The Working Woman's Guide to Managing Stress

Identifies symptoms of stress, discusses the importance of relaxation, exercise, nutrition, and assertiveness, and tells how to avoid burnout by setting up a personal stress reduction plan

By now any working person has had at least a nodding acquaintance with stress, be it body pangs, poor dietary habits, or simply a lack of energy. But women, says clinical social worker and psychotherapist Powell, need to learn how to manage tensions and disturbances more than men because of the dual work-home responsibilities. Her prescriptions--some obvious, some not so--range from changes in diet and exercise to setting clear-cut goals and exploring assertiveness training. Each section includes explicit directions for specific stress-management techniques; employing psychological and physiological methods recognized by health practitioners, Powell and her coauthor not only combine these under one cover but also provide viable suggestions for getting stress under control and answers to the I-have-no-time quandary. Barbara Jacobs

Powell, a clinical social worker, lecturer, psychotherapist, and author, has written a guide to help working women "move from feeling helpless and out of control to taking an active role in responding to and dealing with stress." Too much stress can lead to health problems, including insomnia, ulcers, backaches, and heart disease. Powell uses case studies, checklists, and charts to illustrate many of the methods to alleviate stress. Especially helpful are sections in which readers are given scenarios (e.g., increased workload by the boss) and asked how they would respond. Powell covers assertiveness skills, goal planning, diet and exercise, and balancing demands at work and home. An appendix lists books, audiotapes, journals, and stress-relieving items such as back and neck pillows. Recommended for public libraries.
Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, N.Y.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.