NERVE CONTROL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 160, 23 June 1911, Page 11

NERVE CONTROL.

Many of the writers in English women’s papers are anticipating a general nervous breakdown among society women during the coming Coronation festivities, and much advice is. being given as to the best way to prevent such a breakdown. In America it has been the custom for several years for Women to anticipate their nervous collapse as a matter of course, and to engage rooms at fashionable sanatoriums for the end of the season, just as they take berths for a trip to Europe. But now they are beginning to realise that prevention is better than cure, particularly as jaded nerves have such a liisi’.si rous effect on the complexion. am! the American women have begun to look for prevention rather than a remedy. Specialists have been called upon for advice, and English women are also adopting the same means of keeping well. Although our ‘ season’’ is very light and slow compared to London and Now York, still even here life is sufficiently strenuous at times to bring about a nervous breakdown, and many women may lie glad to know of the simpler means by which they can keep well. Sufficient sleep is, of course, one of the first essentials to good health, but this is often one of the

hardest things to get. so the women who is deprived oi her rest, either by too much work or too much gaiety. mud. endeavour to make up tor it m other ways. Anil wi:li in tie v>nillu>ll sense anil determination, it is possible for every woman to keep well in this direct ii>n.

We are told that the first signs of nervous strain show themselves in excitability, irritability, and low spirits. There is a marked unwillingness to L’liuk of pleasant things. The cio-e. however, is simple when (he disease is only in its early stages. She must force hrrseld to look at -.omething attractive. to think* of something agreeable. There is. as a matter oi fact, a seieiKe*in being aide to pull out the elastic of one s mind to stretch over large spaces, to cut the hide of one’s svrnpathii t which would naturally cover s’ueh a small area into the thin strips which will embrace wide acres of thought. There is nothing like a vista figuratively and actually- to rest the nervous svstem.

Some of the symptoms, however, are merely physical. M hen the tired feeling brings with it a sensation of choking, of difficulty in breathing, one is told to take deep breaths -at . the open window. Shut the eyes, says the nerve specialist-, breathe deeply, and stretch these are three of rhe principal

cures for the particular type of bodily tiredness which almost inevitably ends in mental strain. The suggested remedies are often, however, far simpler and less revolutionary . Learn to relax muscles when standing is one of the preventions. Rigid postures wear out body and mind. Speak with a low voice is another cure. High pitched voices exhaust the speaker as well as the hearer. Talk little, says again the authority. The woman who is always exhausting her fund of small-talk exhausts her reserve store i>f en-

ergy as well. Above all. avoid emotion. In emotion lies the kernel of nerve strain. Perhaps the other remedies are easier to carry out, but in the avoidance of excitability the woman naturally' emotional would find the secret of unimpaired health, whatever her life may be. That hard work never yet brought about nerve-strain is the opinion of the doctors of to-day.