Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired: Living with Invisible Chronic Illness

by Mary E. Siegel, Paul J. Donoghue, Mary E. E. Siegel, et al.

Book Overview

Consequently, people who suffer from chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and many other miseries often endure not only the ailment but dismissive and negative reactions from others. Since its first publication, Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired has offered hope and coping strategies to thousands of people who suffer from ICI. Paul Donoghue and Mary Siegel teach their readers how to rethink how they themselves view their illness and how to communicate...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393320650
• ISBN13: 9780393320657
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Even my Dr. wants to read it!

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.

Required reading for any caregiver

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.

Excellent Guide for Coping with Invisible Illnesses

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.

Five Stars!

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.

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 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