The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-01-14

of the family.
The really safe thing for them and
for relatives Is to place them in
some sort of institution equipped
to care for them.
Recovery Is possible and that is
the question that Is most often
asked in regard to it. But 1t is per-
SiStently recurrent. and 1t Is greatly
varied by the condition Of the
glands in the body. especially those
OF internal secretion.
Quiet Environment
These manic-depressive victims
are usually greatly affected by
what goes on around them. We call
them "extroverts." and try to keep
them away from excitement and in
a quiet environment II possible.
During the years preceding this
mental affliction. these people Oft
EN- show unusual promise Of being
men and women Of action. effective
and equal to concrete administra-
ton Of affairs. They have no pa
thence with SlOw-going companions.
they are all for action. Their ideas
may be formed quickly. but they
are all for them (until any one OF
them changes his mind. Unless
they are actually i'll. they are likely
to be cheerful and sociable.
This type of mental trouble is
one of the most pathetic conditions
that come to us for treatment. The
highly elated period may seem nor
NAL for time, until the continued
hilarity and excitement will finally
grow tiresome even to those who
know him best. The reverse of such
feeling will soon set in, and the pa
tient begins to grow morose. to
feel that he Is "of all men most
miserable" even to the point of
trying to commit suicide.
In between these extremes Of
feeling and excitement. there will
be periods Of normal thinking and
living, which Is all the more tragic
because of the distorted thinking
of the afflicted periods. Probably
none of us knows the agonies of a
distorted mentality. when the pa
tient himself knows less than any
one else what he wants to do or to
be. The very effort to get the kinks
out of his brain and to think clear
ly Is in itself tragedy
Matter Of MetabOlism
The only treatment calls for I'M
limited patience and resourceful-
ness in handling such cases. That
Is the basic reason for thinking
that these people are better of in
an institution of some sort. where
the treatment can be selected ac-
cording to the form taken by the
mental alteration, since most Of
such places are equipped to take
care Of the various phases.
It Is a triumph Of good judy
ment to bring back one of these
cases into something like normal
state. It is matter Of changing the
metabolism. until the body proc
esses are all as nearly normal as
they may be made. Elimination is
of great Importance. since the toxic
wastes. II allowed to accumulate.
will upset any sort Of mental ball
ance. when the general system Is
also in a disarranged state.
We all know how unstable our
thinking processes are when we get
ourselves "out Of keller" and allow
our personal habits to become care
less and irregular. This Is true IN
q still greater degree when the
emotional stability is erratic and
given to abrupt changes.
It takes unending patience. and
especially kindness and gentle
treatment. to help these manic
Oppressive cases. The border line is
often not noticed until the body
and mind are undone for all prac-
teal purposes. The farther astray
the thinking becomes. the longer 1t
will take before the mind and tenn
permanent may reestablish them
selves. It Is we'll to indulge the
varying temperaments because any
opposition Is likely to arouse still
more contradictions in the mind OF
the patient. II he Is willing to CO.
operate. there Is always hope.