Evening star., 1939-01-16
Recipe Calls Head Soup Brings Interesting Story Light
Child Who
Threatens
Suicide
Dash Application
OF Cold Water
Into His Face
By ANGELO PATRI.

Hysterical children do not mean
what they say. Those who, when
thwarted, storm and shout, I'll
kill myself" are just using phrase
that has dramatic effect. It is
mean habit that should be cor
rected, If possible, at once. Not
that it does the hysterical one much
harm. It doesn't. It is just words
that use some of his over abundant
energy and make people pay at
tention. If such a one comes your
way take big cup of water and let
him have that cold water full in
his face regardless of company,
clothes or furniture. Such an ex-
perience will check the Mysteries
and make the young person think
twice before trying it again.
Cold water is the best medicine
known for such demonstrations.
1t is a form of treatment that can
have no i'll effects. 1t cannot be
called punishment, or harsh
treatment. 1t is professional rem
edy for hysteria. Accompany the
cold water with silence. If the pa
tient continues the noise there Is
always more water. Use 1t. Use
it until the patient subsidies. Thor
oughness is part of the cure.
Don't be alarmed when such
young person has temper tam
trum, for that is what it really Is.
He feels injured and he wants to
make other people feel that way
too, if he can. If he gets no re-
sponse save the cup of cold water
he will be discouraged and try some
other scheme to win attention. He
may even try attending to his busi-
ness of growing up. He is not going
to commit suicide. The person who
does that is a different sort. He
won't take the world into his con-
fidence. He is suffering deeply and
has not the power to release his
feelings. If he had he would not
be in his desperate predicament.
These hysterical temper outbursts
that failing children use to frighten
their mothers and make them give
them what they want, whether it be
more privileges, more money or
more attention. need firm hand
and cold water. The other child,
the still, depressed, suffering one
needs the help of skilled physicians
who understand the way of the
troubled soul.
In such cases the understanding
clergyman, the kind who knows
his mission is the cure for sick
souls, can be of the greatest help.
Into his ear can be poured the
story of suffering, error, longing,
pain, with the certain knowledge
that it will be treated seriously
and kept secret under the seal of
the confessional.
Long ago the church understood
the need of the confessional, under
stood the need of some sympathetic,
listening ear into which could be
told the story of grief with the
surety of having burden lifted.
Someone more earthly than God,
but with His alloofness, His COM
forting understanding. His healing
power.
To some such confessor, clergy
man of your own church, skilled
psychologist, an understanding
physician. an old and trusted friend
wise in the ways of humanity, SYM
pathetic with its errors and its
frailties, the depressed, burdened
child should be sent for treatment
and spiritual support. Then the
knowing psychiatrist can do his
work and forward the cure.
But the spoiled one who yells in
temper that he is going to kill
himself needs just cupful of cold
water.
Mr.. Patri has prepared a leaf
let entitled, "The Shy Child"
in which he tells parents how to
help children overcome shyness
and fear. Send for it, addressing
your request to Mr.. Angelo Patri,
Child Psychology Department of
this paper. Inclose q self-ad-
dressed, stamped (3-cent) envel-