Today’s headlines caught my eye, as something called “Rushing Woman Syndrome” was splashed across the front of the paper. I decided to investigate and found that “Rushing Woman Syndrome” was coined by Australian nutritionist Libby Weaver in her book of the same name. Weaver believes that imbalanced sex and stress hormones cause problems with “weight management, food cravings, sleep quality, patience, moods, self-esteem, and overall quality of life.” She suggests various lifestyle revisions to bring the body back into biochemical balance, such as eating more “whole” foods, trying meditation or yoga, prioritizing sleep, and cutting back on alcohol and caffeine.
Many mental health professionals are wary of these claims, describing “Rushing Woman Syndrome” as a marketing, not medical term, and an over-simplification of possible complex psychological disorders. They are also concerned that this simplification could prevent women with actual clinical and depression disorders from seeking the medical help they need and stress that it is always a good idea to see your doctor as a first port of call if you feel something is “off”.
However, some medical professionals do acknowledge that there is an “overlap” between hormones and mental health, and that some of Weaver’s suggestions, such as exercise, yoga and taking time for oneself, can be beneficial in terms of general health.