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One of the worst aspects of the emotions is the building up of needless phobias. Few possessors of these have the philosophy of the following friends of mine. “Sir, most apprehension is needless pain,” Samuel Johnson, LL.D. “Unfortunately the human mind is ingenious in creating its own miseries,” Dr. Oliver Goldsmith. “The worst troubles I had were those that didn’t happen,” Disraeli.

Phobia means fear but now it has been narrowed down to unreasoning fear. In its original meaning it was a more necessary emotion than love or hate. All animals at times meet enemies more powerful or more clever than they. If we do not have an instinct for self-preservation we will not be around to experience the other emotions. There is an awful carnage going on among those who do not have enough phobias for autos. But the colored boy who is pictured as trembling because he sees a graveyard on the other side of the road, the abode of spooks, has a distressing and useless phobia.

Psychologists now tell us that some of our phobias originate before we are born. You will have to discuss that matter with them. Childhood experiences must start a lot. I was middle aged before I had to give up my childhood home, but even then it required will power for me to turn my back on the dark inside of our barn and walk dignifiedly away. But I do not thing that a dark graveyard disturbs me. In fact I have slept quite a number of nights in a room overlooking one. It is often hard to distinguish between phobias and genuine fears. To my mind those who bundle up the minute the outside temperature drops below summer heat, put on rubbers every dewy morning, and shun drafts as I would the open door of a draft furnace, have phobias. Many people fear and dislike crowds. I, myself, do not like them. The public is a beast when there are too many people in one place. If one has to leave an enjoyable concert simply because there are too many other people in the room I should class that as a phobia. Clear thinking should allow one to weigh the value of fears. I knew that the feeling which I had in my dark barn was foolish and I never allowed it to influence me. If one has too much difficulty the proper physician should be called in, whether for a stomach ulcer or a phobia.

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GENERAL HEALTH

In the last seven years, more than 4,000 parent groups in the United States have organized   to   fight   drugs,   particularly marijuana, which they see as the key drug. They have banded together as the National Family Partnership. The federation shows mothers and fathers how to organize themselves to fight drug abuse, including the following advice:

•   Learn about drugs and their dangers.

•   Take a firm stand against drug use by your children.

•   Share the information with the parents of your children’s friends, school administrators, and communities.

•   Fight commercial exploitation of drug use – for example, the “head shops” that sell drug paraphernalia.

It’s difficult for parents to notice whether a child is using drugs unless the doses are so high and frequent that the child staggers. But there are clues. A child who suddenly burns incense or uses air fresheners may be covering the smell of marijuana smoke. Look for a change in behavior, either to high activity or lethargy.

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GENERAL HEALTH