WOMEN AND NERVES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 234, 6 November 1914, Page 4

WOMEN AND NERVES.

The habit of worrying means —as far as the brain is concerned—doing our work over and over again, writes Queen Bee in the ' ' Australasian.'' It is far more exhausting than the real work itself, and takes infinitely more out of the system. In point of fact, worrying is the most enervating process the human body can be afflicted with. Thinking within reasonable limits is a necessity of existence, and contributes a good deal to success in life, but the continual thinking: —or shall we sav brooding—over the same subject, in season and out of season, merely reduces the nerves to shreds. Every sane person will admit there is no greater folly than this, and none that will sooner bring on some form of illness or breakdown. If we cannot stop worrying, 'canont free our minds from any particular subject, but harp on it alii our working hours, then we have lost what physiologists call the power of inhibition, and we are in a bad way. ■ , Now is the time to take stock, and to look about for some cure for the trouble. Generally it will be found that the body has been in some way ill-treated. Maybe it has been starved of sleep, over-worked, under-nourished, or requires relaxation — that is rest. Something needs building up anew, and grooves require leaving altogether. The batteries demand recharging and the fatigue poisons eliminating from the system. This is all very easy to talk about, but it will require all the resources of the troubled ones, to

Deadly monotonous routine must first bi attacked, as it is one of the very fruitful causes of worry. Another is • the attempt to get more out of the machinery of the frame than it can possibly yield. Men and women, like engines, have their limits' of endurance, and any attempt to push them beyond these will assuredly result in disaster. If you find that you are taking your work home with you, and that it will not "down" at any time, the moment has arrived for you to say this thing must be stopped, at all hazards. An effort of will is absolutely necessary, and it can be made if there is some determination left, and there generally is when the call for it becomes a dire necessity. Chronic worry is more often a system of disorder, and not the cause. A perfectly healthy woman would not know that she had such a thing as nerves; a neurotic woman does not know she has anything else. The marvel is that she has any power of digestion left. The curing of nervd trouble is the most difficult business possible. Tonics are useless; in fact, all drugs can be ruled out of the question altogether. The first thing necessary is to fix on the cause. It may be lack of sleep, want of play, overstudy, or the attempt to do more than mind and body are capable of in "a given time. If a respite from work is needful, it will have to be arranged for in some form or other, and perliaps for an extended period. If it be merely exhaustion produced by that worry which consists in. wondering however you are going to cross bridges before you even come in sight of thejn, and perhaps are not there at all, then the habit must be mastered, and you can master it if you will. It is quite certain that nothinj is to be gained

by sitting down and allowing thuigs to> go on as they are? 1 doing. There is .only •one end-to this, and a very quick one. ; Attack I%e foundation of your complaint with determination. You must ■! bavp a very shrewd guess as to its origin; no one better-than yourself. Fight against it tooth and hail. It can be mastered, and when once thifi tide has turned you will very soon reduce its power until you can. defeat it altogether. 'Occupation of the mind one of the best antidotes for nerves. Work comes first, then reading, exercise in the open air, taking your dai]y: toil, slower than your wont, keeping up a cheerful spirit," looking on the brighter siiie of all'events —for there, is a brighter side, even tp the blackest to complain, for your nervous woman is a thorough grizzler, and endeavouring with all your might and main whole-heartedly to cultivate > sane and healthful mind in a sound bpdy. Do this, and your neryous prostration will very soon receive its .coup-de-grace. <