Nervousness, or nervous exhaustion, the terms are almost interchangeable, is only one of many of the varied forms of worry. Many other sub-divisions of nervousness are manifested in the harmful mental habits of discontent, fault finding, nagging, grumbling, hairsplitting, whining, fretting, fearfulness of affairs not turning out aright, jealousy, fidgetting, self-pity, over-anxiety, "the blues," melancholy, fretting, suspicion, irritability, etc.

A man can worry far longer and harder than he can possibly work, and by keeping himself in a state of nervousness or worry, he thinks himself to be carrying great responsibilities, and doing important work, whereas the worry does nothing but exhaust and devitalize the system of nervous energy.

The emotions use up the nervous system far more than does the intellect. For this reason worry, which is one of the fear emotions, is so expensive to the nervous system. An individual can worry from the time he wakens up in the morning until he goes to bed at night. He can even have the worry, or nervous state of mind follow him through his sleep, so that he is restless and fatigued in the morning.

a curious sign of nervous exhaustion is what may be termed "irritable weakness." For example, an individual while working will constantly make unnecessary movements; will see the door ajar, get up and shut it even though this be of no advantage; will see a piece of paper on the floor and will have to get up at once and put it in the basket; or the hands are picking at a watch chain or bracelet. In general the power of control is lessened so that the individual is doing many things which are quite unnecessary. The face especially is over mobile; the eyes and lips are constantly expressing emotional states.

It is worry, not work, that kills. There is nothing under the sun which so enervates or practically uses one up, sometimes almost to a point of complete collapse, as the very common practise to which so many individuals given to worry become habituated, that is the building of castles in the air, or brooding. Give the imagination reins and in a short time one will become nervously bankrupt. This habit of castle building, of planning and speculating, of always anticipating on what one will or will not do, of always building in the future, is one of the worst nerve sapping influences with which I am familiar. These castles are usually built during the hours when one should be asleep. In the morning when sunshine greets us they are all melted away, having disappeared in the mists of imagination. These flights of speculation should be vigorously fought against. When one finds himself indulging in this baneful practise and apparently unable to banish the ideas from the mind, he should seek the fresh air, read a book or do something else, that will necessitate a change of thought. This is a very important matter and to which due attention must be paid. Oh, if we could only stop thinking! What a blessing it would be for some of us. The mind or nervous system is like an electric motor which continues to go long after the power which puts it in motion is shut off.

Self-control is attainable by training and is what we must all practise if we would be master of ourselves. The exercise of the mind, whether by prayer or otherwise, is the palladium against worry, depression and its effects.

Nervous prostration and nervous dyspepsia are direct results of self-thought and self-interest; every contagious disease is made possible to us through fear for our personal safety; and our mental condition and spiritual depression are due to fussing over our own unfortunate circumstances. There is more health in self-forgetfulness than in the combined drugs of the earth, and more happiness in self-adjustment than in realization of all our present wishes. Happiness, which means health; health, which means holiness, is not fenced off in certain spaces of the earth, to which we must fight or pray to gain admittance. It is all around us, over us, under us, or it is nowhere.

The worrier is a suicide - self-slain by a weakened and cowardly condition of mind which ultimately kills. Nervousness can be absolutely cured, but not at one fell swoop. Practice and persistence are bound to conquer it. On retiring for the night constantly impress your mind with the thought: "There is nothing to fear in the whole universe. I am God's child and He will let no harm come to me. When I awaken I shall be happy and refreshed."

One can truly say concerning nervous pains that one only suffers when he thinks so.

The nervous patient is on the path to recovery as soon as he has the conviction that he is going to be cured; he is cured on the day when be believes himself to be cured.

By all means let go talking of your ailments. So long as disease is held in the mind, it is likewise held in the body. We must absolutely let go of disease in thought, if we would drop it out of the body. This must be done if one would be well.

Live health, think health, pray health, and you will certainly find it.