The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-03

How self-Control May He Gradually
Acquired.

Washington Star.
"Self-control as a cure for nervous dis
eases is a remedy more efficacious than
medicine at times" said prominent WASH
ington practitioner this morning to a Star
man, "and since its exercise is a matter Of
mere habit will tell you about it.
Nervousness Is disease, and nervous
persons. especially women, are a torture
to themselves. an object Of pity on the
part of some and of contempt on the part
of others. Nervousness In itself, nervous
prostration i'm it's various stages and the
different forms OF nervous fright and irri-
liability largely result from persons allow
ing themselves to yield TO certain channels
of thought which have fear as basis.
1T 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 interyenes. loss OF
flesh necessarily results and whole train.
of evils follow I'm rapid sequence, from be-
coming a burden to oneself, family and
friends in going around in a perpetual
state of nervous irritability or melancholia.
to complete collapse in bed from nervous
prostration.
while patients will yield to medical
treatment in some instances the beneficial
effects of sedatives or toncs are often neu-
tralized by the patient refusing to exercise
self-control, and In nursing the particular
trouble which may be preying upon the
| mind. When expostulated with the invari-
able reply is. L 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 not to yield to certain lines of ia
miliar thought which constitute the SUBJ
hoy will f1x.I 4lA< -
brain may be said to be creature of habit
| in that certain lines of thought will force
| themselves and often at certain times OF
| the day more prominently, as in the morn
| ing. Endeavor to develop a 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 IL is,
| when persons travel they have to do things
| they do not wish to do entailfng a change
| OF thought consequent relaxation OF strain
upon certain Of the brain cells, more or
| less physical exercise, and a change of afr
and scene. Fifty per cent, perhaps more.
/ of nervous troubles are aggravated and
| prolonged by remaining amid familiar sur
| roundings and among the immediate mem
| bers of the family. where their weaknesses.
/ often silly and foolish, are coddled and
humored. until the subject believes himself
| or herself desperately ill. or finally de-
/ veops a real disease.
IF nervous people who have not reached
this stage only knew what nuisance they
are, and how readily their frritability would
| disappear II they would hold themselves up
| to their retrospective vision. determine 10
| 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 IL becomes a habit for women 20
| nag, fret or show temper. and for a man
| to feel that he Is perpetually going TO lose
| his position, or suffer I'm his business
| "One must persevere in the self-confroJ
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