CONTENTS
PART I: THE STRANGE WAYS OF NERVES
CHAPTER I
PAGE
In which most of us plead guilty to the charge of "nerves."
NERVOUS FOLK 3
CHAPTER II
In which we learn what "nerves" are not and get a hint of
what they are.
THE DRAMA OF NERVES 10
PART II: "HOW THE WHEELS GO ROUND"
CHAPTER III
In which we find a goodly inheritance.
THE STORY OF THE INSTINCTS 33
CHAPTER IV
In which we learn more about ourselves.
THE STORY OF THE INSTINCTS (Continued) 51
CHAPTER V
In which we look below the surface and discover a veritable
wonderland.
THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND 77
CHAPTER VI
In which we learn why it pays to be cheerful.
BODY AND MIND 118
CHAPTER VII
In which we go to the root of the matter.
THE REAL TROUBLE 141
PART III: THE MASTERY OF "NERVES"
CHAPTER VIII
In which we pick up the clue.
THE WAY OUT 183
CHAPTER IX
In which we discover new stores of energy and relearn the
truth about fatigue.
THAT TIRED FEELING 219
CHAPTER X
In which the ban is lifted.
DIETARY TABOOS 250
CHAPTER XI
In which we learn an old trick.
THE BUGABOO OF CONSTIPATION 278
CHAPTER XII
In which handicaps are dropped.
A WOMAN'S ILLS 300
CHAPTER XIII
In which we lose our dread of night.
THAT INTERESTING INSOMNIA 322
CHAPTER XIV
In which we raise our thresholds.
FEELING OUR FEELINGS 333
CHAPTER XV
In which we learn discrimination.
CHOOSING OUR EMOTIONS 359
CHAPTER XVI
In which we find new use for our steam.
FINDING VENT IN SUBLIMATION 379
GLOSSARY 386
BIBLIOGRAPHY 390
INDEX 393
OUTWITTING OUR NERVES
CHAPTER I
_In Which Most of Us Plead Guilty to the Charge of "Nerves."_
NERVOUS FOLK
WHO'S WHO
Whenever the subject of "nerves" is mentioned most people begin trying
to prove an alibi. The man who is nervous and knows that he is
nervous, realizes that he needs help, but the man who has as yet felt
no lack of stability in himself is quite likely to be impatient with
that whole class of people who are liable to nervous breakdown. It is
therefore well to remind ourselves at once that the line between the
so-called "normal" and the nervous is an exceedingly fine one.
"Nervous invalids and well people are indistinguishable both in theory
and in practice,"[1] and "after all we are most of us more or less
neurasthenic."[2] The fact is that everybody is a possible neurotic.
