This book offers a thoughtful examination of the medical diagnosis culture, highlighting its potential to cause harm to patients instead of providing relief. Through the lens of a neurologist's insights, it delves into the complexities of diagnosis, emphasizing the need for a more compassionate approach to healthcare. The author draws on their experience and expertise to challenge conventional practices, making a compelling case for rethinking how we understand and treat medical conditions.
Chip the Monk and the Harmony Animals teach children how to find the harmony within. It is the first in a collection of uplifting books for the whole family!
In Sweden, refugee children fall asleep for months and years at a time. In upstate New York, high-school students develop contagious seizures. In the US embassy in Cuba, employees complain of headaches and memory loss after hearing strange noises in the night. Inspired by a poignant encounter with the sleeping refugee children of Sweden, Wellcome Prize-winning neurologist Suzanne O'Sullivan travels the world to hear remarkable stories about other 'mystery' illnesses. From a derelict post-Soviet mining town in Kazakhstan, to the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua via an oil town in Texas, to the hear of the Maria Mountains in Colombia, she meets a fascinating array of people, all the while attempting to unravel the complex question: who gets to define what is and what isn't an illness?
It's happened to all of us: our cheeks flush red when we say the wrong thing, or our hearts skip a beat when a certain someone walks by. But few of us realize how much more dramatic and extreme our bodies' reactions to emotions can be. Many people who see their doctor have medically unexplained symptoms, and in the vast majority of these cases, a psychosomatic cause is suspected. And yet, the diagnosis of a psychosomatic disorder can make a patient feel dismissed as a hypochondriac, a faker, or just plain crazy. Neurologist Suzanne O'Sullivan, MD, takes us on a journey through the world of psychosomatic illness, where we meet patients such as Rachel, a promising young dancer now housebound by chronic fatigue syndrome, and Mary, whose memory loss may be her mind's way of protecting her from remembering her husband's abuse. O'Sullivan reveals the hidden stresses behind their mysterious symptoms, approaching a sensitive topic with patience and understanding. She addresses the taboos surrounding psychosomatic disorders, teaching us that "it's all in your head" doesn't mean that something isn't real, as the body is often the stand-in for the mind when the latter doesn't possess the tools to put words to its sorrow. She encourages us to look with compassion at the ways in which our brains act out, and to question our failure to credit the intimate connection between mind and body
Dr. Suzanne O'Sullivan, a consultant in neurology and clinical neurophysiology, specializes in complex epilepsy and psychogenic disorders. Her expertise is reflected in her acclaimed book on psychosomatic illness, which explores the intricate connections between mind and body. Recognized for her contributions to the field, she has received prestigious awards, including the Wellcome Book Prize and the Royal Society of Biology Book Prize. Her work aims to shed light on the complexities of psychosomatic conditions and their impact on health.
Dr. Suzanne O'Sullivan, a consultant neurologist with extensive experience in complex epilepsy and psychogenic disorders, explores the realm of psychosomatic illness in her award-winning book, It's All in Your Head. Drawing on her expertise from prestigious institutions, she delves into the intricate connections between mind and body, shedding light on how psychological factors can manifest as physical ailments. Her insights aim to enhance understanding and treatment of these often-misunderstood conditions, making significant contributions to both neurology and public awareness.
A neurologist explores the very real world of psychosomatic illness. Pauline first became ill when she was fifteen. What seemed to be a urinary infection became joint pain, then life-threatening appendicitis. After a routine operation Pauline lost all the strength in her legs. Shortly afterwards, convulsions started. But Pauline’s tests are normal: her symptoms seem to have no physical cause whatsoever. This may be an extreme case, but Pauline is not alone. As many as a third of people visiting their GP have symptoms that are medically unexplained. In most, an emotional root is suspected which is often the last thing a patient wants to hear and a doctor to say. We accept our hearts can flutter with excitement and our brows can sweat with nerves, but on this journey into the very real world of psychosomatic illness, Suzanne O'Sullivan finds the secrets we are all capable of keeping from ourselves. ‘A fascinating glimpse into the human condition... a forceful call for society to be more open about such suffering’ Daily Mail ‘Honest, fascinating and necessary’ The Times
