Winfrey)

Översatt blir det något i stil med:

”Att känna och förstå orsakerna till vår gamla smärta betyder inte att smärtan och vreden kommer att stanna för evigt. Motsatsen är snarare sann. Den vrede och smärta som vi har känt [medvetet, eller så medvetet vi förmår] försvinner med tiden [och inte tvärtom] och gör oss förmögna att älska våra barn [oss själva, andra barn och andra vuxna människor]. Det är den smärta som lagrats i vår kropp, som vi undviker och förnekar, som driver oss att upprepa vad som gjorts mot oss.”

Och det är de som är minst benägna att erkänna dessa sidor i sig själva, som är i största (kanske det mest totala) förnekandet, som söker sig till maktpositioner (för att slippa ta itu). De man i psykohistorien kallar de efterblivna psykoklasserna (efterblivenheten har inte med gener att göra eller kan inte förklaras med psykoanalytiska idéer. Idéer som för övrigt förnekar och döljer/skyler över sanningen eller gör en i värsta fall totalt oförmögen att komma i kontakt med sanningen. Ville helt kort tillägga att jag inte påstår att jag har skådat sanningen, min egen sanning. Kanske bara vagt, vagt anat den?? Jag påstår heller inte att jag inte spelar ut mitt egna alls, tyvärr gör jag kanske det fortfarande hur mycket jag än skulle vilja att jag inte gör det).

I dag fanns en debattartikel i DD med rubriken ”Mobbare riskerar att hamna i missbruk och kriminalitet.” Där stod:

”Undersökningar visar, (Dan Olweus med flera) att mobbare som inte får hjälp med att komma ifrån sitt destruktiva beteende, löper fyra gånger så stor risk som andra, att så småningom hamna i missbruk och kriminalitet. Eller på annat sätt uttryckt. Fyra av fem av våra ungdomar som sitter på kåken, har varit mobbare under sin skoltid som inte fått hjälp./…/

Vilka barn och ungdomar är det då som terroriserar sin omgivning? Det finns inga starka allenarådande karaktärsegenskaper som kännetecknar mobbaren. Även om det finns en del att peka på./…/

Orsakerna till att en ung människa börjar att mobba andra står ofta att finna i hur barnet behandlas hemma. Om föräldrarna inte sätter tydliga gränser för barnets aggressiva beteende så kommer det sannolikt att fortsätta, till någon annan orkar att sätta gränserna.

Den främsta åtgärden vid all slags oönskat barnbeteende är, att en vuxen med kärlek omedelbart, korrigerar det felaktiga beteendet.”


I senaste lärartidningen står det också om mobbning. En skolpsykolog säger om hot om att flytta mobbaren att skolan då

”…använder sig av mobbarens eget språk och lär ut mobbarens egna strategier.”

Jag kunde inte låta bli att reflektera över allt detta sammantaget: För att verkligen komma tillrätta med existerande våld av alla slag räcker det inte med att se de ytliga orsakerna till detta våld. Vi borde (måste) gå till de yttersta rötterna. Och våga se dem klart och tydligt? Utan att göra detta kan vi aldrig hitta de åtgärder som ger mest effekt. Eller de åtgärder som alls ger riktig effekt.

Men då måste vi våga börja se var dessa rötter finns.

Annars kommer problemen att fortsätta kvarstå i samma grad (och kanske till och med öka i grad och omfattning). Och vi kanske ovanpå allt tillskriver dess existens gener för att alls kunna förklara varför beteendet fortsätter trots allt vad vi "gjort".

Och orsakerna till våld, och det handlar inte bara om fysiskt (inklusive sexuellt) utan också om emotionellt våld, ligger tidigast i livet; hur vi blev behandlade som barn. Och det handlar inte bara om uppenbart våld, utan inte minst (eller kanske framförallt) subtilt våld. Kanske sådant som vi förnekar medvetet och omedvetet (hån, förödmjukelser, ringaktning osv. osv. osv.).

Men dess effekter är kanske så allvarliga att vi inte borde bagatellisera eller förminska dem! Dess effekter är kanske sådana som de flesta av oss inte kan ta in. Vi ser dem förmodligen (utan att se dem) i politiken på allra högsta nivå, med allt vad det kan innebära för oerhört många människor. Vår förmåga att se dem kanske är så skadad, så att vi är så blinda att vi inte ser saker som för en oskadad skulle vara glasklara?

