The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-09-14
Nervousness As a Habit.
~ a. hpDlNGToN BRUCE,
Au-hor OF The Riddle Of Personality,
Psychology and Parenthocd.' etc

There would be far fewer 'nerv9ls wrecks" IL
the world today Il it were generally recognized
tsat nervousness often Is a. bottom nothing
more than bad habit
Doctors divide nervous diseases into two great
groups. The frst group consists OK insladies
due 10 some physical disorder directly aIfeciIne
-he nervous system Seuritls and !ocomotoT
ataJaa are examples OF nervous diseases % 'A''
sort
The second group comprises diseases IN which
the nervous system. though originally scund'
functions badly for various reasons me prlnci-
pal maladles ~ This group are hyster4a' he49@s-
thenia and psychasthenia
Technically these three ualadies are known
as the psvchoueuruses. They are the ones
which frequently is temPted 10 say always
are grounded IN bad mental habits
When the history 81 psych0-neurotic patient
ts carefully looked into 80 generally 81 found
thar. as far back as early childhood the patient
scguired The habit % allowing MS conduct 10 Dc
swayed entirely by bis feelings.
H. as child, De were crossed ~ any desire, ne
probably reacted by throwing himself on the
floor. beating the air with his fists, and bowling
tismally.
or. Instead ~ venting bis feelings thus vio-
lentiy. he may have slikee and bTOodec IN ST.
lence. developing a sg.leness which % Itself was
individually proof Of an excessive emotional
reaction.
Al this early stage IL usually Is easy, by wise
educational methods, % break ~ tnis habit q
dltJW-LS NiH ltrLAAtEr hN -h'iN-ftF -it7t.ftt
life and the bodily actions ard 10 Substitute a
habit OF emotional control
The trouble s THAI many parents do not AZ.
preciate the importance o. beginning to train
their children ga emotional control while the
children sLll are very small. They may scold
them and punish them blt they Go not train
them So that often without the parent sus-
pecting H. the habit % excessive emotl0nahty
grows until i, becomes an lngraiued persona.
trait.
Also through parental ignorance and neglect.
another e-breediEE habit .s allowed tD be-.
( come Arm rooted This is The habit ~ undue
suggest utility, by which is meant The habit %
accepting and acting or ideas without stopping
20 examine their truth " fa.slfy, -he.r helpful
| ness or harmfulness
al children are ~ nature exceedingly sug
resuble Experience -as proved that unless
steps are taken az an early age to awaken the
critical faculty. ttiz innate s4EgeFrbUty. Ike
/ The innate euotoaaIfJ " childhood may b.
/ come both excessive ard ha1-t-a-
When ra.- occurs. and when fre lrdlly gug
I gestlbie person s az fte sam. flme person who
\ has never been properly trained "a emotional
control. lien tle -C.. ls fll.y prepared for soma
/ psych0-1curnrlr ualady
I Ie' things 60 badly Nth tlls person. let him
/ experience business TeferFes family troubles oi
/ q sudden emotional shoes ~ any kind and 90 s..
/ more tlau ar even Glance that DO VIII have aF
/ ht-'ericai attack or nervous breakdown
Early training ~ me wll-r3rer. wlth aperla
I reference to control Of fhr tm0'.oHs AID sue
. gesttilty. is therefore far slrrsf preventive
F.. known 90 tho functional nervous diseases mi
much ln evidence tnlay