Reviews with content warning for Fatphobia - Stress: Warum Frauen leichter ausbrennen und was sie für sich tun können

This is my new "everyone I know has to read this" book.

Audio was good, but also glad I own a copy that I can refer back to. They also have some built in worksheets to help process some of the topics discussed.

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novella42's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Probably one of the books I recommend the most. I’ve read it something like five times in the last four years. It includes very accessible science and phenomenal strategies on how to process and release the stress that builds up in our bodies over years of repression. Introduced me to the concept of body language as in “learn to speak the language of your body” instead of just ignoring and hating it and wondering why it’s constantly rebelling against me. It helped me see emotions as information from my body and nervous system, and it helped me truly understand why the only way out is through—that emotions only feel like they last forever if we resist them.

"The quality of our lives is not measured by the amount of time we spend in a state of perfection."

"To be “well” is not to live in a state of perpetual safety and calm, but to move fluidly from a state of adversity, risk, adventure, or excitement, back to safety and calm, and out again. Stress is not bad for you; being stuck is bad for you."

“So how much rest is adequate? Science says: 42 percent. That’s the percentage of time your body and brain need you to spend resting. It’s about ten hours out of every twenty-four. It doesn’t have to be every day; it can average out over a week or a month or more. But yeah. That much. ‘That’s ridiculous! I don’t have that kind of time!’ you might protest—and we remind you that we predicted you might feel that way, back at the start of the chapter. We’re not saying you should take 42 percent of your time to rest; we’re saying that if you don’t take the 42 percent, the 42 percent will take you. It will grab you by the face, shove you to the ground, put its foot on your chest, and declare itself the victor.”

Read it for the chapters on fight/flight/freeze, on escaping the cycle of learned helplessness, and ESPECIALLY for the chapter on processing stress while laying in bed. (It’s not a perfect alternative to physical exercise, but a literal lifesaver when you’re disabled and struggling). I honestly don’t know who I would be if I hadn’t had these specific exercises during 2020-2024.

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r_dolan's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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anniefwrites's review against another edition

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hopeful informative medium-paced

I learned a lot from this book, and I’m still processing it all. I heard the authors on Brené Brown’s podcast and resonated with the idea of completing the stress cycle, and I found that part of the book the most useful and eye-opening. Some of it I found a little too conversational or simple for people who are decently versed in feminism, but there are a lot of gems and nuggets of knowledge in it. I haven’t done the exercises yet, so I’m hoping they’ll crack open some of the more abstract ideas they presented.

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kelly_e's review against another edition

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informative reflective fast-paced

3.25

Title: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
Author: Emily & Amelia Nagoski
Genre: Self Help
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: March 14 2019

T H R E E • W O R D S

Insightful • Funny • Plain

📖 S Y N O P S I S

A feminist account of why women experience burnout differently than men, and a collection of strategies to help end the cycle of feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Focusing on the notion that we are enough as we are, and that having it all is simply an illusion.

💭 T H O U G H T S

The true value of this book for me came from reading it as a book club selection. Being able to discuss real life examples with the other members while being able to implement various tips and completing the exercises was beneficial. It allowed me to see the information present put into practice.

Written in a funny and direct way, Burnout was an interesting read. This book is well-intentioned, but nothing was particularly new to me. I found the writing to be a bit too simple, which was likely the authors' intent of wanting to reach the everyday person. Sometimes this care-free manner felt inappropriate.

I particularly liked how simple some of the options offered were; from a simple hug to taking time to breathe. And especially the importance of exercise. It's no secret that exercise is huge in relation to stress and yet many of us don't take the time to complete the cycle in this manner.

I'd say this is one of those books where you need to take what is useful and disregard the rest. I listened to this book on audio, but to get the full experience I would recommend listening and reading at the same time.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• anyone trying to do it all
• book clubs

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"We humans are not built to do big things alone, we are built to work together."

"To be 'well' is not to live in a state of perpetual safety and calm, but to move fluidly from a state of adversity, risk, adventure or excitement, back to safety and calm, and out again. Stress is not bad for you; being stick is bad for you. Wellness happens when your body is a place of safety for you, even when you body is not necessarily in a safe place. You can be well, even during the times when you don't feel good."

"Everyone's life is different, and we are all doing out best. 'Our best' today may not be 'the best there is,' but it's the best we can do today. Which is strange. And yet true. And could draw us down into helplessness and isolation if we don't stay anchored. And the way we stay anchored is with gratitude."

"Being grateful for good things doesn't erase the difficult things."

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jessitheblonde's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I highly recommend everyone this book, but especially if you're feeling like the world is against you.

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