Olweus (som verkar rätt okej) tror dock att

”…att vi har fått fler barn som är aggressiva hänger ihop med en försvagning eller urvattning av föräldrafunktionen.”

PUST!!! säger jag. Men vad är en "bra" föräldrafunktion?? Se tidigare inlägg om "hur komma tillrätta med det tilltagande ungdomsvåldet och det påstådda behovet av föräldraauktoritet"!!! Vad för sorts auktoritet egentligen?

Och en annan skolpsykolog i Lärartidningen (än den i artikeln ovan) menar att barn och ungdomar måste lära sig impulskontroll och vikten av att kunna uttrycka känslor av sorg, glädje och ilska. För övrigt gillar jag inte riktigt chefredaktörens idéer och en viss underliggande ton i denna tidning. Som jag om jag ska vara riktigt ärlig reagerat oerhört start EMOT! Det finns något auktoritärt, patriarkalt i de åsikter han förmedlar känns det! Någon slags klappa-på-huvudet-tendens hos honom och kanske tendenser att slå sig för bröstet?

"Jag minsann!"
Något jag reagerat på oerhört starkt i alla fall...

Se också Olweus ovan om att sätta tydliga gränser, i detta fall för barns aggressiva beteende. Men vad handlar gränslöst beteende om hos barn? Har detta gränslösa beteende kommit ur intet? Vad sätter man egentligen gräns mot? Vad är det för impulser ett barn måste kontrollera? Ett människobarns natur? Undrar jag oerhört ironiskt!

Och jag kan hålla med om det senare; om vikten av att kunna uttrycka sorg, glädje och ilska.

Vilket kanske var just DET som det riktigt lilla barnet (läs spädbarnet) fick lära sig att INTE göra?

Se också artikeln "Mobbning är ett övergrepp, inte en konflikt." De två första artiklarna finns också här.

Tillägg 22 augusti: se "Om (o)förmåga att godvilligt erkänna misstag - samt psykopati..." (om prestige), "Ledarskap och föräldraskap..." (om bland annat vad övergrepp och misshandel egentligen är, dvs. att det inte minst finns känslomässig misshandel, som kan vara nog så skadande, kanske oerhört skadande och förmodligen långt mer skadande än vi inser eller vill inse), "Att vara en äkta auktoritet eller inte...",
De som har det bra redan tjänar mest på Reinfeldts politik… (om auktoritär uppfostran).

7/31/2008

Sleeping on pills and some additional thoughts - thinking loudly…


from the Ballet Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov.

In the morning-news this morning they spoke about an increase in the use of sleeping drugs in young people (15 to 34 years). One of the experts, Sonja Wallbom (ordförande for RFHL, Riksförbundet för hjälp åt narkotika- och läkemedelsberoende, an association in Sweden for help for those suffering from narcotics and alcohol addictions) said that we ought to teach young people to handle their crisis instead of treating them with pills.

The networks with adults have got weaker or thinner, shown for instance in fewer grown ups in recreation centres, school health care, teachers have less time, as parents etc.

We have less time speaking with each other and then also as a consequence with children and young people.

Yesterday I also saw a program about meeting a new partner after divorce, where a psychologist thought that children are more tolerant than we believe when a parent has found a new partner… They are so used to getting contacts on the net easily themselves… And understand that parents can do too. And many children feel good seeing their parent being happy and smiling - again.

The speaker said something in this style in the beginning of the program:
“Thick, tired and ugly in the hair, desperate, disillusioned…”
And I have feelings I haven’t put in words yet on the differences between US and Sweden (the Scandinavian countries), let’s see if I manage doing this…

The Swedish society feels (now at least) more equal and as people have a fairly high material standard - in general. Maybe not so many who are tremendously rich here, but… So people don’t have had needs to use the system in really the same way as in the USA? But are we walking in that direction (forced or brainwashed by politicians and right-wing lobby-groups)?

Silently: But my trip to USA has been great, in all respects... I am so glad over it. And glad over all that happened.

Now a bike ride though. :-)

PS. Also see this photo-album (with ONLY four pictures, you don't believe me!).


