The Hurried Woman Syndrome

January 31, 2005
Talk about your Desperate Housewives! Bost, a gynecologist who has been treating harried women for 20 years, had no idea when he began his practice that he'd be hearing so much about fatigue, weight problems, mood swings and low libido. Yet many of his patients were struggling to juggle work, children and relationships while barely maintaining their mental and physical health. After conferring with other ob-gyn physicians, he discovered that the condition was indeed a common one and typically caused by chronic stress. This stress, estimated to affect some 30 million women, compels women to feel hurried, which leads to a damaging syndrome that, Bost says, is "common ... but it is anything but normal." In this book, the author convincingly argues that doctors and patients should view the syndrome as a form of "predepression," which can slip into clinical depression if not managed properly. After discussing brain chemistry and the impact of chronic stress on the body, Bost presents a seven-step program that includes doing exercises to overcome fatigue and weight gain. The author doesn't pretend to be a psychologist; he is instead a synthesizer who takes concepts from popular programs that he thinks work best for stressed women. Some of his steps are better documented than others but, overall, the holistic approach is thorough, effective and easy to follow. "Unhurrying your life is not an event; it's a process," Bost says, reminding readers to periodically review their priorities and to be realistic about themselves and their lives. If they are, he predicts they'll go a long way toward finding relief and avoiding both physical and mental maladies. This is an excellent prescription for women "on the verge" who are willing to take some down-to-earth advice.

January 1, 2005
These books target women who are burned out from trying to do too much. Bost, an obstetrician, gynecologist, and fertility specialist, developed a plan to thwart this stress after finding that one in five of his female patients had symptoms of looming depression (dubbed the hurried woman syndrome). His seven steps to break the cycle include creating balance in one's body, finding the right caloric balance, and exercising. A particularly helpful chapter on low sex drive advises getting in synch with one's partner. While lengthy, this book covers all of the bases. Recommended for most libraries.After 20 years of dutifully climbing the corporate ladder, Quinlan found herself stifled and disconnected. She took five weeks off work to recharge her batteries and is here to share her story and those of 37 other women who had similar experiences. Gearing her message to her Type A compatriots, she spends several chapters assuring them that it's OK to relax. Although well written, this book speaks mainly to highly educated, financially secure women who probably won't have time to read it; not recommended.

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.