Review By Susan Schenck

We are overwhelmed, we are exhausted, we have insomnia, we have huge appetites for food but none for sex. We experience substance abuse, headaches, anxiety. The author maintains that our modern world has put us in a “menacing form of stress that closely resembles post-traumatic stress disorder” such as what has been observed in war veterans. She calls this “superstress” and gives us a “super solution” through this book.

The Superstress Solution (Random House/ 2010) is divided into 3 parts, and each part has a brief summary at the beginning.  Real life case studies are sprinkled throughout the book to make it more interesting and see how people can heal, change, and relax. (One woman couldn’t even go an hour without checking her Blackberry  5 or 6 times—even at night, checking her email.)

The first part of the book explains what stress is and how it affects your body. There are various kinds of stress, with environmental, work, relationship, social and spiritual sources. Four hallmarks of stress are listed: It is compounded; you can’t get a handle on it anymore; life has lost its luster; and “anxious is the new normal.”  Friends, family, day-to-day hassles and job duties are factors that tip us into superstress. And as the author states, “Our parents and certainly our grandparents probably wouldn’t recognize what we call parenting as anything they’d ever done—that’s how all-encompassing the job has become.” This section also discusses the hormones of stress, the physical results, and gives case studies. We are also given an in-depth test of 9 pages to access our stress level.

Part II provides us with a smorgasbord of stress busters. The “pathways to peace” chapter gives us several mindfulness activities such as meditation, the “relaxation response,” focused breathing, affirmations, as well as the less conventional aromatherapy. If you want to hire someone to help you relax, there is also acupuncture, massage and reflexology.

There is an entire chapter devoted to food, which I was happy to find since I believe nutrition plays a huge part in physical and mental well being. In this chapter you will discover superfoods as well as “good mood foods” to enjoy, and “bad mood foods” to avoid. There is also a chapter on sleep and exercise, as well as one on the importance of optimism appropriately called “Mind over Superstress.”  

There is  also a chapter on the importance of social connection in which the author laments on how we have become a “nation of loners.” (The typical American adult spends 12 minutes talking to his/her spouse, yet nine hours a day involved in some form of media!) The section ends with a chapter on the importance of a spiritual life or finding meaning in your life.

Part III lays out a 4-week superstress solution plan which includes some nutrition, supplements, journaling, calming activities, and more. The final chapter defines 5 stress profiles and additional refined advice accordingly.  The following appendices appear at the end: menus for 14 days and a detox diet.

This is a great book for educating us on stress and proper, practical, doable solutions to it. No matter how much you may think you know about stress, you will nonetheless find some interesting tidbits, such as how cortisol peaks at 9 AM, causing most heart attacks to occur between 6 AM and noon; potato chips dehydrate the brain; kids given more attention are less stressful as adults; men produce 52% more serotonin than women; 38% of depressed adults are deficient in folate; and much more!

Roberta Lee, M.D., is vice chair of the Department of Integrative Medicine, director of Continuing Medical Education, and co-director of the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel's Continuum Center for Health and Healing at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Lee attended George Washington University Medical School and is one of the four graduates in the first class from the Program of Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona conducted by Andrew Weil, M.D. You'll find the author online at www.superstresssolution.com

Susan Schenck is author of The Live Food Factor

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