Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-04
NERVOUS BREADS
Bv II. Addington Bruce

tn HOUGH much as been written on the
subject, the conquest OF nervous breads
of absurd and unreasonable fears
regarding ones health, going into crowded
places, being alone in closed rooms, etc.
remains problem Of vital import to many
people. OF this 1 am reminded by the num-
Der of letters that keep coming to me re-
Questing advice as to it's solution
For some sufferers from such breads
from phobias, as they are technically termed
it must frankly be said that no solution is
possible without the personal aid of a skilled
medical psychologist. This because the ner-
vous dread, besides being too firmly fixed for
self-cure, is but an item in more general
loss of nerve control due to conditions re-
curing careful analysis before readjust-
ment can be made.
AS one instance I might cite the case of
young woman afflicted with a nervous
dread of church bells Sunday was day of
torture to her unless she were where she
could not hear church bells ringing. Nor
was she able to shake off this most I'M
reasonable dread until happy chance sent
her to medical psychologist.
The latter's study of her case resulted in
an unexpected discovery.
1t revealed that, subconsciously, the young
woman was forever dwelling on the death of
her mother, was forever reproaching herself
for conduct she believed had fastened her
mothers death. 1t revealed, too, that at the
| time her mother died church bells were
ringing.
Hence, by association OF ideas, the sound
OF church bells served subconsciously to keen
alive and intensity her morbid self-reproach
And hence her dread Of church bells, dread
which she now remembered had first troub-
led her after her mothers death.
Not few cases of nervous breads are
similarly linked with distressing subcon-
sclous mental states which have to be ascer-
tanned before cure can be wrought. But
fortunately self-cure is possible in the ma
n mob
scious linking may , present. II is possible,
too, by simple means
The one indispensable thing, in fact in
the management of the self-curable cases is
appreciation of the fact that to suffer from
nervous dread is proof positive of an un-
due self-centeredness in ones thinking. Any
thing that will help to turn the thoughts
away from ones self will help to overcome
the nervous dread.
For this reason the cultivation of keener
interest in the work one has to do, of interest
in some hobby if one has no settled occu-
patton, and in especial of interest in chart
table activities, will be found to help greatly
in the conquest of nervous breads. Heed
also should be paid to fundamentals in physi-
cal hygiene.
The better ones physical condition. the
greater the likelihood that one will have,
not merely an organic sense of well-being
but cheerful, courageous outlook on life
Though, after all, to add to ones weight to
iAcIedso ono Fsor generally, VIII always
be OF secondary Importance to decentraIzing
ones thoughts when it is question of free
ing ones self from dread.
By one means or another the attention
must be shifted from the self to the not
self-to other persons and to external in
terests and activities. That remains the
great essential, and again and again will be
found the one thing needful to Danish for all
time fear tIat may have been positively
incapacitating.
IT it does not suffice, If the fear persists
If, indeed, one feels ones self unable to eff
feet the necessary attentions hifting-there
still is no reason to despair. Instead, seek
out good medical psychologist and conf
IDENTIFY enlist his services for the regaining of
peace of mind.
Copyright, 1922, by the Associated News
papers.)