If you, or someone you love, has just be diagnosed with a chronic illness, you can't do better than start with this book. In many ways, I feel like we should be giving this book out in the same volumes as "What to Expect When you're Expecting." There's a lot to unpack in this book and, although it is short, I expect I will be re-reading it again and again.

This book is helpful for people with disabilities who are having trouble adjusting to their disability. I believe it will help everyone with disabilities enjoy their life more, not just people with invisible disabilities. Those of us with invisible disabilities are often harassed by people who think that you are not disabled unless you are in a wheelchair. This book has tips on finding joy no matter what.

This is an excellent book and I found it so interesting to read. I learn so much from reading this book. It really helped deal better with my own chronic illness fibromyalgia. It made me more aware of the the fact even after a number of years you still might have not full accept your condition. It has many useful information on this subject. It also helps you understand that others just won't understand and how to deal with them. What I loved the most about this book is the author has his own chronic illness so all methods are tried and tested.

I really like the way this book was wrote as it didn't feel like any other self help book I have ever read it felt more relaxed. You knew that the author understood you and his manner made me take more in. This book is tailored for those who are in countries that have to pay or have insurance. However I found it so useful and I'm from the UK. So great for everyone. 

Many thanks to the author and publishers for producing this fantastic and very useful resource. 

The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/finding-joy-with-invisible-chronic-illness-by-christopher-martin-booksgosocial-independant-author

A comprehensive guide to making the most of having a chronic illness

People with invisible chronic illnesses suffer a double whammy. They suffer with the symptoms and implications of the illness itself while looking normal to the world. This means that many people around them may not realise they’re suffering and be less than tolerant of the limitations these illnesses impose. Christopher’s book brings together his experiences and learnings to help others cope with living with chronic illness and find ways to enjoy their lives.

He’s very honest about the impacts and adjustments that people may have to make and provides information on a wide range of options that may help sufferers through tough times. These include the types of counselling and therapy to help come to terms with grief of the the life changes imposed and cope with pain, learning to pace yourself, supplements, complimentary therapies and faith. Christopher provides a balanced view based on years of personal experience and sounds notes of caution where necessary.

I found his book comprehensive and useful for anyone with, or living with someone who has, a chronic illness and particularly helpful to those who are newly diagnosed. The start of the journey can hit sufferers hard. They’re often given life changing diagnoses and medical care but the rest is up to them. Christopher has given them the information they need to help themselves and to find help across all areas of their lives so they can live their best lives with a chronic illness. Thank you Christopher.

I was given this book from the author via netgalley only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to.

I liked "Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness" a lot. I would say that if you are dealing with a chronic illness, you'll find it resonates and gives you things to think about. I think that finding one's way through chronic illness is an individual journey, but this book helps you begin to think about what it looks like for you.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was offered this book as an ARC by NetGalley and found it to be a good book particularly for those who are newly diagnosed with any chronic illness. There are a few things to note, firstly the author is based in the US so for readers living in other countries, your health system may be significantly different. Having said that the basic advice for getting the best out of appointments is probably universal. The second is that the author is very upfront about being a Christian and there are references to his faith. Personally, I am not religious but didn't find this off putting as I accept that faith is an important part of many people's lives.

You can tell that Christopher Martin has chronic illnesses himself as early on he mentions many of the common things that people say to you such as "But you look good" - yes you can even get these comments from your own specialists! It was good to see a section aimed at close family as they can often end up in carer roles and it can be a very difficult adjustment for family members too.

There is an excellent section with a variety of strategies to help maintain as positive an attitude as possible whilst acknowledging that a positive mental attitude is not a cure or even possible to maintain constantly.

I was surprised to see Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) used as an example, something that raises the awareness of a complex and rare condition. If, like me, you have been diagnosed with this condition please note that in a much later section there is a slight mistake (from a UK sense). EDS is generally diagnosed and managed by a rheumatologist as it is a connective tissue disorder rather than a pain specialist as stated in the book. Pain management is an important component of the team of specialists that will be involved in your care and I would encourage you to engage with these specialists but is not usually your primary specialist.

Many complementary therapies are mentioned including treatments such as trigger point therapy, massage and acupuncture which have shown potential in scientific literature. The only one that I struggled to find an evidence base for was craniosacral therapy but then again if it works for you then I will not criticise.

