I'm half way through and I am finding it very interesting and potentially helpful to someone who has an illness or wants to support someone who does. Some of my favorite quotes so far:
"The battle to control our heads is every bit as important as combating the attacks on our bodies." - I'm a big fan of cognitive behavior modification so this really resonates. Our thoughts truly can drive our feelings and actions.
"Adjust, after the fact. Do not simply react to possibility." - or as my Mother used to say, don't create mountains out of molehills.
Seven years ago I had a serious illness that could have become a chronic and limiting one. Fortunately I fully recovered but at the time I spent a lot of time wondering how one adjusts and lives a full and happy life with such severe physical limitations. Millions do but I couldn't find any resources to help me.
I wish I'd had this book! I'm hoping the rest of the book is as good as the first part. So far I highly recommend reading it.
Please note though that this is an intensely personal book/memoir about one person's experience living with a progressive illness.
Update: I just finished this book and still think it is an interesting read. He does spend a lot of time talking about his denial, anger, unwillingness to do what is needed (e.g. use a can earlier in his illness) and keeping his illness secret from most people for a long time which led to interesting assumptions by others to explain his behavior! It is an intensely personal book and I think it does have valuable insights for others.
Thanks for this reference. I do live with a chronic condition. Is it really serious? Not now, hopefully won't be, but it does limit me on what I can and can not do. I try to make the best choices I can, day by day, that will not compromise me too much so I can enjoy life as fully as possible. When my symptoms flair, I make no apologies and totally slow down until I am better. Until someone lives with something chronic, it is hard to understand what it is like to have to deal with it--especially when someone may look "normal" otherwise. ~~Bliss
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about how hard it is for others to understand. I found that my sense of loss for my old self (since regained) was hard to move past initially as I worked to recover. I hope you continue to be in the "not serious now" level with your condition.
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