Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-23

anything ne wrote was always favor
ably received. He could never tell
whether that state of fear would be
present or not when he sat Gown to
his daily task. This condition be-
came more and more frequent, until
finally he could not trust himself to
write a single word. A psychologist
relieved him ultimately.
But there is one thing which dis
tinguishes fear as a malady from fear
as commonly known. and that is 7its
unreasonabieness There is as "a rule
no apparent caues to justify such
strange and unexpected results.
OF course, any one confronted on a
dark night by al pistol thrust under the
nose would be apt to feel more or less
lfrightened-thati is, reasonable fear
but to feel just as badly frightened La
the absence Of all visible danger
serves to- class the condition under
discussion as distinct malady
There is one thing comm0i to all
! persons afflicted with this condition of
fear, and that is. all mental activity is
more or less suspended or paralyzed
at the time of attack. The capacity
| for mental work, and even the desire,
4
/ Rapid thought is impossible. and the
i victim complains that he cannot work
/ as he did formerly. As the feeIinxsof
! fear takes possession of him his am
bition and enterprise become almost
extingushed.
He can do only that which is neces,
safy in his daily life. and that only too
often with the greatest difficulty. This
fear is frequently lifelong hindranee
| disappearing for periods of time only
TO return at unexpected moments.
According to the occupation or statioa
In life of the Individual his eonfes
sion will run Somewhat as follews:
Il am certain that something, terri-
BILE is going to befali me today. can
| tell 1t by that dreadful inward feeling
| of anxiety" or, I am sure nay son
has met with some misfortune
haven't heard from him for two days.
and he is always prompt in writing"
| Others. engaged in business. will have
! anxieties of another sort
Il know my venture will not sue
coed; nay constant state of anxiety
| tells me so.'' or. Il know these goods
won't sell. and I'm sure to lose why
else should have that nervous feeling
all the timer Their anxieties are
| legion.
The sources of this mysterious condi-
| ton Of fear are almost as varied as life
itself. In some instances the victim
himself is able to give some sort of ex
| PLANTATION of its cause, more or less UNI
| satisfactory. but more often the reason
| is far to seek.
Many are troubled with attacks of
fear from earliest childhood to advanc-
| ed old age, and the happiest days OF
their lives have been somewhat en-
Uttered by this distressing feeling In
enc form or another it frequently first
appears in childhood. and manffests it's
most troublesome symptoms on first
aWaking or at the moment of retiring
Il affects mostly those of so-callsd
nervous temperament. The attftuae
of the parent toward the child afaiiet-
cd may have consequences of the Ut
most Importance. Harsh measures a re
| emily too apt to aggravate the condition.
In order not to confuse abnormal
| fear with that which may be consit-
cred instructive and eonnaon to q ma
1orlty of healthy individuals, few
words on socalled mountain dizziness@
VIII suffice as an example to distin-
guish the two. f,{
For instance. some people cannot
look from u height or climb a uarrepy
path, or descend steep one. Others
cannot pass precipitous slope. or SO
beneath an overEanging rock. This il,
due to natural physical reasons, but IL
this condition is once present ii always
feeurs. and it is quite mistake ia
suppose that this condition can be
overcome by the power of persuasion
or other means more or less well inten-
toned. Such attempts on the part OF
friends only result in increasing the
rear of the one afflicted to the point of
complete paralysis. with increased ae-
ton Of the heart. followed often by
fainting speils.
AS already Indicated. the causes or
abnormal. unreasonable fear-or' fear
| as disease--are for the main part un.
known However. the condition ia very
| often accompanied with digestive dts
turbances. and a scientist who has
made a close study of the subject for
| number of years is inclined to be-
lieve that many of these cases are a.
result of some ailment of the stomach
or general digestive tract. inasmuch as
| many cases are relieved or cured by
| treatment directed to the digestive de-
rangement
TO quote again this authoritative
| student of this interesting subject II
have observed" he says. form of fear
| which occurred in individuals who, as a
result of becoming addicted to the daily
use of alcohol, gradually acquired the
habit of imbihing 1t in large quantities.
| Il have noticed this especially in
army officers, who as a result of this
habit generally develop a chronic ca
tarrh of the stomach or intestines Aft
| ef this condition has lasted some time,
| | have often seen develop in those at
| tiicted severe condition of fear
| These attacks occur at varying in
| tervafs. and the victims are often
brought to the verge of despair. As a
rule. these persons most or whom
| formerly possessed very energetic ma
| lures. struggle long against the dis
tressiug symptoms. until at last they
visit their doctor. and, somewhat
ashamed. hesitatingly tell of their
Il