One other error that I should point out is that Martin mentions 'adrenal fatigue' which he admits is not an accepted medical diagnosis. However, he writes that it is 'also described as adrenal insufficiency' which is factually incorrect. Adrenal insufficiency is a medically diagnosable condition where your body does not produce enough/any cortisol and it MUST be replaced with medication such as hydrocortisone. There are three different types and primary adrenal insufficiency is also known as Addison's Disease.

Despite the couple of errors I spotted, I still think that this book is a good place for someone to start if they have just been diagnosed as it can be entirely overwhelming.

As someone living in pain with several invisible chronic illnesses, I was thrilled to see Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness by Christopher Martin. It took me awhile to read it, which is why this review is so delayed. Although I am a religious person, I found this book to be too based in religion as a way to deal with chronic illness, although I did find a few good tips in there, although none that I had not seen before in other chronic illness websites and books. Some may find help in this, but I didn't. Thank you to the author, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I had high hopes for this book. As someone with multiple invisible chronic illnesses I know first hand the challenges they pose. Most recently I was diagnosed with a chronic illness (ME) which has left me severely disabled, there is not treatment or cure for it. It also carries stigma. Whilst my mental health is mostly resilient, it has been a life changing experience and I am keen to find extra joy.

The cover states that these are proven strategies and one of the reviewers cites an 'evidenced based roadmap' so I was expecting something more along the lines of a synthesis of peer reviewed papers discussing psychological insights for improving quality of life for those with chronic illness. The text is more of a personal opinion piece, informed by the author's own experiences as a sufferer of chronic illnesses, school psychologist and a Christian.

The advice is fine for someone newly diagnosed with their first chronic illness who may be traumatised or finding it difficult to deal with. Even better if they too are a Christian (and therefore will appreciate the teachings of Jesus and the biblical guidance). It covers the sorts of areas which are key (and fairly obvious) such as accepting your illness, understanding it, practising compassion towards yourself, building supportive relationships and accessing medical care.

I personally didn't find it particularly useful or helpful because there wasn't anything new in it for me. Whilst I agree with most of the advice, I felt that it was too simplistic and failed to take into account that chronic illness vary wildly in how debilitating they are and how nuanced personal situations can be with regard to support networks, what medical treatment is available etc. That said I think I'm not really the right audience, I wouldn't have requested the book had I had a clearer understanding of it's scope and content. I am however grateful for the opportunity to read and would recommend it to those newly diagnosed and living in the USA bible belt or similar.

An invaluable read. I have chronic invisible Illness and was interested to read this book. Many things I could totally relate to. Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness is a great find, one for all to read, the patient, the loved one, and family members. Also addresses the mental health aspect of those of us living with mental health which essential too.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, but whatever I read, this wasn't it. There were some aspects of this book that really didn't sit well with me.

The first thing that I noticed was the heavy emphasis on Christianity. Not a single chapter goes by without the author discussing his own personal beliefs and quoting the Bible. I started rolling my eyes when I saw "As a Christian" for the third time, and found myself completely skipping over those sections. I am not Christian, and while I can appreciate the importance of spirituality for many people, the author seems to completely fail to recognize that not everyone shares his beliefs, and that they don't need to be inserted so frequently in a book like this one. If I had known that there were SO MANY Christian overtones in this book, I wouldn't have bothered. In addition, I can't help but wonder if the author, who is a school counselor, does the same thing at his job.

In addition, the author provided a ton of subject matter pertaining to his own diagnoses. Instead of generalizing and discussing symptoms that pertain to a wider range of invisible chronic illnesses, I was left with an overabundance of information pertaining to saline nasal washes and antibiotics and CPAP machines.

The other thing that really bothered me about this book is that it mentions unproven holistic treatments, many of which aren't covered by the majority of insurance plans. As a person with invisible chronic illnesses that make it impossible for me to work, so many of these options aren't available to me, since I don't have a trust fund or huge amounts of savings. One of the most upsetting sections (for me) pertained to a person with Ankylosing Spondylitis, which is one of my diagnoses, recovering completely from this progressive and incurable disease, by ... LAUGHING AND TAKING LARGE AMOUNTS OF VITAMIN C. WOW! IF ONLY I HAD TRIED THAT. Instead, I have to take multiple medications just to get through the day. It makes me wonder if the person referenced was misdiagnosed, since he was able to fully recover.

