The Art of Getting Well: Maximizing Health and Well-Being When You Have a Chronic Illness » (1ST)

A majority of chronic illnesses have no medical cure. The best therapy, asserts the author, is self-care. This comprehensive guide suggests healthy behaviors and holistic approaches while acknowledging the barriers people face in applying them.

Publishers Weekly

Spero, a practicing nurse who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis over a decade ago, presents an accessible, practical and encouraging self-care manual for the chronically ill. Spero's five-step plan for assisting with physical recovery slowing down, making positive changes, maintaining a support network, learning to value one's body and taking some responsibility for improvement may well be useful for the healthy and ill alike. Each step is presented in detail and is interwoven with both the author's personal experiences and those of other patients. Spero describes how a 53-year-old woman diagnosed with severe hypertension made two job changes in order to find work that not only was less stressful, but also gave her greater satisfaction. He provides many examples of the benefits of building a wide support network: relying on several rather than one "helper" actually gave patients more independence. Of particular interest is the list of "twenty-four reasons to live," which suggests creative ideas to lift depression, such as getting a pet, spending more time in nature and developing new hobbies. The author is careful to stress the importance of health professionals but is convinced that caring for oneself emotionally enhances medical treatment. (May) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Contents

Foreword....................vi
Important Note....................vii
Preface....................viii
Chapter 1 Studies Show Life Is Hard....................1
Chapter 2 Slow Down or Crash....................18
Chapter 3 Make a Change, Any Change....................33
Chapter 4 All the Help We Can Get....................50
Chapter 5 Twenty-Four Reasons to Live....................73
Chapter 6 Growing Up Under Fire....................90
Chapter 7 Your Body-Love It or Leave It....................108
Chapter 8 The Art of Getting Well....................124
Chapter 9 Your Self-Care Plan....................139
Chapter 10 Beyond Self-Care....................156
Self-Help....................169
References....................181
Resources....................202