DocSwiner's Superwoman Complex Blog

Why am I so stressed out?

Is it just me, or does everyone seem stressed nowadays? I often

have to check with myself and ask “Am I stressed”? And if the answer

is yes, then I ask “Why?”

My father brought an article to my attention last year, and he asked

me to read it. He often does this to enlighten me, or to somehow get

his point across without actually having to say it. It was a Newsweek

article, entitled “Women In The World” by Debora Spar (October

2012), who is an author of the book, “Wonder Women”. From the

titles, one can assume what she addresses—women doing to much

for too many and becoming overwhelmed.

One out of 10 Americans admit to some form of mental illness-
depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc., each year. Women suffer

from depression two times more than men. Why is there a difference?

Studies say a definitive answer is unknown. However, with research,

I found similar theories, including the following: higher incidence of

physical or sexual abuse, use of birth control and having hormones in

general, and persistent psychosocial stressors such as loss of job.

Untreated emotional or mental illness can lead to suicide attempts

– more women attempt suicide, but more men complete it. The

likelihood is four-to-one that a man will be successful with suicide.

Why? My theory is women use it more as a cry for help than men do.

Women also use self-poisoning or drug overdose as the usual tactic,

and that’s 70 percent of the time. However, that does not mean we

should ever take threats of suicide from a female patient any less

serious than from a male.

There are also discrepancies in health in African-Americans versus

the rest of the population. (From the Center of Disease Control and

Prevention). Points that I wanted to address were the differences

in HIV stats. Interesting, with all the safe sex campaigns since the

1980s, HIV is still the leading cause of death for black women aged

25-34 years. Another point to make is that black women have a

lower rate of getting breast cancer, however, they are more likely to

be diagnosed in later stages and more likely to die from it. We must

figure something out!

So what can we do to lower stress in our lives? • Rely on our

support systems more—our families, friends, spirituality or religion,

or hobbies as healthy outlets • Have your annual check ups. Take

care of yourself-mentally and physically. • Get more exercise and

movement.

• Eat “happy foods” – less caffeine/alcohol, more omega

3 fatty acids (salmon, cod, sardines, nuts, help brain and nerve

cells), reduce intake of refined carbs that cause sugar highs and then

severe crashes, and eat more veggies and vitamins.

• Pay attention

to yourself and your moods. Recognize your symptoms early.

Be healthy and be blessed,