Superstress Solution

by Roberta Lee

For most people, life today means less sleep, less leisure, and less exercise; semi-present parenting, junk food eaten on the run, more caffeine and more work. Our 24/7 news cycle shouts at us from every screen, keeping us on edge with haunting images of war abroad, terror at home, and threats to our finances and health around every corner. The depth and breadth of these phenomena have so profoundly impacted the quality of our lives that the way our bodies respond to it has devolved into a new diagnosis - SuperStress Syndrome - a form of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder produced by the 21st century's over-stimulating lifestyle. Under normal conditions, confronted with dangerous challenges, the human body releases stress hormones that prepare it to meet the demands of the perceived emergency, but then returns the nervous system to a restorative state when the crisis has passed. With SuperStress, stress hormones flow unabated and, unable to adapt to and accommodate this chronic hormonal surge, the human body begins to break down. In addition to immune deficiencies, acute gastrointestinal issues, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, obesity, and insomnia, this process creates a numbing effect, causing those who experience SuperStress to often mistakenly identify themselves as 'being in control' and able to 'rest' at will. And so the insidious biological cycle continues.The SuperStress Solution shares world-renowned integrative physician Roberta Lee's unique prescription for recognizing, rebalancing, and protecting against the symptoms of SuperStress. It provides a comprehensive questionnaire to help readers evaluate their own level of stress, as well as a healing four-week programme - a series of small, easy-to-incorporate steps toward physical and emotional wellness - that will reset the nervous system and restore a sense of serenity, a well from which to draw strength day to day

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help

286 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 2009

Reviews

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good, lots of good information. Distinguishes between old-fashioned "regular" stress and the "new" stress that is layer upon layer of stress...job stress and money stress and parenting stress and relationship stress and tryiing-to-find-a taxi-in-the-rain stress. So much stress weighin on us in increments so small that we don't feel them separately. She terms this SUPERSTRESS.
The book explores the causes,(with self-tests)symptoms in our bodies and lives,(on our different systems--body and mental and energy)how resilient we each are to those stresses and symptoms, and offers a four-week solution program, plus tons of other suggestions for coping and handling all the stresses in our lives.
Well worth a look.

[Shellie (Layers of Thought) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a number of books on health and diet over the years. I am no expert but one gets a feel for which are good and those containing junk or just fluff. The SuperStress Solution is of the good sort. It is both logical and comprehensive.

The SuperStress Solution is broad in scope, and almost exhausts the options for remedies to consider when you are under, as Dr. Lee terms it - SuperStress. It is intelligent, well written and its advice is from a medical doctor. She is also trained at Dr. Andrew Weil’s Program in Integrative Medicine in AZ. Both of these facts are very comforting in a world where medical advice and prescriptions are dispensed randomly and often casually.

The Superstress Solution has natural suggestions to support and change stressful behaviors. As well as a plan to move away from uber-busy lives into a healthier state. Dr. Lee includes subject matter such as pathways to peace, healing foods, mindfulness, and connecting with others. She also has programs specific for each individual stress profile, which is determined by a diagnostic questionnaire. This assesses an individual’s level and type of stress. By asking questions it determines what your SuperStress type is, where in your body does the stress manifest itself, and an individual’s resilience to SuperStress. It also includes a list to determine your personal level of stress in relation to current life events. All elements combine to create a personal profile so that focus can be on the areas where it is needed the most.

My only thought is that because the scope of the book is so broad there is very little room to go into depth for each recommendation. Therefore I would say that The SuperStress Solution can be seen as a beginning place for exploring personal stress levels, and for considering the options available for caring for oneself in a reasonable and holistic way.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me be honest here, I was probably the most irritating person ever while I was reading The SuperStress Solution by Roberta Lee. I would stop my reading and point out to whoever was in the room, be it my boyfriend, his mom, or even the dogs, oh did you know...scents cause people to be relaxed, cell phones make you anxious, or peanuts are good for you, etc. I know, reading those examples probably makes me sound like an airhead, but really, I have a crap diet (i.e. I only eat bread and meat and cheese), I don't know much about aroma therapy, and I am quite smug about cellphones because I don't have one (thanks mom and dad for cutting me off!).
Read the rest of my review here

[Andrea]

Started out well- I need to destress because that's what's keeping me from losing weight/being my best self/etc. Lots of scientific evidence for the destructive power of cortisol on your body. I was convinced.
Good quiz that helped you identify how stress manifests for you-- and how stressed you actually are.
And then the book veered into route recommendations (get enough sleep, deep breathing exercises, eat healthfully) and massive lists of supplements (which I am not really inclined to start taking). I found the book helpful in identifying why it's important to de-stress, but there wasn't anything too groundbreaking in the treatment of it.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lite scan....seems like she covered all the bases...

