Overcome Fear

When I was interned in Dr. Eiras Hospital, I began to have

panic crises. One day, I decided to consult the psychiatrist

in charge of my case; “Doctor, I am overcome by fear; it

takes from me the joy of living.” “Here in my office

there is a mouse that eats my books”, said the doctor.

“If I get desperate about this mouse, he will hide from me

and I will do nothing else in life but hunt him. Therefore,

I put the most important books in a safe place and let him

gnaw some others. In this way, he is still a mouse and does

not become a monster. “Be afraid of some things and

concentrate all your fear on them – so that you have

courage in the rest.”