The Hurried Woman Syndrome

Terms of Use......Page 3
Want to learn more?......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
Foreword by Dr. Annette Smick of Mayo Health System......Page 7
Introduction......Page 9
Part One: Understanding Hurried Woman Syndrome......Page 15
1. Life as a Hurried Woman......Page 17
Profile of the Hurried Woman......Page 19
Classic Symptoms......Page 20
2. Stress and How It Affects Your Brain and Your Life......Page 27
Stress and the Body-Brain Connection......Page 28
The Basic Facts about Depression......Page 31
"It's So Common" . . . but Is It Normal?......Page 41
Challenges to the Idea of Hurried Woman Syndrome......Page 42
Children and Families of Hurried Women......Page 46
Motherhood, Aging, and the Hurried Woman Syndrome......Page 48
The Stress of Today's Lifestyle......Page 50
3. Are You a Hurried Woman?......Page 53
Medical Causes of Depression Symptoms......Page 56
Going to the Doctor......Page 62
Why Major Depression Is a Serious Health Problem......Page 63
Hurried Woman Syndrome: One Step Short of Major Depression......Page 64
Common Misconceptions about Hurried Woman Syndrome......Page 65
Partial Solutions......Page 68
4. Using Cognitive-Behavioral Coping Skills......Page 71
The Stress Equation......Page 73
In Summary......Page 78
Neurotransmitters Revisited......Page 81
The Relative Balance of Neurotransmitters......Page 86
More on Antidepressant Therapy......Page 93
Part Two: Your Seven-Step Plan for Better Life Balance......Page 97
6. Step 1: Create Balance in Your Body......Page 99
Vitamins......Page 100
Exercise......Page 105
Limiting Sugar, Alcohol, and Caffeine......Page 106
Hormones and Menopause......Page 110
Perimenopause......Page 125
Natural Hormones, Herbals, Supplements, and Other OTC Products......Page 128
Getting Serious about Chronic Health Problems......Page 134
7. Step 2: Find the Right Caloric Balance......Page 135
Statistics......Page 136
Nutrition: A Science?......Page 140
Medical Causes of Weight Gain......Page 141
Genetics and Weight Regulation......Page 143
Choosing a Diet: What Really Works and Why......Page 147
8. Step 3: Exercise, No Matter What!......Page 151
Energy......Page 152
The Calorie Equation......Page 153
There Is No One "Prescription" for Exercise......Page 156
Exercise Reprograms Your Metabolism......Page 157
A Major Plus of Exercise: You Can Eat More......Page 158
Regular Exercise Makes You Feel Better about Yourself and Improves Energy Levels......Page 159
1. Keep a Food Diary......Page 161
2. Get a Good Calorie Counting Book and Study It......Page 162
3. Determine Your Maintenance Calorie Level and Desired Weight Goal Calorie Level......Page 163
4. Start Your Exercise Program Now......Page 166
5. Get Your Mind and Heart Focused on the Goal......Page 167
7. Keep Track of Your Progress......Page 168
9. Drink Lots of Water......Page 170
Other Considerations......Page 171
Snacks......Page 174
Clean up Your Carbs......Page 176
Frequently Asked Questions......Page 187
10. Step 4: Rekindle the Fire......Page 199
"Normal" Sex Drive......Page 200
Physical Aspects of Sex Drive in Women......Page 202
Situational Factors......Page 207
Men And Women Approach Sex Differently......Page 211
No Substitutions Allowed......Page 217
Low Sex Drive: Suggestions for Women......Page 222
Low Sex Drive: Suggestions for Men......Page 239
Frequently Asked Questions......Page 247
11. Step 5: Identify Your Priorities and Set Reasonable Limits......Page 259
Establishing Your Number One Priority: You......Page 261
Fill in the Rest of Your New Priority List......Page 262
Children......Page 266
Your Activities......Page 277
Saving Time for Yourself......Page 279
Is There Life after Children?......Page 280
Consider Your Spiritual Side......Page 281
12. Step 6: Get the Best of Stress......Page 287
Situations You Can't Control......Page 288
Sources of Stress That Can Be Eliminated Completely......Page 289
Sources of Stress That Can Be Modified but Not Eliminated......Page 291
General Considerations about Stress......Page 292
Throw Out the Clutter......Page 294
Shopping......Page 295
Laundry......Page 296
Housework......Page 297
Television......Page 298
Entertainment......Page 299
Meals......Page 300
Junk Mail......Page 302
Beepers and Cellular Phones......Page 303
Finances......Page 305
Investments......Page 324
Work......Page 327
Keep Control of Everyone's Schedules......Page 331
Set Limits on Children's Activities......Page 332
Assign Chores and Responsibilities......Page 333
Have a Place for Everything......Page 334
Enforce Discipline in Your Home......Page 339
Continually Monitor the Process......Page 340
Summing It All up......Page 341
Appendix A......Page 345
Appendix B......Page 347
Index......Page 350