A lot of this book is focused on psychological principles of changing perspective and pattenrs of though. I'm instructed to change my thoughts from "'Chronic illness makes me feel so exhausted.' TO 'Chronic illness grants me that much needed vacation.'" I'm pretty sure I'm not just speaking for myself when I saw that there is nothing about chronic illness that provides a "much needed vacation." Even when I'm resting, I can't sleep. I can't escape my pain. Comparing rough days to a vacation is not only laughable, it's incredibly insulting. Exercise can be a helpful tool ... if you're actually able to do this. When your invisible illness comes with mobility and flexibility issues, exercise is a one-way ticket to worse symptoms and absolutely no improvement.

Some of the claims seems to be somewhat questionable, and while I think that some of the principles in the book can be extremely helpful for people with depression or anxiety, they aren't very helpful at managing other types of illnesses. No amount of looking at my pain or diagnoses as a vacation, or thinking positively is going to help it go away. Laughing isn't going to cure my symptoms, like it did for that one guy. When the author continued to talk about his religious beliefs, and then discussed electromagnetic radiation harming our bodies (without any concrete evidence of this), I found myself significantly less interested in what this book had to offer. Since in my own experience after many years with invisible chronic illnesses, there was absolutely nothing helpful in this book. Implying that I can feel better by changing my thoughts is dangerously close to saying that people with chronic illnesses are at fault for their own diseases, and clearly don't want to get better because they just don't think more positively.

Reading this book was two hours of my life that I'll never get back, and contributed absolutely nothing relevant or interesting. Instead of feeling joyful, happy, fulfilled, and hopeful at the end of this book, I felt even more frustrated than before. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

I was intrigued by the title of this book as other than having some health issues myself, I’m dealing with my husband who has invisible chronic illness. It’s a very useful tool not only for the sufferer but also for those living with someone or indeed anyone who knows someone with a chronic illness. Informative and helpful

This is an excellent book for anyone who has a chronic illness (and even those who don't if only to have more people in the world understand what its like to live with chronic illness)

As someone with chronic illness this book made me feel seen and understood, it was insightful and honest. I really appreciated that the author makes early on about not wanting to have an overly rosy portrayal of chronic illlness (likening it to people only showing the best of their life on social media) and that he has his flare ups and that it doesnt mean he's done anything wrong but that he just has a chronic illness. I found this really hit me because there are times when your chronic illness creeps up on you and it can be painful, and a big aspect of finding joy with chronic illness is accepting that this is life with chronic illness and going easy on yourself in those times.

I also really appreciated how he explained everything he has gained and particularly how his faith gave him something to hold onto, depending on god gave him strength and hope. It's something that helped me through my own illness, in the depths of it when everything felt so wrong. These days people are so afraid of talking about god with those who don't have faith belittling the rest of us constantly so i truly appreciated the author being vulnerable and sharing his whole truth with us not just some aspects.

The author covers many techniques that have successfully helped me manage my illness over the years, one amongst many others being pacing and how to practice it. He covers how we can use psychology, spirituality, supplements, stress management techniques etc to our benefit.

There is a section on considerations for people with chronic illness in regard to exercise which i thought was great! For myself i found exercise crucial to managing to chronic illness BUT i have to be very careful about what and how much i do so I felt this section was great!

This book takes a very holistic approach to living with chronic illness which is absolutely essential in my opinion. When i first started struggling with illness I was never able to find something that had all this information in one place and even though i've learnt so much over the years, theres still so much to learn from this and comfort to take from it. I would definitely recommend!

4.5 Stars! This is a great book and anyone with an invisible chronic illness should really read it. I’ve had an illness since age 14 and I still suffer from illness now. That’s why I wanted to read this book in the first place. The author has some great tips and tricks for dealing with illness, in general, and the mental health of someone with a chronic illness. A must read for anyone with an invisible chronic illness.
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

Christopher Martin’s “Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness” is a well-written, well-researched, informative and inspirational book aimed to assist chronic illness sufferers better identify, understand and manage all aspects of their chronic illness. The target audience of “Finding Joy” is anyone with a chronic illness and their loved ones, although this would also make a valuable resource for the mental health and medical professionals who treat them.

