Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-25
Stop Killing
Yourself
Cruel Mother
Cries for Help
By DR.. PETER J. STEINcROHN

Dear DR.. Steincrohn:
Please help. me before it's
too late. I feel I'm losing
my mind. For the last few
days I have been mistreat-
ing my 3-week-old baby. I've
spanked her, I've shook her,
I've thrown her around while
dressing her, until she must
be scared half to death. She
even starts to cry at the
sound Of my voice.
And I'm scared, too. I
know this isn't being normal.
I'm scared also because I
know God must be very angry
with me, and yet I can't con-
troll my actions.
Where can I turn? My doc
tor has given me pills but
they don't help me any more.
We can't even pay our rent
at times, let alone run UP q
lot Of doctor bills. Shall /
60 to q psychiatrist? /
couldn't stand being locked
up IN q mental hospital.
What would happen to my
other children? I have never
treated them this way; why
am I 50 suddenly hostile to-
ward this onep
And above all, what have
I done to the mind Of this
baby? Is it too late or can
I still win her confidence?
Please help me. I don't know
where else to turn. I can't
even talk to my husband
about it. Thank you for your
time. God bless you-Mrs. x.
GOD BLESS ME2 Just for
listening? I'm nothing more
than q stranger who can't
possibly do you any good ex-
cept try to give you some
advice. ] can't actually solve
your problem. But I can't
Just turn you out to suffer
hopelessly. Let's see where we
can start.
First things first. You
must tell your husband; you
must tell your doctor. With
out their help and under
standing you won't solve
your problem. II you haven't
the nerve to speak it. then
cut out this clipping and
show them what you have
written to me. They viii un-
derstand this is no simple
matter.
I hold out some hope for
you. A mental hospital is not
necessarily the next stop.
The fact that you have new
er mistreated your other chill
dren indicates that your re-
cent abnormal reactions to
your youngest child are
something less than q psy-
chotic strain in your make
UP. But that is for your doc
tor to decide. ...
Perhaps you are Just plain
worn out with worry about
financial problems and work;
and you have developed this
hostility towards the baby
simply because she Is an ex-
ira mouth to feed. Frankly,
I don't know. But what I do
know Is that you must seek
medical help right away.
You ask, els 1t too late or
can I still win her conf
dence?" If you are really
concerned about her future,
you will do what I have sug-
gested.
MANY READERS viii
think I have been lenient
about the whole matter. They
will say you are a cruel
mother" who deserves no
sympathy. II doctors reacted
that way they might Just as
well throw In their single.
Your baby deserves sympa-
thy, care and protection; but
so do you.
For Mrs. c.: Yes, 1t is true
that anginal pains can also
occur in the throat and jaw.
Although the typical anginal
pain Is confined to the chest
latter exertion or excite
ment), I have seen q num-
Der Of patients whose only
complaint was jaw pain on
exertion.
One was sure (and I, too,
was suspiciouO that his
trouble was due to q bad
tooth. Only after repeated
expressions Of wonder that
the "toothache" came on only
after he walked fast, did I
become suspicious Of angina.
Subsequent examinations and
study proved the diagnosis
without question.
y D
For Mrs. g.: Fatty tumors
are called Upon as. They
don't turn into cancer. Oper-
ation2 That can be consid-
cred at leisure.
(Bell Syndicate Feature)
DR.. Steincrohn's ledtlet,
when to Suspect Your Gall
Bladder" tDiH be mailed on
receipt OF a stamped, selt-Gd-
dressed envelope and 10 cents
In coin for handling. Ad-
dress DR.. Steincrohn In care
OF The EueninO Star.
Tomorrow: Bad book.
SENATOR CAlICIIS