God Knows You're Stressed: Simple Ways To Restore Your Balance, by Anne Bryan Smollin. Notre Dame, IN: Sorin Books; 2001. 158 pages, softcover, $11.95.
"Fall seven times, stand up eight" is a Japanese proverb found in the book God Knows You're Stressed: Simple Ways To Restore Your Balance, a self-help book designed for those who need help coping with stress. This saying is just one of the many positive, motivating messages and affirmations found in the book.
The short introduction looks at stress and its effects, discusses three levels of stress, and advises how to use the book effectively. Rather than chapters, the book is divided into the following twelve ways to deal with stress: "Decide To Be Imperfect," "Change Your Self-Talk," "Prioritize," "Be Present Where You Are," "Avoid Crazymakers," "Reach Out to Kindred Spirits," "Care for Your Body and Your Body Will Care for You," "Have Fun?" "Pray," "Let Go of Negative Baggage," "Just Say [No,]" and "Be Grateful, Give Thanks." The colored picture of a tilted, spinning top on the book's cover with part of the title (Simple Ways To Restore Your Balance) appearing above it, is an effective preview to the book. Aside from this picture, repeated in black and white on the first 2 pages of the book, there are no other pictures except for the author's photograph with her biography. Each chapter effectively uses several relevant quotes or proverbs to divide the features: a discussion on the chapter's topic, which might contain a story or parable; bullet points listing activities; and several relevant and inspiring stories from a variety of contributors.
The book does not offer new content or theory; readers have heard or read it before. The book says it all, to the point, and says it well. It offers practical advice and activities. Although we may be familiar with some of the techniques suggested by the author and know that they work, it is probable that we have never made full use of them. The book's stories provide a new twist on known information and engage the reader's interest.
The book relates how negative and critical self-talk, our demand for perfection, holding grudges, and anger contribute to our stress levels and have negative effects on our physical, spiritual, and mental health. It talks about our power to change all that. Alternately, the book discusses how laughter, fun, prayer, exercise, activity, distraction, and rest contribute to our well-being and stress reduction. Our need to avoid people who "push our buttons" and to make full use of our social supports also is covered. One thought-provoking chapter, "Prioritize," shows us how to determine what is really important in our lives, asking ourselves: What really matters? One suggested activity is to consider that you only had 6 months to live and respond to the question: Who would you spend it with and what would you want to do?
God Knows You're Stressed: Simple Ways To Restore Your Balance is particularly relevant in today's society where stress is a sign of the times. We are overwhelmed with stressors in almost all aspects of our personal, professional, spiritual, and emotional lives. This book is useful, inexpensive, easily read, and serves as an aid to defuse stress. I would recommend it to those of us in the helping professions to offer our clients, patients, family, and friends as well as ourselves.