“Finding Joy” covers all aspects of what life is like living with a chronic illness, what to expect, how to deal with pitfalls, how to accept your illness, and how (utilizing psychology-based practices) to embrace and maximize the quality of your life in your “new normal.”

Martin, a nationally-certified school psychologist (NCSP) and author who suffers from multiple chronic illnesses since 1997, shares his initial diagnosis and self-discloses relevant tidbits from his subsequent journey. He emphasizes that, while being diagnosed with a chronic illness can (at first) be shocking and devastating to the sufferer, acceptance of the diagnosis is the first step to adopting your “new normal” and living a more positive, purpose-driven life.

“Finding Joy” acknowledges that coming to terms with your diagnosis and attempting to live a positive life is neither easy nor expected, but Martin’s psychology-based approach (and vast experience in dealing with his own chronic illnesses) will better help the reader take baby steps to ultimately achieve a higher level of happiness and contentment. Martin evokes his background in psychology to demonstrate how a chronic illness sufferer can establish and maintain a positive mindset and help to create a fulfilling life. He argues sufferers can find purpose in their suffering through a variety of psychology-based strategies, including utilizing positive self-talk, thinking about circumstances differently, as well as showing self-compassion and avoiding self-blame. Persevering to find joy also requires the sufferer to neither dwell on the past nor the future, but to live day-to-day, moment-to-moment.

Martin addresses the daily emotional ups-and-downs sufferers undoubtedly experience; positive and negative emotions can fluctuate greatly on a daily basis, and negative emotions may lead to depression and a decline in overall health. Martin includes ways to combat negative emotions, such as techniques for managing different types of stress, exercise and breathing regimens, and therapies and other treatments to assist with depression. Engaging in new activities, making new friends, prayer, creating a gratitude journal, and even researching the latest techniques for help with your chronic illness can allay negative emotions.

“Finding Joy” also offers the reader a firsthand account about what to expect on your chronic illness journey with sage advice to help. From the initial moments when a person realizes they may have a medical issue, to selection of a healthcare provider and preparation for medical appointments, to the diagnostic process and when second or more opinions are necessary, to acceptance of your chronic illness and how your illness will impact relationships with family, spouses, friends and even employers, Martin’s experience will guide the reader to know what to expect and how to handle it. Martin also explores the importance of having an adequate support system, including the role of caregivers and how to transition from accepting your chronic illness to your “new normal.” Lastly, “Finding Joy” considers the role of alternative medicine and diet to improve overall health.

While Martin’s book is aimed at chronic illness sufferers, I found this book to be informative for all audiences as everyone faces challenges and illness in life. I would recommend this book to anyone as I believe everyone can benefit from reading it, whether you are healthy with no sign of illness, have a loved one who suffers, or are dealing with any type of symptoms and considering a visit to the doctor.

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness is a major life-changing event, but Martin teaches us that our illness does not define us; rather, our illness can be an opportunity to live our lives in ways we never imagined.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While there is some helpful advice in this book, there are a few things that rubbed me the wrong way.

First off there was nothing in the description that indicated to me that this was a heavily religious book. Martin is certainly entitled to his beliefs and sharing how they shape his outlook on life, but for many people who aren't Christian having a coping or thriving strategy that is Christian-based may not be useful. Martin also recommends treatments like craniosacral therapy, which is not something that's scientifically supported let alone covered by most insurance plans in the US. Martin also states that people with chronic illness have a responsibility to educate others and not take certain questions or approaches personally. The point of this book is to focus on the positive, but for some people the burden of managing their own lives and are is enough and it's not their job to act as Google for everyone else. Lastly Martin gives tips about meeting with your doctor and coordinating care, but also seems to overly emphasize how important it is to listen to doctors and respect them because they're super knowledgeable and it's their job. Again this sounds good on its face, but saying that you should respect a doctor even when they're not respecting you and not addressing your needs isn't helpful advice. Especially in the US having to find a new doctor and take time to go to another appointment is a lot of work so finding a doctor that is respectful and helpful is critical, but also not easy and people shouldn't have to put up with being treated poorly or receiving bad care just to show perceived reverence to a medical care provider.

