HUMAN'S TRAILS

By Kyösti Waris

The original edition of this book was called Human Predators (2016). Since then, the book has been reprinted under different names, until the final name of the book became Human Trails.

The book consists of several articles of the author on the different topics. Some of them are topical, while others are more principled reflections on the existence of man.

The writer is a social scientist and psychologist by training, and this is reflected in his writings. His critical internal view is that many of the factors affecting the life of modern man are harmful to human health and should be changed. The writings do not contain direct life instructions for the reader, but by reading them, he can gain useful stimuli for independent thinking and surviving in his own life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books on Demand
• Release date: Oct 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9789528080138

Kyösti Waris

Kyösti Waris (s. 1946) on filosofian (psykologian) tohtori. Työuransa aikana hän on toiminut kliinisenä psykologina kehitysvammahuollossa ja aikuispsykiatrian tehtävissä. Hänellä on pitkä, yli 30 vuotinen työura valtion keskushallinnossa tehtäväalueenaan henkinen työsuojelu sekä työelämän mielenterveys- ja psykososiaaliset kysymykset.

Book preview

For the Reader

Iwrote in this book some of my publications of the past few years. They were published on my website and some of them in a local city magazine. The dates of the writings refer mainly to the publications on the internet. The writings are arranged from the newest to the oldest one. I have made some changes to this edition.

In the writings I tell my opinion, not only on everyday topics, but also on philosophical questions relating to people, society and life. My idea has been to take advantage of my knowledge and skills, observations and life experiences that I have got over the years.

One of the remarkable experiences for me was to participate in a discussion concerning different perceptions of human in a meeting that was held at the Vesala Course Center in Central Finland in the mid- 1970 s. I am particularly grateful for that opportunity to my deceased colleagues and friends, hospital pastor Kyösti Lähteenmäki and psychiatrist Kalle Kestilä. I worked with them in the city of Seinäjoki in the 1970 s. ̶ I will continue that discussion from my own perspective in this book.

During the Vesala event, lectures were given by psychoanalyst Pirkko Siltala on the understanding of human being acording to psychoanalysis, psychologist Antero Toskala on a human concept based on the theory of learning, and pastor Kyösti Lähteenmäki on the human being by the Christian view. Theologian Martti Lindqvist also participated in the discussions.

Human biological development phases and ancient behaviors seem to have left primitive traces in people. They are shown as very strong and deep rooted brutal, selfish desires and acts. –The characteristics that are often left in the subconscious mind, and where they can be activated especially in certain stressful situations. Those behavior patterns can be controlled gradually, if a person knows himself sufficiently, really wants it, and if he gets expert support, when needed.

However, it is wrong to believe that all people are the same kind: there are huge differences between them. Some are inherently more human and take better care of other people than some others. The differences between people are especially highlighted in interaction.

Also, an expert of human relations may be very blind about his or her own behavior: it is difficult to see oneself as such you are really. Professionals can be very unfriendly to each other in their work place and harm each other. Self-awareness can be improved by assessing others’ behavior in relation to one's own behavior. When you see yourself through others' eyes, you might become a real human being.

The famous French philosopher René Descartes (1596-1650) is known for the phrase, Cogito ergo sum, or as the sentence is usually translated, I am thinking, consequently I am. That Latin language sentence can be translated more clearly in this way: I am thinking; therefore, I exist. As he thought, things should always be questioned.

That idea is especially important today, because a huge number of information is available, into which one might be easily drowned and lose one’s identity. There are a lot of fanatic people who try to persuade people to come on their side. There is not always available reliable information about their intentions. Therefore, it is good to trust in one's own ability to assess.

My hope is that the visions presented in the book could give the reader some food for thought and help him or her to perceive his or her own life so that it will be of help. I hope that this small book can for its part contribute in building a better world for the future generations.

In this edition, I have clarified the relationship of Constantine I to Christianity on the page 96.

September 2022

Author

The True Face of Mental Disorders

7.3.2022

Mental disorders are classified as diseases. This means that they are also treated with medication. It is thought that a right medicine cures the disease. At least the pharmaceutical companies are putting forward this and are still developing new medicines, because this is a profitable business. It is true that drugs can alleviate the symptoms that people suffer from. The pain of the mind no longer feels so bad when a person receives a mitigating drug for it. Drugs help you survive in everyday life, but they do not cure mental disorders and illnesses. On the other hand, they can be addictive in the same way as other pain relievers.

Hardly any orthodox and serious doctor will accept the idea that diseases are cured by talking. However, this is what happens in the treatment of mental disorders. Various treatments based on speech and interaction cure or mitigate many mental disorders.

Why can the diseases of mind be cured only by talking? Because these disorders are usually caused by the interaction between people. And therefore, mental disorders are not diseases comparable to physical diseases. In my previous job and later in life, I have encountered basically only three types of mentally sick people, madmen, as they are often unfortunately called with contempt.

Weak lunatics

I've previously worked in mental health offices as a psychologist. In that job, I did psychiatric determinations (diagnoses) of clients and treated people with mental health ailments. In my work, I mainly encountered clients whose minds were shaken. Their souls (minds) bled. This manifested itself, among other things, as fear, anxiety, hopelessness, powerlessness, complete exhaustion, depression, etc. By each of my clients, the disease manifested itself in its own individual way. The bleeding of my