Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-21
Stop Killing
Yourself
By Dr.. Peter J. steincrohn

Dear DR.. Steincrohn: I'd
like my doctor more if he
didn't ask so many embar-
RAISING queStions.-Mrs. @.
YOU WOULD like him less
If he weren't so curious. The
doctor who takes time to talk
with you and ask questions is
usually the better doctor. He
knows that a good history Of
the patients complaints and
background is often more i'm
portant than the physical ex-
animation itself.
Does he ask about any sex
problems? About what really
is worrying you: finances;
children; boredom; fear Of
disease? About skeletons in
your family closet? The Gu
rious doctor knows that he
must know you, or else he
treats you in a maze of ifs,
butts and why's.
Manys the complaint that
is based on psychological NAL
adjustments and not on &C
tual physical disease. Psyche
Somatic is more than a fancy
word. Thousands suffer be-
cause they keep secrets from
their doctor. Then they won
der why he can't or doesn't
help.
l recall one patient whose
husband was a travelling
salesman. Sometimes he'd be
away for a month or more at
a time. Often he had to 60 to
Europe on business.
For years she complained
of a chronic skin condition
with intense itching. l began
to notice a pattern. 1t would
improve whenever her hus-
band was away. On his return
it would flare up within "a
hours and stay that way until
he left again.
Not until almost a year
after she began treatment did
she finally admit that there
was an oil-water relationship
between them. She had not
wanted to come out with it,
because in the eyes of the
community they were sup
posed to be a happy couple.
Her skin condition cleared
up completely after their d.
vOrce and has not returned to
plague her. Each has remar-
ried happily.
ANOTHER PATIENT was a
man with a bad duOdenal I'LL
Ger. He had two episodes of
severe bl e e din g which re-
quired several blood transfu-
Sions. Not until he admitted,
many months after beginning
tratment, that he resented
his partner greatly, did he i'm
prove.
In his case it was true, "It's
not what you eat but what is
eating you," that was the
trouble. On my advice he had
it out with his partner. When
his grievances were aired and
an understanding reached, his
ulcer began to heal. Treating
the resentment was more eff
fectual than prescribing pills
and a special diet.
And so in scores of medical
conditions: it is essential that
you take your doctor into
complete confidence. You can
trust practically every doctor
to keep your innermost Sc
crets inviolate. Tell him every
thing. He has heard all kinds
of stories. You won't embar-
rass him or yourself, no mat
ter what is on your mind.
You must satisfy your doc
tors curiosity so he can rec
ognize the common enemy
and annihilate it. Keep him
guessing and you do nothing
but hurt yourself.
Be thankful if your doctor is
a curious cuSS; you have a
much better chance of getting
well. If he isn't curious, you'll
be smart to 60 shopping for a
doctor who has the patience
to listen and learn everything
about you.
(Bell-McClurs syndicste)
DR.. Steincrohn'S ledtlet,
"AHergy - Disguised Attack
err" lUiH be mailed on receipt
OF a stamped, Selt-dddreSSed
envelope and IS cents in coin
for handling. Address DR..
Steincrohn in care of The
Star.