There's also information in this book about navigating through grief that could be useful. I think some of it is cultural since it seems the author is from the UK, but the book really emphasizes reframing your thoughts and working through negative feelings instead of sometimes feeling your feelings and acknowledging that things are hard.

This is a book everyone should own as we are all likely to be or know someone we care about with chronic illness. This book provides opportunities for healing for absolutely every perspective. Covering spirituality, psychology, and biomechanics this book has it all. Though written from a Christian perspective the book is still very accessible and useful to other religious beliefs. I will be recommending this book to my clients.

This book caught my eye because my sister in law is living with long Covid. I wanted to read it thinking that it could be something I could pass onto her and my brother.

I can't do that with this book because it's been over a year for her now and everything in this book they know and utilize. That's not saying this isn't a good book though.

It's meant for someone with an invisible illness but it will definitely help others who aren't dealing with it understand it better, which is nice. You can tell that parts of it are directed at people who have the same issue as the author because he talks about things that can potentially help that would never help with my sister in law. She's dealing with chronic fatigue/M.E. type symptoms and some of the things he suggests would put her out of commission for a while.

With that said, I understand why he would put some advice and suggestions in there for his illness since it's his book and he might be able to help someone. It's still a really good read and I would absolutely recommend it for people in the beginning stages of whatever they may be dealing with. :)

Thank you Netgalley and Martin Books for letting me read an ARC. All thoughts/opinions are mine and mine alone. 💖

“Now, 1 in 2 Americans (around 165 million) have a chronic medical condition, in which their illness impairs them in one or more of their everyday activities.

Further, 96% of chronic medical conditions in the United States are invisible, making them both harder to diagnose and for others – family, friends, and healthcare providers – to understand.2a As a result, because others tend to assume what we can or cannot do simply by how we look, they tend to downplay this suffering, and assume we are either lazy, irresponsible, or even faking our illness.”

Excerpt From
Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness

Chris hits the. last nerve with this paragraph. Many people with chronic illnesses have been brushed off, or their illness underplayed or outright not treated. He has some great ideas on how we can harness our energy, what energy we have to take control of our healthcare by assembling the right team of doctors, making the most of our doctor's appointments, and becoming your best advocate.

 He also addresses the depression that often follows someone with a chronic illness which can, in turn, fall into the cycle and create more pain. It is one many know all too well and don't always know how to balance the two. 

Chris also has some questions for you, to take a hard look at yourself and answer about your chronic illness. I found them enlightening and worth soul searching on. 

Being a Psychologist Chris's approach to the book is one of mind over matter. You can change how you talk to yourself and how you chose to look at each situation.  

I think Chris says it best, the diagnosis is a step forward, it's not the last. 

Excerpt From

"While an official diagnosis represents a huge step forward in the management of your condition, it also represents a new beginning in your journey of further seeking help for your condition, not the end. In dealing with a chronic illness, the search for improved health and a better quality of life never ceases. Likewise, despite an official diagnosis, you will continue to confront challenges when accessing quality healthcare or dealing with others, but it will be that much easier to confront these challenges. You have cleared a major hurdle.”

Chris includes a helpful chapter for loved ones as a resource and support. 

Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness is a great find, one for all to read, the patient, the loved one, and family members. It is a simple and very practical approach to taking control by understanding how we think and what we have control over when it comes to our chronic condition and healthcare treatment. 

Enjoy Reading,

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@LookingLight

Too often I have read books with great ideas, but little applicability to daily life. Not so with this gem. Those with invisible illnesses often experience hidden struggles, sometimes even unknown to those closest to them. Chris does an excellent job of shining a light on these hidden struggles – and in so doing, revealing the depth of challenges for people with chronic illness – while providing meaningful strategies to cope with their illness. I particularly liked how he backed up his strategies with research citations and, at times, made references to other resources “for further exploration.” If I were to criticize this book, this book does provide occasional mentions of his Christian faith, although I thought he discussed it in a gentle, integrative way that would not turn off readers of various faiths or detract from his central message. All in all, a great resource that is succinct and practical. (Note: after I reached out to him to let him know the book was largely unreadable on NetGalley, the author provided me with a corrected Epub).