Living With Chronic Illness by Joanna J. Charnas (Non-Fiction, 10E/10E)

August 2015, MSI Press LLC, 105 pages, Paperback, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: hints and tips to live better with chronic illness 

Book summary

Living Well with Chronic Illness is a self-help guide for anyone who has a chronic illness or who knows and cares about someone else who does. The 20 chapters concisely address a comprehensive range of issues including daily routines, relationships, medical and legal services, a joyful life, and much more. In our hectic, information-laden world where the Internet places billions of contradictory facts at our fingertips, the straightforward content of this book is an alternative resource for people who want to feel better and don't want to spend hours searching for answers. The tools inside, presented with compassion, humor, and a wealth of knowledge, are for those who want to apply and enjoy new health-promoting ideas immediately. Living Well with Chronic Illness evolved from the author's personal experience with chronic illness and 26 years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. 

Nayu's thoughts

Having a chronic illness myself made me interested in this title. Because some of my symptoms are similar to Chronic Fatigue which Joanna has, (also called Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease), it was easy to relate to the challenges which she faced. I think this is perfect as both an introduction to getting the best life you can with a chronic condition, as well as a guide for when you've got various action plans up and running. 

Living with a chronic condition requires much more extra work than people may realise, which is hard when you have so little energy to begin with. It's important that you get on well with your doctors and specialists – if you don't, then it is usually possible to change them. 

Joanna covers a variety of topics, including one of my favourites, pacing, which radicalised my life a few years ago and is something that needs continuing maintenance of sorts. Pacing is essential to not overdoing things when I feel great, to try and keep activities at an even level when I have a good day, and cutting back when I need that extra rest. Surprisingly I haven't read a lot of books with similar topics, just because I haven't found any. The tips and tricks I've learnt are outlined in this book, and will be a useful reference tool when I need a reminder of the best course of action.

Find out more on Joanna's website. 

Suggested read

Another book with useful tips on life for everyone, including those with chronic illness, is Do Less, Get More by Shaa Wasmund (Non-fiction, 8/10E, short 'n' sweet review)