Getting Up When Down

Occasional negative moods (as opposed to major clinical depression) should not be cause for alarm, according to clinical psychologist Braiker. Her upbeat guide, couched in psychological jargon, is addressed in particular to women who attempt to excel in every sphere. She offers a drugless ``Triple A'' program to help head off, shorten or alleviate emotional mood swings often due to fatigue, stress and hormonal variations. If frequent and severe enough, she warns, such swings may result in feelings of low self-esteem, irritability and guilt; they can cause overeating, drinking, uncontrolled crying and can adversely affect physical health, along with personal and professional relationships. The program uses examples, questionnaires, daily mood rating forms and diaries to help women to discern the physical and/or mental causes and to reverse negative moods through exercise, social and other activities. First serial to McCall's and Working Mother; Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternates . ( September )