Book Review/ Giveaway: The S.O.S. for PMS

When I fist signed up for the SOS for PMS Blog Tour, I was intrigued. Living with three little girls, I've already held sobbing females, who exclaimed, "I don't know why I'm crying, I just can't stop!" And my oldest is only seven!

I was talking to my hairdresser while reading this book in "the chair," and she told me a hilarious story. Long ago, she had gone out with a co-ed group of friends, and the women began talking about PMS. One woman chimed in, "Well, I don't really have a problem with PMS." At which point, EVERYONE else (including the men) turned to her and shouted, "YES, YOU DO!" Can you imagine how that must have felt?

And I had to laugh after a recent mom's group retreat. It had not gone as smoothly as we would have hoped, as we all kind of snapped at each other and got kind of irritated at a few snaffoos. Luckily, we were close enough friends that we were able to laugh it off later. I talked to some of the women a few days later, and the conversation went like this:

"I know why I was so irritated on the retreat. I started my period yesterday."

"Really? Me too!"

"Oh, yeah? I was on my period the whole time!"

Etcetera. You know what they say about close female friends and their cycles...

Gather any group of moms together and the topic of frustrating PMS symptoms rises up in conversation along with the guilt and concern about its effects on family members.

Now Mary Byers, author of The Mother Load, offers mothers encouragement, help, and camaraderie as she shares:
~women's stories-the good, bad, and the hopeful
~overlooked symptoms and how to manage them
~foods and activities to avoid or indulge in

God's first aid for stress, depression, and anxiety
a call for help-how husbands can come to the aid of their wives

This gathering of useful advice and shared experiences will comfort readers who have ever felt alone in their PMS plight and will inspire healthier lifestyles, relationships, and daily choices for all women.

PMS is a little more complicated for me, since I suffer from Anxiety Disorder as well. Sometimes I attribute things to Anxiety that really are affected by PMS, and vice versa. In fact, reading this book came at the perfect time, because I'm contemplating whether to add another medication. I'm 34, and according to Mary Byers, PMS symptoms can worsen from the mid-thirties to menopause.

I found Mary's candid delivery and wealth of information refreshing, and reassuring! I'm not crazy,... I'm just a woman!

I printed out the handy tracking chart Mary includes, and have begun tracking my symptoms. I really want to find out which symptoms I can control with Mary's lifestyle suggestions, and which one I can truly attribute to the disorder. This is the first tool that I believe will help me do just that!

If you've been noticing a difference in personality or wondering if you're the only one, I advise you to pick up this book, and read it!

You can purchase The SOS For PMS at www.marybyers.com

About Mary Byers
As a professional speaker and writer, Mary offers timely and insightful advice related to modern workplace and family challenges:

~~balancing competing demands
~~managing conflict
~~communicating what you want people to hear
~~using power and leadership effectively
~~recruiting and retaining the right people
~~intentionally and effectively balancing work and family

Through highly interactive corporate, nonprofit and association programs, Mary uses appealing techniques that encourage growth, something that she says is not only good for individuals, but also holds benefits for the organization as a whole.

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I'm giving away a copy to one winner!

If you'd like to enter, leave a comment on this post, including your email address, or link to your blog.

• If you are a Real Life Review Subscriber, you get an extra entry! Leave a separate comment.
• If you follow me on Twitter, you get a third chance. Leave a third comment!
  
• The contest will run through Thursday night, October 9. The winner will be announced on Friday.
• I'll post the winner on PRZEYwinners