Customer Reviews

Invisible Illnesses and Disabilities

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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I very much recommend "Invisible Illnesses." Too often, I think health and recovery books are written by practioners, and so have an extremely limited (and frequently, somewhat patronizing) point-of-view. There just aren't enough books written from patients' perspectives, and so, this book is a welcome find. It's full of lots of practical strategies for dealing with any sort of complicated and frustrating medical diagnosis. It also--impressively so, considering that the author is recovering from a truly horrific accident--has a strong sense of hope. As someone attempting to rehabilitate from a probably-permanently disabling injury herself, it's refreshing to me to read a book that not only is very honest--but also presents a "yes, you actually can survive terrible, life-altering events" attitude.

This book is a great choice for anyone suffering from a chronic illness, injury, disability, and/or other daunting life challenge.

Sharon's book provides a wonderful set of insights for people who have either suffered themselves from disabling injury or have a friend or loved one who has. Indeed it addresses in illuminating detail areas of human trial which most of us never face. By doing so, we come away better equipped to hone our interfacing skills with the disabled person and are thereby able to extend true compassion and assistance toward them. The disabled person reading the book will recognize the many frustrating aspects any disability incurs but particularly if the disability is not apparent to the casual observer. Beyond that, Sharon provides the victim of disabling injury with positive ideas and action plans to deal with and overcome these frustrations. She does this with skill and wit.

Sharon begins the book with a moving account of her accident and traces step by step the profound ways it changed her life. It is a compelling story that the reader will find difficult to put down. The book is a vessel of hope, encouragement and honesty and a very easy read. Sharon faces her ordeal with courage and openess providing inspiration to us all. One becomes aware of how her qualities of character have served her well since the injury -- especially her kindness, thoughtfulness and patience toward those she meets along the way including the insensitive ones. Now she shares her unique perspective for overcoming the anger, hurt and frustration and getting on with life in a hopeful and productive manner.

Sharon tells us, in plain English, what it is like to be afflicted with an invisible illness. More importantly, she provides a basic guide for those of us who must treat or cope with the inner turmoil experienced by such people. Sharon's illness, while totally different from my son's severe AD/HD condition, manifests itself in many of the same ways. I truly believe that reading her book has made me a better parent.

I highly recommend Invisible Illnesses and Disabilities to all who wish to improve their understanding of the people around them.

I read Sharon E. Smith's book -- and then I reread it. This book is 150 pages of practical advice and information targeted at those who suffer from one of the many silent illnesses or injuries that people live with. Ms. Smith knows first-hand of what she writes since she lives with perilymph fistulas in both ears. And I know she knows what she is writing about because I too suffer from a silent disease, Meniere's Disease (another vestibular ailment with some symptoms similar to perilymph fistulas).

What makes this book useful is that the advice Ms. Smith provides is concerned with ordinary, mundane aspects of life. She is honest about the kinds of changes and results that enter a person's life when they have an invisible disease. She also helps prepare her readers for the kinds of negative comments they may receive simply because others cnanot see the results of the illness and make unfortunate assumptions about personal initiative or willpower.

I particularly like the straight-forward discussion of sensitive topics such as sexuality and spirituality, although I wish that she provided more coverage of spirituality as a resource for coping. I also like her section on "Ways Others Can Help." For the countless people who say, "Just tell me if I can do anything," Ms. Smith provides some direct, pragmatic suggestions about ways to serve their friends and family members who must live with invisible illnesses and disabilities.

Ms. Smith has obviously made great strides in coping with her own serious but invisible injury. Her story can help many others who must deal with similar circumstances and I commend this short book to the attention of all who have (or who live with and love those who have) invisible illnesses and disabilities.

Having read and reviewed many books on chronic illness, I found this one especially refreshing. The author shares through her own personal experience how to recover and cope with a chronic illness or disability. Although the author's problem deals with inner ear and balance problems, the books is applicable across many different health problems and disorders. I found the chapters on Finances, Spirituality, Filling Time and Sex and Body Image very insightful and very often missing from typical guides. These chapters alone make this book worthwhile for anyone dealing with chronic illness, disability, or health disorders.

Having read and reviewed many books on chronic illness, I found this one especially refreshing. The author shares through her own personal experience how to recover and cope with a chronic illness or disability. Although the author's problem deals with inner ear and balance problems, the books is applicable across many different health problems and disorders. I found the chapters on Finances, Spirituality, Filling Time and Sex and Body Image very insightful and very often missing from typical guides. These chapters alone make this book worthwhile for anyone dealing with chronic illness, disability, or health disorders.

The earlier edition of this book was written under (I presume) Sharon Smith Merrit's maiden name. There are several excellent reviews for this book under this same title; author Sharon Smith

Sharon has an insider's advantage on invisible illness. She bares her soul and isn't shy about confronting the things that worry all of us with chronic illness or disabilities (such as feeling competent, wondering what our friends and family think of us, and how body image effects sex). Her suggestions come from personal experience, well studied out. I give it a warm welcome to my shelf of books on chronic illness and disability.