Mental Hygiene

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 14, 1903

Some of our conscientious friends — zealous for health reform — forget that “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” They sit at their unsocial meal in solemn silence, brooding, perhaps, over the possible result of the meal, or worrying about business matters or about their own misdeeds or those of their neighbors. Some, perhaps, feel that a hearty laugh would be out of place. I have even known people who took on mental trouble (and stomach trouble with it) because people at an adjoining table were enjoying themselves.

Such things are responsible for a large amount of poor digestion. You do not see merry-hearted dyspeptics. Mirthful or happy dispositions do not engender indigestion. You rarely see one who has brooded or worried for any length of time who is not a dyspeptic. It is true that dyspepsia causes worry as surely as worry causes dyspepsia. Sometimes it is a question which comes first. But in any case, depressed mental conditions work disastrously on the digestive functions.

While the writer has for a long time believed this, he has recently seen it demonstrated in such a striking manner that he is fain to say it matters not so much what one eats as how he eats it. Some people eat dietetic abominations, and yet maintain fair health because of their sunny dispositions. Others, who are careful what and how much they eat, careful as to time of meals — overcareful, perhaps — have indigestion. These are not altogether isolated cases. There are many of them. We should adjust our theories to facts as we find them, and not attempt to bend facts to theories. There is probably no factor so potent as the mental condition in determining the quality of digestion, and we may as well recognize the law and adjust ourselves to it.

The meal hour should be looked forward to as a time of real enjoyment. Nothing should be introduced conversationally that will not contribute to this end. At meal-time, more than at any other time, one should enjoy himself, and do all in his power to help his companions to enjoy themselves. If one finds no other missionary work to do, he may count that his time has not been altogether wasted if he succeeds in cheering up some of his messmates at meal-time. In addition to the good he does to others, he is at the same time doing some missionary work for his own stomach.—Pacific Health Journal.