Customer Reviews

Living with Invisible Chronic Illness

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unlike a lot of books with this theme, this one seems to do a good job of ferreting out the different ways that people deal with chronic illness. It is appropriate for most people with chronic illness, although it does focus on "invisible chronic illness". I was impressed that there were few places that made me want to roll my eyes and toss the book across the room. Usually books like this are filled with cheesy advice, such as "take time out for yourself" and "a good bubble bath can do wonders for your psyche". This one is written on a more intelligent level and talks about the real issues and challenges that face people with chronic illness and their caregivers.

Excellent Guide to Emotional Health & Wellness I loved this book! Written by two psychologists who suffer from chronic illness, it offers hope and ways to cope. People with Crohn's, colitis, lupus, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, IBS, etc. will like this book because it's about invisible chronic illnesses in which the symptoms are not always externally apparent (like when your friend says, "You look just fine" but you're not). This can lead to lack of compassion, understanding, and strains relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. I especially like how the book helps focus awareness on illness and gives you ways to exercise greater control over it and over life in general. An extremely practical book, with techniques you will use in everyday life.

Hello, I have been diagnosed with several "invisible" chronic illnesses, meaning the symptoms are subjective for the most part and hard for others to "see" my pain and illness, therefore it is hard to get the support I need.

This book totally understands my experience, it validates every thing that has happened since I was diagnosed, and it helps me get the support I need. It is also excellent to give to others who you want to understand what you're going through. After reading this book, it will be impossible for anyone to ever say again "but you LOOK good".

I had an appt. with a doctor the other day and he saw the book in my hand and asked to look at it. He asked my opinion on it and said he had heard it was a great book. So I of course gushed on and on about it, how the authors truly understand the effects if ICI on our self-esteem, self-concept, the guilt and shame, the frustrations, the lack of support and the suspicion we are often confronted with because our symptoms are not visible (we don't have a wheel chair or a cane, or an easily recognizable condition). So he's going to buy it so he can understand what his patients are going through and be more helpful to them!

Next I am passing this book onto my husband, might buy a few copies for relatives for Christmas and sending the link to the members of my chronic pain support group. Pass the word, this is the book that will finally change how the world responds to us.

I was reminded how wonderful this book was when I picked up a copy for a friend who has just been diagnosed with an invisible chronic illness. One day, you go to the doctor and your whole life changes--forever. That's what it's like to be diagnosed with an ICI (MS, Lupus, thyroid conditions, Lyme Disease, etc.), and it can be an awfully difficult experience. The authors of this book have tried to put together some coping skills and have identified common responses to having one of these conditions, based on their own medical situation (both have ICI conditions) and their professional expertise as psychologists.

The real purpose of this book is to help people whose conditions are "invisible," and therefore ignored or underplayed in their daily lives and relationships. I would imagine that anyone who has an ICI has experienced at least once the "You're sick? You look all pink and healthy!" comment from a well-meaning friend. Actually, it's your medication, your lupus rash, or a chronic fever that gives you that oh-so-rosy glow. If this has ever happened to you or to a loved one, you will get a lot out of reading this book and realizing that you're not alone and that there are ways of coping with your condition.

This widely popular book, written by two psychologists who suffer from chronic illness, offers hope and ways to cope. People with Crohn's, UC, or even IBS, will like this book because it's about invisible chronic illnesses in which the symptoms are not always externally apparent (like when your friend says, "You look just fine" but you're not). This can lead to lack of compassion, understanding, and strains relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. I especially like how the book helps focus awareness on illness and gives you ways to exercise greater control over it and over life in general. An extremely practical book, with techniques you will use in everyday life.

I found this book extremely helpful, not only as a sufferer of CFS and fibromyalgia, but as a nurse caring for many patients with many chronic illnesses. Too often, I have heard doctors tell patients it was all in their head, or just go home and learn to live with it. Too often, I have felt I was just being lazy or crazy (the Z words) because standing in line and getting up in the morning required concentrated effort and will. All medical and health personnel should be required to read this book. It is written in easy, understandable language and so is appropriate for family of ICI patients and helpful for those suffering from chronic illness as well. Hopefully, some day research will give us clues as to why so many of these "syndromes" seem to be increasing in frequency. If you suffer from any chronic illness I salute you for your courage and strength.This book is for you.

I still don't have a name for my almost constant pain and exhaustion, but I have learned so much from this book. I discovered that I am not the only one who was told by their doctor that my pain is due to stress or depression. I struggle daily with questions raised in the book such as , "Is it just all in my head ?", "will I always be sick ?", and "Am I just weak or overly-sensitive?". The authors do a wonderful job of explaining why we ask these questions and doubt ourselves. I highly suggest buying a copy of this book for yourself and your physician !

I loved this book! Written by two psychologists who suffer from chronic illness, it offers hope and ways to cope. People with Crohn's or UC will like this book because it's about invisible chronic illnesses in which the symptoms are not always externally apparent (like when your friend says, "You look just fine" but you're not). This can lead to lack of compassion, understanding, and strains relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. I especially like how the book helps focus awareness on illness and gives you ways to exercise greater control over it and over life in general. An extremely practical book, with techniques you will use in everyday life

This is without a doubt the best book on chronic illness I have ever read. It is written well and is easy to read. You can tell the authors have developed a deep understanding about coping with illness from their own conditions. By giving the book to several people I knew were definitely sick and tired of being that way, I became confident that this is a book you want to read if you need comfort, validation and practical lessons for coping well with a chronic illness. I'm grateful that the authors captured so many things I want to say and want others to understand about being ill all the time.

I have 2 ICI's and I have struggled with a large amount of self doubt and sadness, because of other people's inability to understand what I am dealing with. This book explains the feelings of people with ICI, but the book does not stop there! It also tells you why the feelings come about and how to deal with those feeling. You can tell the book was written by people who understand the feelings of ICI sufferers, because they too are ICI sufferers.
I loved this book!