San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-07
Hints for the Uneasy
By II. Addington Bruce.

Chronic feelings of uneasiness-a:
manifested, for example, by a restless
shifting from one activity to another
difficulty in keeping the mind concen-
trated on anything, vague dissatisfaction
with everything one does-are. always
indicative Of some state of ill-health
This means that expert aid should be
sought, and preferably the aid of a ply
stefan, with psychological insight. For
often the ill-health may be.more of the
mind than of the body.
In neither case, however, will it neces-
sarily be serious state of ill-health,
and, in fact, it usually is not serious.
Often uneasinesS of an extreme sort is
found to have its source in comparative
" trivial ailments, weaknesses, or NAL
tunctionings.
Thus il is a common occurrence to
find uneasiness associated with unsus-
pected eye-strain. Or the seat of trou-
Bile may be, not in the eyes, but in the
ears. Cases are on record of people so
plagued by uneasiness that they perpe-
tually Travelled from place to place, no
where obtaining peace of mind until
some physician detected and removed
plug of wax causing pressure in their
cars.
Fallen or weakened arches of the feet
may likewise have uneasiness of mind
as their only early symptom. Or the
uneasiness may be due simply TO the
pressure of ill-fitting shoes. In the same
way the wearing of collars, corsets, or
other articles of clothing that fit so
tightly rs to cause undue pressure some
times may be productive of marked I'M
easiness.
Focal infection-especially infection
located in the teeth, tonsils, or sinuses
is another cause of uneasiness always
to be reckoned with. So is auto-intoxi-
cation from fermented or putrefied in
testinal contents, the remedy then be-
ing changes in the diet and perhaps
medication to promote digestion and
quicken the action of the excretory or
gans.
There are, it is true, more serious
causes.
Uneasiness may be an early and for a
time the only symptom of beginning
tuberculosis or kidney disease. This en-
phasizes the need for prompt and thor
ough medical examination. Though, as
stated, the chances are that nothing will
be found radically wrong with any part
of the physical mechanism.
Not infrequently, for that matter, the
most searching examination will fail
TO reveal any bodily trouble sufficient
to account for the uneasiness expe-
riened. Then it may be set down as GER
tain that the uneasiness has a distinctly
mental cause.
1t may be foreTunner of grave men
tai trouble. but it is far more likely to
be sign chiefly of faulty mental habits.
Foremost among these is the habit Of
undue preoccupation with ones personal
desires, comforts. and interests.
The selfish soon or late are almost
certain to be uneasy. SO are those who.
not being selfish i'll the usual meaning
of the word, are uncommonly self-cen-
tered in any way.
One way is to be abnormally self
conscious, another to be cowardly. an
other TO be addicted to anxiety and wOr-
ny. Whatever the mode of the self
centuring. the indispensable need, If the
uneasiness is TO be lastingly cured. is
the attaining of self-forgetfulncss
through acquiring the habit Of thinking
and working more and more for the good
Of others rather than for ones own
gain.
Copyright. 1898. by the Associated
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