High Octane Women: How Superachievers Can Avoid Burnout

Carter, a nationally recognized psychologist specializing in extreme stress in women, addresses the pressures highly competitive positions exert on women. Although women hold more than half of the management and professional positions in the U.S., burnout is high. Carter examines the multiple causes for stress, including double standards, gender discrimination, psychological abuse, jobs with 24-hour technology demands, and lack of support at home. Recognizing that normal de-stressors such as exercise and meditation aren't sufficient, Carter proposes her own solutions that will enable women to revitalize themselves. Such solutions could be scheduling uninterrupted time, knowing one's personality, setting boundaries in commitments, or being realistic in expectations of others. Carter (Justice For All: Challenges of the Mentally Ill in the Legal System) also offers suggestions for social support, danger signals for stress trigger points, and guidelines for societal and corporate changes. This is a practical, useful guide; hopefully, corporate women won't be too stressed out to read it. (Nov.)