ry?

For the time required is the least requirement. To deal adequately with
the neurasthenic is to have unending sympathy and patience and an energy
that is limitless. Without such energy or endurance the physician either
slumps to a prescriber of tonics and sedatives, a dispenser of such
stale advice as "Don't worry" and "You need a rest", or else himself
gives out.

In dealing with the cases in the better-to-do and the rich, one has more
weapons in the armamentarium. The worry is more futile here, more
ridiculous, and one can attack it vigorously. Usually it is not overwork
in these cases; it is monotony, boredom, discontent with something or
other, a vicious circle of depressing thoughts and emotions, some
difficulty in the sex life, some reaction against the husband, a
rebellion of a weak, futile kind against life, maladjustment of a
temperament to a situation.

Some difficulties, even when ascertained and clearly understood, are
insurmountable. "The truth shall make ye free" is true only in the very
largest sense. Some temperaments are inborn, and are as unchangeable as
the nose on one's face. In such cases the ordinary physical therapeutics
help the acute symptoms that flare up now and then, and that is as much
as one may expect.

But it is certain that in the majority of cases more than this may be
accomplished. It is often a great surprise and relief to a woman to
realize that her overconscientiousness, her fussiness, her rebellion,
and discontent, her reaction to something or other is back of her
symptoms. She has feared disease of the brain, tumor, insanity, or has
blamed her trouble on some other definite physical basis.

If one deals with intelligence, explanation helps a great deal. The
intelligent usually want to be convinced; they do not ask for miracles,
they seek counsel as well as treatment.

It is my firm belief that the function of intelligence is to control
instinct and emotion, and that temperament, if inborn, is not
unchangeable, even at maturity. Once you convince a person that his or
her symptoms are due to fear, worry, doubt, and rebellion you enlist the
personal efforts to change.

A new philosophy of life must be presented. Less fussiness, less fear,
more endurance, less reaction to the trifles of their life are
necessary. The aimless drifter must be given a central purpose or taught
to seek one; the dissatisfied and impatient must be asked, "Why should
life give you all you want?"