Pursuing Happiness [Problem]

     Unhappiness is a growing problem in the world where less than 65% of the population is happy. Among this, Americans are on average 69% happy where children are happy 52% of the time, neutral 29% of the time, and 19% of the time they're unhappy. 20-24 year-olds are sad 3.4 days per month and ages 65-74 on average are only sad 2.3 days per month. Along with the low amounts of happiness in the United States, one forth of the population is mildly depressed, depression being 3-10 times more common today than two generations ago.
     Unhappiness can bring about several illnesses that begin with stress related symptoms. Bronchial asthma is an illness in which the large air passage ways swell up causing a choking effect. Several studies have linked the onset of asthma attacks with anxiety, and relaxation techniques have been proven to delay and reduce the severity of the attacks. Another illness commonly associated with unhappiness is a headache. Two categories of headaches are tension and migraine. Tension headaches are caused by contracted muscles of the forehead, eyes, neck, and jaw, whereas migraines are more mental, caused by stress or the inability to express frustration. TMJ, a joint dysfunction illness, is a sign of constant contraction of jaw muscles, which is often done in times of stress or unhappiness. TMJ is hardly noticeable because it typically happens at night, shown by clenching or grinding teeth while asleep.
     Other common side-effects of unhappiness include problems in work, school, and relationships. According to (website) "Each year, depression affects at least 10 million people, often during their most productive years--between the ages of 25 and 44." The same article says, "In 1989, depression cost the nation an estimated...$17 billion...due to time lost from work. There is no way to estimate the total cost of lost productivity." Besides a decrease in productivity, other ways sadness can interfere with your work are problems with morale, lack of cooperation, having frequent accidents, absenteeism, and fatigue.
     "Approximately 4% - 12% of school-aged children (depending on the age) meet the criteria for being depressed..." This startling fact comes from (website). Sadness affects people in school in many of the same ways as it affects them in their jobs, but also includes an inability to focus and pay attention, failure to complete homework, lack of a drive to get to school, and an inhibition on peer relationships.
     Many of the above factors can also cause problems in relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. A few more things that lead to destroyed relationships are isolation, disinterest, being overly emotional, and short-temperament.
     Now that I've opened your eyes to some of the bigger problems caused by unhappiness in its many forms, I'll explain Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and how it can be applied to optimize happiness.