Addicted to Stress? Many Women Are …

Ok, I’ve gotta write this quickly because I’m a little stressed today. I’ve got three other deadlines, a meeting to discuss a possible redesign of my website, a business meeting over lunch, an appointment with the vet, a telephone interview to conduct, a mani/pedi, a quick late-afternoon get together with a friend I haven’t seen in ages, dinner plans and a webinar that, blessedly, is being conducted from the West Coast so the time difference works in my favor. Today is not an unusual day. Well, except for the mani/pedi and the vet appointment. Other than that, it’s pretty much routine. It’s almost 6:30 am as I write this. I fell asleep last night at around 2. Four and a half hours of sleep? Yup, that’s about average for me. Sound familiar? If so, you (and I) are not alone writes Maura Rhodes in a recent article in Women’s Health Magazine that says that, according to the American Psychological Association, more than half of all women say they’re “highly stressed.” Ya think?

All right, so while that isn’t news, the fact that many of these women enjoy being stressed and even consider being inundated with multiple tasks a badge of honor, is. (Fess up. You know you’re one of us. I can hear your voice now as you complain about everything you’ve got to fit into today. I hear the underlying tone that implies, “I’m worthwhile because I’m so busy.” Didn’t you hear it in my opening paragraph?) I admit it. I’m proud of being able to multi-task – and to do it well. I like to be busy; I feel guilty if I’m not. If anyone suggests that I relax, chill out, take a vacation, I think they’re crazy, lazy and bored. I’m a Type A personality, the daughter of a Type A personality and am married to a Type A personality. I’ve raised two Type A personalities and – wait a minute, this is not a good thing.

Rhodes quotes Patt Lind-Kyle, author of Heal Your Mind, Rewire Your Brain: Applying the Exciting New Science of Brain Synchrony for Creativity, Peace, and Presence who says, “Some people think they need to be stressed all the time in order to really feel alive.” (Ding, ding, ding!) Stress induces the production of the hormones adrenaline, DHEA (the feel good hormone) and cortisol (the stress hormone) – and, according to Rhodes, it can become addictive. In addition, society places pressures on women to strive in order to thrive. We can have it all, proclaimed supporters of the feminist movement – marriage, careers, families, pleasures. (Hmm, ok well maybe we’d get our pleasures from our marriages, families and careers since we’d have no time for anything else.)

Confession: I am addicted to stress. Sound familiar? I know it does. But stress is not good for our health, especially when it’s constant. Rhodes quotes Pamela W. Smith, M.D., author of What You Must Know About Women’s Hormones, who says, “After your cortisol rises, it’s supposed to come right back down and not stay elevated. When you’re stressed for a long time, your body’s stores of cortisol become too low and you don’t have enough for your body to run at its optimal level.” Cortisol, when elevated for hours at a time, depletes certain nutrients, raises cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar and can trigger free radicals that may eventually affect memory and cognition. Hey, it’s not called the stress hormone for nothing. It’s a bad thing.

What’s a frazzled, stressed out, cortisol-riddled woman to do? Rhodes offers some solutions. You know how, in the middle of the afternoon – after a difficult morning – you want nothing more than to crunch down on a bag of pretzels or chips? Resist the temptation, says Rhodes, and instead opt for a handful of almonds which contain omega-3s that are said to keep cortisol levels down. Take a power nap. Twenty minutes of blissful sleep will help balance stress hormones and energize you for the rest of your day. And, says current research, it’s important to de-stress before going to sleep. That means turning off all electronic devices at least an hour before you’re ready for bed. No TV, no cell phone and no computer. (No way, you’re thinking – or maybe that’s me thinking. But I’m going to try it. Tonight. I promise.) In addition to the above tips, make sure to get regular exercise. According to information from the Mayo Clinic (and many other reliable sources), any form of physical activity helps to increase the brain’s production of endorphins, feel good neurotransmitters that help ease tension. Regular exercise has been found to improve mood, lower anxiety and mild depression, improve self-esteem and increase energy levels.

Now, if I can only find the time …