So far away
So far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn't help to know that you're just time away

Long ago I reached for you and there you stood
Holding you again could only do me good
How I wish I could, but you're so far away

One more song about movin' along the highway
Can't say much of anything that's new
If I could only work this life out my way
I'd rather spend it bein' close to you

But you're so far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn't help to know you're so far away

Travelin' around sure gets me down and lonely
Nothin' else to do but close my mind
I sure hope the road don't come to own me
But there's so many dreams I've yet to find

But you're so far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
And it doesn't help to know you're so far away


Corrina, Corrina
Corrina, Corrina,
Gal, where you been so long?
Corrina, Corrina, Gal, where you been so long?
I been worr'in' 'bout you, baby,
Baby, please come home.

I got a bird that whistles,
I got a bird that sings.
I got a bird that whistles,
I got a bird that sings.
But I ain' a-got Corrina,
Life don't mean a thing.

Corrina, Corrina,
Gal, you're on my mind.
Corrina, Corrina,
Gal, you're on my mind.
I'mma sittin down thinkin of you, baby,
I just can't keep from crying.

An excellent interpretation of "Money, money" (see the Swedish group ABBA) sung by Helen Sjöholm:



The thrill is gone
The thrill is gone
The thrill is gone away
The thrill is gone baby
The thrill is gone away
You know you done me wrong baby
And you'll be sorry someday

The thrill is gone
It's gone away from me
The thrill is gone baby
The thrill is gone away from me
Although I'll still live on
But so lonely I'll be

The thrill is gone
It's gone away for good
Oh, the thrill is gone baby
Baby its gone away for good
Someday I know I'll be over it all baby
Just like I know a man should

You know I'm free, free now baby
I'm free from your spell
I'm free, free now
I'm free from your spell
And now that it's over
All I can do is wish you well

6/25/2008

Addictions in parents and other grown up authorities…

summer-view from the middle of Sweden.
[slightly edited and updated June 26]. In the news today they say that many children are worried over parent’s internet dependency (or Internet addiction).

Many children have called Bris, Children’s Rights in Society’s worried over their parents’ Internet habits. A study from 2007 shows what influence Internet has for children’s ill-health.

“They are often filled with shame, anger and sorrow, but also questions about what they shall do.”

Mothers who are caught in Internet-playing many hours a day or fathers porn-surfing (even child porn!!!) and sex-chatting. When children get to know this they get worried and don’t know how to handle it. And Bris-Children’s Right in Society has noticed this. Last year they noticed a striking increase in the number of calls and emails from (exactly) children, not knowing how they shall solve their parent’s problems. According to an investigator at Bris this discovery can be compared with when children discover that their parent’s abuse alcohol, drugs etc. because the set of problems are the same.

“It is as shameful as addiction, and they have to handle it in the same way as other forms of addictions.”

In first hand it is parent’s visits to porn-sites children are reacting most strongly at. Most of the children calling have seen their parent’s visiting porn - and even child porn Internet-sites.

They write in the article that parent’s (and other grown ups, if they are authorities of any kind for young people my addition) ought to wonder what sort of models they are to their children or other children they are authorities for. True I think... We are or can be models in many different respects...

Addition (quickly translated and written): I searched under the label addictions and there was one on “Parasiten – the Parasite…” A swift translation of parts of that blogposting:

This year a book came in Swedish written by a man Fredrik Ljung just above 30. A book about "a drug-addicted in suit", a man newly examined from school of economics and business administration (the most prestigious in Sweden in this case), with a

“well-paid job in the finance-branch, dressed in expensive suits.”
As the author once was.

He and his companion mean they could work high pressuredly and at the same time abuse drugs without anybody noticing it.

They mean that alcohol-problems are still more common in working-life, but drug-problems are increasing (earlier drug-addictions were less common, people used alcohol instead?). These two men are now treating other people with the same problems as they had.

10 % of the employees in average on a work-place have problems with alcohol and drugs they think, and those coming to them are young, just above 30 and they have an already established pill and drug-addiction. Most of them are men, but they think women are much cleverer in hiding their problems (so THAT problem, with drug abuse, is partly hidden).

Alcohol and drug problems are overrepresented in high achieving professions and in circumstances where kick-seeking people search themselves to. Pressure achieving and a feelings of insufficiency make many seeking help in alcohol and tablets, and maybe later also drugs, to handle their live (things that drove them into these works in the first place, and on wrong premises?). Most common are marijuana and amphetamine, but cocaine is also increasing.