Super stress Solution Values:
Self-acceptance, Sufficiency, Humility, Comfort refuge, Loving relationships, Loving what I do, Community

[Lacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend suggested this to me, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. While there wasn't really a huge revelation in it, thinking about the stress reduction techniques and science behind them in one context helped clarify. I'd be interested in seeing if any of the science has changed in the few years since it was published, as the book sounds a little dated by taking about Blackberries and PDAs instead of smartphone addiction.

[Haley Mathiot · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Roberta Lee has put a name to the layers upon layers of stress that eventually break down our bodies and ruin our lives—it’s called SuperStress. She tells of the physical and mental affects that this SuperStress has on us. She also gives us ways to fix it—without drugs.

This handbook is holistic. Therapy means physical therapy, exercise, meditation and breathing control. Prescriptions means herbs and health foods and vitamins. Lee is not taking away the symptoms of stress-related bad health—she’s fixing the problem behind it.

The program outlined in this book is one you can follow with or without a doctor helping you along. She gives physical exercises and stretches that you can do, a two-week food plan to get you going on a better diet, journaling prompts to learn how to release your stress in words, and lots of other things.

I would recommend reading two parts of the book at once: Read through the first half, a little bit at a time, and learn about the science behind our stress, at the same time follow the program outlined in the back of the book. This way you’re reading and changing your lifestyle at the same time.

The only reason I don’t give it a 5/5 is because some of the meditation aspects in this book are self-centered, and by that I don’t mean prideful and greedy, I mean self-focused. I have learned that focusing on self will not release any stress, it will only pile on more. The only true way to release everything mentally is to lean on Christ. The journaling prompts in the book are in line with that, but some of the affirmations that are to be recited while meditating are so self-centered that I cannot see how any relief would come of it. That is coming from me as a Christian.

The SuperStress Solution is a fantastic book for people who are in heavy stress and need a way out without the use of drugs or extensive therapy. Recommended for ages 16+.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

*SuperHelp for SuperStress*

_The SuperStress Solution_ is super-packed with information for understanding, reducing, and navigating the (doesn't-have-to-be)-constant stress that overwhelms so many of us today. Taking a holistic and integrative approach, Dr. Lee illustrates the toll that stress can take on the mind, body, and spirit, and then she provides a customizable plan that addresses each of these realms. She shares her eye-opening and insight-provoking questionnaires to see the personal toll stress has taken on your life and also to identify your primary stress type: 1) Burned Out, Exhausted, Numb, Depressed; (2) Agitated, Overwhelmed by Life; (3) Emotionally Sensitive; (4) Driven, Controlling; (5) Explosive, Can't Slow Down. After the first part of the book aids in the understanding of the origins and consequences of stress on the body whole, the second part of the book offers a breadth of tools for change. Whether your super-stressed or just sorta-stressed, _The SuperStress Solution_ is a valuable resource for calming, detoxifying, restoring, and nurturing your life---now, who couldn't benefit from that?

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

There wasn't a lot that I felt was new information. It was clearly presented information that I have read in other places. There was a lot of time spent on why I should be concerned with SuperStress, which may be helpful if this is a book being given to someone who might not otherwise pick it up. But, that was not the case for me. I was reading it because I was already concerned. I did find the questionnaires helpful.

[Galina Petkova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Нищо ново под слънцето, но не е лоша книгата :) Става за надъхване. Има и доста полезни неща и дооооста всеизвестни истини за пустия му суперстрес... Доколко обаче можем да го преборим с книжка?! Не знам.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book; very informative. I listened to this on book on CD

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a medical doctor, this book contains the latest research on relaxation techniques, foods, and exercise techniques that reduce stress. Fascinating!

[Lori Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read book on success in self development for knowledge workers, managers, executives, and entrepreneurs.

[Rebecca Rybak]

Pretty interesting book, with some good points on how to reduce stress. There is a lot of information that helps you understand just how much stress is affecting your life.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

No lo habría comprado, ni leído, pero por alguna razón llegó a mí y no me quejo.
Me gustaron los consejos y definitivamente, me animaré a seguir el plan de 4 semanas.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

if any one needs help with keeping stress under control this book works.