“If we do this right, ‘stress’ as a word, will become an actionable term while we wait for the research to catch up. Especially in the context of women’s health.”
Words written over a year and a half ago and, whelp, we know where the “wait for the research to catch up” part is headed 🫤… so what about that first part? Is stress an actionable term yet?
Yes and no?
While I still think that “stress” is an inefficient word (especially when overused in the context of personal responsibility for stress management/reduction), I’m seeing more and more examples of applying it in the context of addressing broader social issues.
In all the stress talk, especially in the context of women and motherhood, the thing that makes my skin squirm is when cortisol is thrown into the conversation in the context of negative health effects.
Stop blaming cortisol.
Or maybe I should word it this way: stop conflating ‘stress’ with high cortisol. Or perhaps this (slightly more convoluted) way: stop making cortisol the key link between every stressful challenge of motherhood/womanhood/parenthood and the physical/mental health effects that show up.
Please and thank you.
More links for your fancy:
Substack post — Cortisol is not Your Enemy
Parenting stress is a health hazard, according to the U.S. Surgeon General
Julie Kashen + team at The Century Foundation – Moms are Stressed. Congress Can Help.
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– A Heavy Mental Load is Breaking Down the Health of Women Living on Low Incomes
NYTimes coverage of the massive study showing that more women reported “fair or poor” maternal mental health between 2016 and 2023 – Study Finds a Steep Drop in Mothers’ Mental Health
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