How many times have you said to yourself, 'No one can understand how I feel unless they've experienced it themselves?' Well I am just starting a book where both the authors, a man and a woman, have experienced an Invisible Chronic Illness and they are able to express feelings that I have experienced but have not even been able to put into words. They are both psychologists which helps and is also why there is a great Guide to Emotional Health and Wellness in the book amongst many other things. They understand the effects of an invisible illness on self-esteem, self-concept, and the feelings of guilt and shame, the frustrations, the lack of support and the suspicion we are often confronted with because our symptoms are not visible.
I am looking forward to reading the chapter called Getting and keeping the attention of the health care system because this is where I am at currently with my GP just saying dismissive things like "oh that's just your illness." He seems to think my health concerns are too complex, that I have been given a diagnosis and now I should be happy and go away.
The book, which I highly recommend, is called
Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired: Living with Invisible Chronic Illness (New Edition) by Paul Donoghue and Mary Siegel
What makes this book different from similar books?
ReplyDeleteI think that it is because both the authors have experienced an invisible chronic illness and can speak eloquently about it.
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