Stress, Migraines, Exhaustion… What is Happening to Us?

A couple months ago I posted a review and giveaway of a new book, The Superstress Solution. It claims to have the remedy to:

• Relieve headaches and anxiety
• Restore your ability to relax and sleep well
• Control your weight
• Build resilience against future stress

When I asked for honest comments from you about why you would want to read this book, the responses were amazing and sad at the same time. Why are we all suffering from stress, migraines and exhaustion? Why is this such a common occurrence that it doesn’t raise red flags and cause us to change? Is it really just about time and money… or is there something deeper going on?

• I wonder if we really believe we’re worth the time and energy to take care of ourselves.
• I wonder if we trust that we will be provided for if we don’t work so hard.
• I wonder if we are afraid of slowing down and facing the reality of life, relationship, pain, and even grief.
• I wonder what life would look like if we started taking care of ourselves the same way we take care of others.

What do you think? What’s really going on?

Here’s what some readers had to say…

• I’m a 40-something non-traditional college student working towards an MBA and going through a divorce. Major overload and stress in my life!!
• I’m always stressed. I have two kids, work full time and then I come home and my husband works evenings. We just got a new puppy also. Sometimes I think I take on way too much!
• This morning, as I was getting ready for work, packing lunches, and dictating, uh, I mean GUIDING the children getting ready for school, I realized — I am at the end of my rope. Spent. Wiped out. EXHAUSTED! Any advice on how to get out of that rut would be most welcomed!!

Here is the winning comment from Karen R. …
Hi Tasra! oh boy, if this book has the answers, I would love to read them! I work 2 jobs (photographer and graphic designer), and I seem to have run out of time for sleep and exercise (I need to re-prioritize — or outsource and/or work faster, right?), and since working more (and sleeping less), I’ve definitely gained weight and my migraines kick in more after shooting a wedding or a long non-stop weekend of shooting and editing pix after a full week of working at my day job, and my neck seems to constantly be tight and/or hurts these days. Weeknights are dedicated also to editing pix, making albums, attending networking functions for photographers, or even teaching other photographers how to retouch and use Photoshop/Lightroom. I *know* that eating better and sleeping more would help to no end, but that’s just *part* of the equation.

Out of time? Yep! Help? Yes, please! (Oh, and I read my books n’ magazines on my lunch break — my one “myself” time most days during the week — so this book DEFINITELY would get read!) Thanks for sharing, Tasra!