Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-06-18
Nervous DepressiOn---Valuable Hints for
q Large Glass Of Patients.

The chief part of the cure lies with
the patient. Change, exercise, fresh
air, diet, tonic-all these together will
not cure any one who gives up and gives
way. The aim of the patient must be
to disregard and even defy his sensa-
tions, impressions, languor, or what
ever form his sufferings may take and
Just 90 on as usual, doing all he can TO
forget self. Nervous people often rally
wonderfully under pleasant excitement,
sometimes even under sudden trial.
They surprise their friends by their ac-
tivity and endurance and accomplish
the otherwise impossible. Let us Illus
trate our meaning in one or two partic-
ulars. Suppose a patient so severely
depressed that he can hardly be per-
suaded to move; he must begin-he
must try.
No brooding over troubles and watch
ing for symptoms. Giving up is fatal;
resolution and hope gain the victory,
with the help Of Providence. And even
as to fears, forebodings, and so forth,
the same direction, in substance, will
apply. A lady told the writer that after
a period OF acute suffering from various
apprehensions, she one day said to her.
self: "Now | have long been fearing
all sorts of things, and they do not
come; have had all manner of distress
and dreaded what has never yet hap
pened. Nothing that | have been so
alarmed about has really occurred. l
will allow these tormenting fears no
longer" And she resolutely dismissed
her apprehensions. She strove against
and in time overcame her gloomy and
groundless forebodings and now lives
to encourage others to preach hope and
cheerfulness and trust.
Not few of the habits of modern
life strain the nervous system consider
ably; hurry and excitement are far too
prevalent. "Taking things coolly"
should be at least endeavored by those
who may have much in their work cal
culated to stimulate the mind or the
feelings. Excess of any kind is con-
stantly the parent of nervous depres-
sion. So too are exciting amusements
such as gambling. Too much novel
reading is an unsuspected but often
very powerful contributing cause.
Overwork alas is one which it is not so
easy to remedy as to denounce.
Little to earn aud many to keep"
Often strains the nerves and brain too
heavily. A good hobby is often won
derful relief to the overtaxed mind.
Too little exercise and too much tea
ruin the nerves of many woman.
Men often try theirs by indulging too
freely in the use of tobacco. Young
men, and above all growing lads are
very unwise if they employ tobacco at
all. Their elders have more excuse,
but the vigor of youth cannot require
it and certainly will not profit by it.
The diabolical cruelty of frightening
young children is almost certain to SOW
! the seeds of nervous weakness; so does
harsh treatment in later childhood. And
over-driving and harrassing young lads
| and girls, whether at books or work
all tend in the same direction. Com
petitive examinations have to answer
for some cases of enfeebled nerves.
Simple habits, moderation in al
things, cheerful amusements or pas
times and reasonable care, will go fa
to prevent nervousness. But when
through ignorance, indiscretion, heredi
tary tendency or affliction, it has beer
developed, the sufferer will do well t.
give all heed to the foregoing hints ant
take for his motto, "Hope on, hop,
ever.h