A News.com article revealed that national icon women's swimmer Lisa Curry whose marriage to Grant Kenny broke down spoke of the debilitating effect that RWS (Rushing Woman’s Syndrome) had on her and ultimately its cost was extreme.
The article explicitly details the effects of Rushing Woman's Syndrome and how Lisa Curry describes how it effected her. A Current Affair interviewed Lisa Curry.
RWS describes the biochemical and emotional effects of constantly being in a rush and the health consequences of it. The condition experience hormone imbalances which can lead to stress, depression and even infertility.
Lisa Curry said that it “is absolutely me and it’s been me for a long time.”
The outward expression of RWS in a woman is that of anger, irritableness, mood swings, crying for no reason, wanting to kill the world, being a right cow, out of control …
What's worse Lisa Curry said was that the men closest in her life copped it, they didn't even have to do anything, and they can't do anything right or wrong... in our eyes they’re the worst person in the world.
It seems that medically, RWS goes a long way in destroying otherwise healthy relationships. RWS it seems kills one's regular and enjoyable sex life, and after 23 years of a very good marriage, Grant Kenny had had enough and Lisa Curry felt there was no other option.
Church life
Having been a minister for 41 years and intimately involved in church life and the enormous role that women play in the day to day running of so many parish projects and ministries, Rushing Woman's Syndrome is the classic terminology for the dramas that occur.
Moreover it doesn't seem to matter whether the church is in a small rural or regional community or a large metropolitan one, so many women are caught up with so much of the program and ministry, that they are in line for a form (at least) of RWS.
As Lisa Curry noted in this article and television interview, there is no room to slow down, there is space left to rest, there is an inner drive to get this done that done, telephoning this one, Emailing another, texting someone else, planning, organising, never ending.
Then there's the problematic people such women have to deal with in their church life that won't or cannot or are simply unable to fulfill the roles these leading women lights has so carefully assigned for them.
One thing leads to another, in multiple scenarios, and at some point in time, Rushing Women's Syndrome rears its ugly head and everyone knows to 'head for the hills' (as it were).
Home life
Who gets hit hardest? Those at home. Husband, Children. The elderly parents. The closest and dearest get it good and proper. It affects the smooth running of the house, relationships, home work, book reading, leisure periods and not least the money out of the home budget to do all these 'extras' at the church.
But try suggesting reducing the work load component by taking any role off someone with Rushing Women's Syndrome and you'll have WWIII on your hands. Clarity of thought processes do not find a home in the domestic situation.
Rushing Women's Syndrome comes in many forms and not least, when someone begins to over-do things, and some people can indeed handle much more than others. But everyone has a limit and when that space is constantly challenged and pushed further out, ultimately something gives.
Now we have a name for it. Well, a 'common name' as doctor's say it's not found in the medical books under that name but it is found under other medical terminology. The ABC Radio National Health Report recently detailed new scientific findings that stress does contribute to breast cancer where the pressure finds an outlet within the body.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html