Silently (feeling so sad and horrified again rereading this): Hiding ones problems by using drugs of all kinds… Keeping silent of shame? And if you can’t manage things you are no real man (or woman)??? The hypocrisy! Showing a façade. And that about being “a real man" again… Does women want that sort of “real men”??? Or what sort of women want such a man?

The author thinks it is important focusing on the request (demand) for drugs, and to watch so people feel better and don’t have to resort to drug use to make their lives endurable. And this should actually have started early in life, where children ought to feel they are worthy, lovable just as they are etc. Silently: how nice is a life being drugged all the time or a lot of the time actually? Being blunt (avtrubbad) most of or the whole time? Oh, this is so sad.

What is lying at the bottom? From where comes the mania being clever and achieving? The feeling one isn’t good enough if one doesn’t achieve and even achieve enormously? The feeling one has to control oneself, or rather not being weak, but showing a (false) façade of strength?

The author said he had never had any problems getting the tablet-store renewed!! No physicians refused to prescribe new, or more, tablets (he visited 20 doctors and there were never any great problems)! This also made me think… It has been a lot (or at least some) talk about being observant towards this phenomenon, i.e. that people goes to many different physicians to get medicine, especially when it comes to calming medicine, sleeping pills (But thre hasn't been any straight talk about narcotics)… But they have found in research that women and men are treated differently by doctors, and employees at for instance the Social Insurance in Sweden etc. Treated differently because of their gender - AND thus their status in society (quite ironical)?? Women with problems are treated with more contempt and less respect!?

Ljung says he succeeded keeping himself “floating,” as he says, for eight years. He started abusing alcohol systematically when he was 19 years. During these years he changed his whole acquaintance-circle, only associated with criminals (in suits??), he was heavily in debt, had two broken relations behind him and hardly any contact with his parents. In short his life was in a real mess.

Suddenly he realized the truth; he wasn’t the successful and enviable person he had struggled so hard to become.

It stands:

“Henrik is filled with contempt, both against the society and against people in his environment and this permeates [genomsyrar] his strivings in reaching the top, which is a well paid, status-filled job on a bank in London or New York.”

Oh, how fun! And really something to strive for!! Observe the irony! The principal figure in the book is ironical, arrogant, show contempt for weakness, is floating above… The reviewer of the book earlier this year characterized the principal figure with the expressions "hubris" and "self-contempt. "

Yes, what does Miller write about irony for instance? And about addiction?

This really made me think once again…

Addition June 26: Struck me about Jane Fonda's bulimia. Also see "Starving for Attention." She thought that she was so occupied with her eating that she lived like in a glass-bubble, cut off from the environment and not really their for her children (Vanessa and Troy?). And she could slightly imagine how this for them. If I remember right. Sidetrack: but it feels as she is still in denial to a high degree, and have been "taught" forgiveness by therapists...

And I recently also read about Britt Ekland (actually Eklund!!), the Swedish actress, who has problems with osteoporosis, and it struck me this can (must) be because of constant concern about the weight. And she must have done plastic surgery (the lips??) which hasn't been really successful... I have done plastic surgery too, a (really) big (and tough) operation. I was offered another one, but at that time I had accepted how I look and didn't make a second operation... And before this operation the female doctor said she didn't think this operation was necessary, but if I wanted to make it they should make it... Oh, this is a long story...

4/21/2008

You've Got A Friend...

Was reminded about this song by a Swedish blogger, Helle Klein, who had been to a concert with James Taylor in Stockholm yesterday evening (I found a version with for instance Carol King).

She writes that she needed this wonderful evening after "an intensive weekend full of giving" (she is priest in the Swedish church, and has worked as journalist, and still writes leaders, which I appreciate). Taylor sang this song on the concert and it was much appreciated by her, and I guess the audience, because of his way of doing it!!

Here Taylor's home site (see below about his life).

When you're down in troubles
And you need some love and care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon i will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you got to do is call
And I'll be there
Yes I will
You've got a friend

If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend

When people can be so cold
They'll hurt you and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend


It stands in wikipedia:
“While living in New York City, Taylor became addicted to heroin. One night, after receiving a desperate phone call, his father drove to New York and rescued him. Taylor later wrote a song called ‘Jump Up Behind Me’ that paid tribute to his father's help during a time of desperate need. The song also reflects on Taylor's memories of the long drive from New York City back to his home in Chapel Hill.”


