How the wealthy can be disadvantaged as well as priveleged

People who are quite economically privileged can become disadvantaged in many other ways, through the personal enslavement of money and the shame from the negative consequences of money.

Compared to the wealthy, the working and middle classes are disadvantaged in the sense that in order to survive and live a happy life, we are dependent on the economy when it comes to jobs, housing, food, and healthcare. These are things can create much stress and anxiety throughout the lives of the working and middle class. For the wealthy though, this is not necessarily a big issue of stress.

I often wonder how it must feel to be someone who has millions of dollars or who is making $500K a year or more. Is it common to feel guilt or shame of being privileged over others? What are common stresses and anxieties to deal with when owning millions of dollars?

This video shows the negative consequences of what it is like to win the lottery. This man with all of this privilege of sudden money has had his life ruined by it. Although he has the privilege of receiving $314 million, he has become incredibly disadvantaged by his money by his actions with it. I actually feel empathy toward him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oddx7UXUnwk

This goes to show that often times people with a lot of money can become enslaved by it, just like a drug or alcohol addict can be enslaved by their substances that they are abusing. I believe that the cases are very similar.

If people abuse drugs to try to obtain a rush of serotonin and dopamine (the brain chemicals that causes pleasure and happiness), what happens is that in the absence of the drug, serotonin and dopamine are lacking in the brain and one can feel stressed, anxious, depressed, etc. They then must use more and more of the drug to try to get the same effects, and medicate their problems, to the point of an obsession. Often, an addict is also hanging out with the wrong social crowd to encourage such use.

Similarly, if people use wealth and power to try to obtain that rush of serotonin and dopamine for happiness and pleasure, in the absence of that wealth and power, one can feel stressed, anxious, and depressed as well. Often times, having $1 billion is not enough to satisfy one's need. More is necessary. And the social crowd of other rich people can encourage that accumulation of privilege and power. Therefore, having this obsession with wealth can be a personal disadvantage as well as a privilege.

Perhaps if we think of people who exploit and oppress others as enslaved by money and power, in the same way that a drug addict is enslaved by heroin, cocaine, alcohol, or meth, it is easier to feel empathy towards that person.