Are you a woman who works tirelessly to earn a living? A manager, CEO, COO, MD who works round the clock to build an empire and still goes home to tend to her domestic responsibilities? This article celebrates you, seeks to give you pointers on how to handle the stress that comes with what you do, and helps you understand how stress can be detrimental to your health.
Women are superheroes, and it suffices to say that the world would have been incomplete without them. Over time, women have soared to great heights to discover new opportunities and skills and command power and influence while remaining the Chief Operating Officers of their homes.
The woman is often cumbered with the arduous task of grooming a thriving career or business while maintaining a flourishing household. Her gracefully handling these multiple roles has earned her names like Boss Lady and superwoman.
Image: Superwoman (Ref: The Sisterhood Series)
However, in taking care of her career, business, and family, the superwoman often forgets to look after herself as she loses sleep, exercise, and life’s simple pleasures. Hence, she accumulates fatigue and stress, leading to the Superwoman Syndrome breakdown.
WHAT IS THE SUPERWOMAN SYNDROME?
Being tagged a ‘superwoman’ is often seen as a privilege as it defines a woman who can consistently perform a diverse array of full-time responsibilities. Combining their personal, domestic and professional roles often takes a toll on them after a while as stress and fatigue accumulate, leading to superwoman syndrome, which, if not properly managed, causes a breakdown.
Renowned physician and brain behind CentreSpring MD, Dr. Tasneem Bhatia, in her book ‘SuperwomanRX,’ stressed that although women are patterned to multitask and achieve all they set out to, there is also a pressing need to understand thoroughly the health hazards involved. Such risks include fatigue (exhaustion), bad choices, depletion in hormone levels, unhealthy eating habits, sleep deprivation, and possibly a sedentary lifestyle.
She stressed that Superwomen are to work with a schedule at all times to help them lead balanced and healthy lives and avoid breaking down. The book pinpoints five categories of superwomen: the savvy chick, the boss lady, earth mama, nightingale, and the gypsy. Even though all five groups suffer from fatigue and stress, certain strengths, weaknesses, and ailments are specific to each group.
We will uncover superwomen’s various types, unique characteristics, and valuable health information to help them thrive in the following episodes. Stay with us to discover more about the superwoman in you!
To be continued…….
- Michael Asuquo,
Graduate Trainee, ISN Products (Nig.) Ltd.
REFERENCE
Tasneem Bhatia, MD. (2017). Superwoman RX. Rochale books