I got interested and searched on this song and found this video with Taylor himself (unfortunately it suddenly stopped before the end.)

Jt on sony.com: lilly was not at all sure we could just set ol dan free like that. I told her dan was a huge invisible rat with magical powers. that seems to have shut her up.
‘Jump Up Behind Me’

This land is a lovely green
It reminds me of my own home
Such children Ive seldom seen
Even in my own home
The sky so bright and clean
Just like my home
Kind people as have ever been
Wont you take me back to my own home

Chorus:
Jump up behind me my love
Jump up behind me
Old dan can bear us both
Jump up behind me
We follow this road til we reach the sea
Jump up behind me
Well catch the tide and set dan free
Jump up behind me

Ive been in this world awhile
And Ive seen a lot of country
Many days and many miles
All various and sundry
Ive had my way and Ive had my fun
And Ive had my chance to run free
Burning hot beneath the sun
Freezing cold and wintry

Repeat chorus

I know now
Only one thing matters in these days
One thing, true love
Love and love alone
True love

I came out of a dream last night
Thought I was back in my old home
Mom and dad were both still alive
And the babies not yet born, no
Felt like a festival
Felt like a christmas morning
Felt the darkness fall away
Even as the world was turning.

2/20/2008

Parasiten/the Parasite…

Igår recenserades Fredrik Ljungs bok ”Parasiten” av Yukiko Duke i Gomorron Sverige på SVT. Denna bok handlar om en knarkare i kostym, om en ung man just utexaminerad från Handels, med ett välbetalt jobb i finansbranschen, klädd i dyra kostymer.

Ljung och hans kompanjon (som startat ett företag för att hjälpa arbetsplatser och andra företag att hantera drogproblem) menar att de kunde jobba för högtryck och samtidigt missbruka droger utan att någon märkte det.

De menar att alkoholproblem är vanligast men att drogrelaterade problem ökar.

Omkring 10 % av personalen på en arbetsplats har problem med alkohol och droger och de som kommer till dem för behandling är unga, i trettioårsåldern och de har ett (redan) etablerat tablett- eller drogmissburk. De flesta är män, men de tror att kvinnor är duktigare på att dölja sina problem (så det problemet är delvis dolt?).

Alkohol- och drogproblem är överrepresenterat inom högpresterande yrken och i sammanhang där kicksökande människor söker sig. Prestationspress och en känsla av otillräcklighet gör att många tar hjälp av alkohol eller tabletter och så småningom kanske droger för att hantera sina liv. Vanligast är marijuana och amfetamin, men kokain ökar också.

Ljung säger att har man minsta anlag att utveckla beroende så är kokain verkligen rysk roulette, det är enormt beroendeframkallande.

Han tycker att det är viktigt att inrikta sig på efterfrågesidan (efterfrågan på droger??), att förändra attityden till droger och att se till så att människor mår bättre och inte behöver ta till droger för att göra livet uthärdligt (och jag funderar ju också över vad som ligger i botten av detta; varifrån kommer duktighet- och hävdandemanin? Känslan av att inte duga om man inte presterar och presterar enormt).

Ljung hade själv ett tjugotal läkare som han besökte en efter en när tablettförrådet sinade. Det var aldrig några problem att få ut piller. Och han lyckades hålla sig flytande med drogerna i åtta år (började systematiskt dricka när han var 19 år?). Under dessa år bytte han ut hela sin bekantskapskrets, han umgicks bara med kriminella, var tungt skuldsatt, hade förstört två relationer och hade nästan ingen kontakt med sina föräldrar. Han hade också en dom för rattfylleri och jobbet hängde på en skör tråd. Och plötsligt insåg han sanningen; att han inte alls var den framgångsrika och avundsvärda person han så hårt kämpat för att bli.

Två av hans före detta flickvänner gjorde gemensam sak och fick med ganska stort besvär Ljung att söka hjälp…

Det står om boken på den länkade sidan:

"Henrik är full av förakt, både mot samhället i stort och människor i omgivningen och det genomsyrar hans strävan mot toppen, vilket är ett välbetalt, statusfyllt jobb på en bank i London eller New York.

