Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-29
THE DISEASE OF NERVOUSNESS.
How self-Control May Be Gradually
Aconired


"Self-control as cure for nervous dis
eases Is a remedy more efficacious than
medicine at times said a prominent Wash
ington practitioner this morning to a Star
man, land since its exercise Is a matter OF
mere habit, will tell you about it.
" Nervousness is a disease, and nervous
to themselves, an object of pity on the
part OF some and of contempt on the part
OF others. Nervousness in itself, nervous
prostration in its various stages and the
different forms Of nervous fright and 1rrl-
liability largely result from persons allow
ing themselves to yield to certain channels
Of thought which have fear as basis.
TT makes slight difference what this ele-
ment Of fear may be, whether the loss OF
money. Of a beloved one, position, or what
else, the subject nurses this dread little
by little, until. except in the case OF
sudden and powerful shock, imperceptibly,
but with insidious certainty. the nerve
centers feel the strain and gradually give
way The subject begins to suffer loss OF
appetite, sleeplessness intervenes, Joss or
flesh necessarily results and whole train
Of evils follow in rapid sequence, from be-
coming a burden to oneself, family and
friends in going around in perpetual
state Of nervous irritability or melancholia,
to complete collapse in bed from nervous
prostration.
" nile patients Will ylelO u ueulCdi
treatment in some instances the beneficial
effects Of sedatives or tonics are often neu-
tralized by the patient refusing to exercise
self-control, and i'll nursing the particular
trouble which may be preying upon the
mind. When expostulated with the 1nvar1-
able reply is, I can't help it.
Persons OF nervous temperament and in
various stages of nervous diseases Will be
astonished to see how quickly the physical
will respond to determination of the mind
vo0% 20 UT al 70 mt, ltyaC nF foy 10 p
thought which constitute the subjects
troubles. They will find that the brain may
be said to be a creature of habit in that
certain lines OF thought will force them
day more prominently, as in the morning
Endeavor to develop feeling of don't
care and maintain it. Once the subject
determines to curb and control thought,
the brain will be found to yield to CONTROL
slowly at first but surely when the subject
persists as much as his or her feeble will
power allows In not thinking about it.
ITO aid in this great fundamental cure
of nervousness and nervous troubles travel
largely conduces because, as simple as 1t
is, when persons travel they have to do
things they do not wish to do. entailing a
change of thought, consequent relaxation
Of strain upon certain of the brain cells,
more or less physical exercise, and a
change of air and scene. Fifty per cent,
perhaps more, of nervous troubles are ag-
gravated and prolonged by remaining amid
familiar surroundings and among the i'm
mediate members Of the family, where
their weaknesses. often silly and foolish,
are codded and humored, until the subject
believes himself or herself desperately i'll.
or finally developes a real disease.
III nervous people who have not reached
this stage only knew what a nuisance they
are, and how readily their irritability would
disappear If they would hold themselves up
to their retrospective vision, determine to
control themselves and not to allow their
whims, habits or snappy tempers to con-
troll them, they would become prettier and
stouter women, and stronger and better
men. They would find that self-control is
a habit, as it becomes a habit for women to
nag, fret or show temper. and for a man
to feel that he is perpetually going to lose
his position, or suffer loss in his business
Zone must persevere in the self-control
cure for nervousness. but once the nerves
are whipped into mental subsection, pa
tients gain flesh and strength and wonder
how they could have been so weak. The
legend to be inscribed upon the nervous
persons banner is short, but effective
don't yield"