The Superstress Solution.

• Author: Puterbaugh, Dolores T.
• Position: Book review

THE SUPERSTRESS SOLUTION

BY ROBERTA LEE

RANDOM HOUSE, NEW YORK

2010, 286 PAGES, $26.00

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A certain brand of ice cream advertises itself as hearkening back to a less complicated era, when everyone had fewer worries and times were more serene. This is a conceit. Arguably, during that simpler time, parents were lying awake, worrying about how to fit all the kids with new shoes for school end pay Doc Brown for little Tommy's tonsillectomy. We flatter ourselves that the current generation endures greater stress, and this itself undoubtedly creates additional stress.

Having disclaimed my investment in believing that life in the first world, circa 2010, is somehow more nasty, brutish end short than life in other times and places, I headily accede to Dr. Roberta Lee's assertion that modern lifestyles are anathema to healthily handling the stresses we face. As a psychotherapist, I observe many people whose response to stress is to do precisely what they should not: eat more, exercise less, watch television endlessly, indulge in bad habits, spend too much money, and abuse substances. The end result is both added trouble end an exacerbation of the toxic effects of stress. Many people who feel stressed may be unaware they are as stressed as they are until they get sick end have to step off the carousel. Then they realize that the poor sleep, weight gain, chronic edginess, anxiety, depression, poor concentration, end lack of energy are not normal. For those seeking to make a change end overwhelmed by the choices end advice available, this book provides a holistic one-stop source for guidance and resources in resetting the body chemistry and habits of emotion and mind that contribute to the phenomenon of "superstress."

Lee tackles stress on many levels...