Skildringen av finansvärlden förstärker många av de fördomar som finns och det höga tempot lämnar inte heller mycket utrymme till personporträtt utan handlingen kretsar helt kring Henrik som framställs på ett tämligen okritiskt sätt./.../

...vassa tonfallet och på det lätt ironiska sätt handlingen förs framåt./.../

Nivån balanserar hela tiden på gränsen till det bisarra och osmakliga, säkerligen med en målsättning att provocera, men för det mesta lyckas han hålla sig på rätt sida. Henrik är ingen person som lockar några varma sympatier men jag tycker inte det är något problem i sig, då det snarare känns befriande att utelämnas så uppriktigt."

Ironisk, arrogant, förakt för svaghet, flytande ovanpå... Ja, var har man lärt sig det? Eller är man kanske född med detta? (vilket jag inte tror. Jag tror man är född i i en miljö med dylik syn på människor - och också sig själv som den Ljung skildrar, kanske ytterligare påspäddoch förstärkt av den studie- och jobbmiljö man sedan hamnar).

Yokiko Duke om boken och dess huvudperson: Hybris och självförakt. En ganska läskig människosyn. Och kvinnor är bara till för att penetrera som hon sa.

Om hybris står det i Wikipedia:

"Hybris, det fanns ingen värre synd än detta övermod, som kunde drabba en alltför framgångsrik människa. Hybris var inom grekisk mytologi att vilja efterlikna och/eller överträffa gudarna. Hybris kan då användas som en synonym till storhetsvansinne (eller megalomani) I det antika dramat utmanar ofta hjältarna den rådande rättsuppfattningen och gudarnas. Då begår de hybris och går oftast under. Ett annat ord för hybris är övermod och människan straffas när hon försöker göra sig till gudarnas jämlike. För att få nåd hos gudarna var man tvungen att förstå vad man gjort för fel, känna vördnad, fruktan och medlidande inför gudarna och på så sätt rena sin själ = katharsis."

Ja, och så det där med "clever child"...

2/10/2008

Keeping people quiet and obedient...

In the shower this morning I came to think about employers in older times giving their employees "brännvin" (Scandinavian vodka), i.e. alcohol, as wage for their work!! I am living in a town with a mine that is 1000 years old. Earlier strictly separated in a finer and less fine part, by a creek winding through this town. Where the fine parts lay on the opposite side of the mine.

And it is still a fine-cultural town, with different culture-institutions!! The neighbor town is a working class town, with big industries!

The mine closed 1992 I think. The stories are many about the mining life... An extremely hard life. People needed to become numbed to survive... And people lived in extremely small cottages (now pretty attractive and not so cheap to buy? The wooden houses near the center of the town are fairly expensive today!! Ironically!). Whole families with many children lived in cottages with only one (small) room. How was this??

And today; what are we held calm with? Other sorts of addictions and things that are occupying us from thinking and reacting and noticing things?? Numbing us (even more than we perhaps already are).

Apropos politics and abuse...

The use of alcohol led to religious movements (very strict) as the laestadianism in the north of this country and a similar movement at the west-coast (I don't remember what it is called)? Everywhere where the life was hard and dangerous, was it??

And people moved to America not just because of poverty, but also to be allowed to practice religions that were forbidden here 100-150 years ago (I was reminded about this now when I read our church-musician magazine today about a trip church-musicians had done to USA, to see how they work in churches there. Which seemed to be a little different compared to here?? Here we try to "incorporate" many different genres when it comes to music in ceremonies and concerts in the church, something that has changed the last 30-40 years radically I think? But, yes, I am a typically secularized Swede? So educated church-musician I am!?? But, yes, I believe in God!?)

But I am not sure that poverty automatically has to lead to child abuse, even though it probably exists to a high degree in these homes. And I believe strongly in an equal society, so there are no misunderstandings or misinterpretations.

Skimmed an earlier posting where there was a quote (in the end of the posting) on what oppression is. Why do people need to use oppression, need to exercise power??

PS. February 11: and poverty including other (difficult) things are no excuse for abuse, neither of children nor anyone... All parents, or other grown ups for that matter, don't abuse others how difficult or severe their conditions even are...

And how difficult ones childhood even has been that's no excuse for ones bad behavior either...