Product Description

Nearly everyone knows someone who is living with a health challenge that is difficult, if not impossible, to detect in their appearance and demeanor. "Just Fine" discusses this dichotomy of looking one way while feeling quite another. This topic is explored not only with words, but with original portraits, because the true story of looking one way while feeling quite differently requires both. No other book has approached hidden health disorders in this manner. It is a powerful and telling tale that must be told as well as shown.

Sveilich interviewed and photographed over 50 people of all ages and from all walks of life who live with a wide variety of concealed disorders. She also consulted with numerous medical and mental health professionals to explore the juxtaposition of looking one way while feeling quite another.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #417105 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

About the Author
Sveilich, a counselor for more than 20 years, has conducted large community seminars and support services for people living with health challenges. Recipient of the ABC News Leadership Award, she has also been featured in numerous newspaper articles and television reports.

Customer Reviews

Looks can be deceiving...this book tells the truth
Everybody has a story. As editor of a newsletter, it's not unusual for me to receive an e-mail or letter requesting that I review a book for possible inclusion in our publication. After all, we target a market specifically for those with chronic pain. Most of the time, I'm happy to at least look but I do so with optimistic skepticism. Our readers have a lot to deal with already. If I can't endorse a book, in my editorial opinion, I opt out of giving it published space. My first criteria is that a book should "do no harm" in its effort to do good. I also prefer to give the space to books, which warrant attention. Just Fine deserves both space and attention.

In her own words, the author states the uniqueness of her book: "There is an absence of resources that examines an individual's outward appearance and how it runs contrary to their pain, symptoms, and inner world." While the 336 page book is divided approximately in half, the theme of dealing with appearing "normal" despite how you feel runs consistently from beginning to end. In the first half, the author's revelation of what it is like to uncover and ultimately accept a diagnosis and the limitations, changes and medical challenges that come with that diagnosis - despite looking fine - is unlike any other book I've read. The author's own black and white photographs of people she's interviewed and whose stories are included will greet you in the second half. Stop and look at the faces. The fact that you cannot "see" what disorder they have is what Just Fine is all about.

In Chapter One, "why seeing is not always believing", the author explains, "Human nature, for the most part, is visually oriented. We believe what we see and often make character judgments based solely on visual perceptions. But, what happens when the person who appears healthy, energetic, and just fine to family, friends, and coworkers, is quietly suffering from chronic pain or the challenges of an ongoing illness?" This point continues to be painstakingly revealed in the personal stories collected and shared by the author from others who live and deal daily with these chronic illnesses. The idea that someone can look fine and not feel as good as they appear seems an unlikely paradox. Often the first exchange between two people is, "Hi, how are you?" followed by, "You look great!" Should a person admit their "secret" suffering and/or pain and risk that too familiar look of skepticism?

The author strikes further to the core of the matter: many struggle to live as "normal" as they look and rationalize the consequences when they cannot. She says it simply, "One may recover from the shock of an illness but not from the illness itself. This is where it is essential to develop and utilize new skills". The more disabling the disorder, no matter how invisible, the more your life will change. How will it change and what can you do about it? The author's two decades of counseling experience shines through, especially in the stories. While many offer hope and inspiration, she also includes those stories that don't have it all figured out yet --because with a chronic condition, the story doesn't always have a nice, neat ending.

Just Fine is an amazing book that will touch the reader on many different levels, especially emotionally. This is not, however, a coping book as much as it is a "comfort" book. The author goes beyond the personal and offers the practical as well in dealing with subjects as family, work, friends, depression and medical therapies, including alternative options. It is indeed a resource for those with a "concealed illness" whose story is finally well told -- as well as anyone else -- family, doctors, support group leaders who wants to truly "see" them, too.

An excellent resource
This is a well-written, well-researched book that exposes many of the difficulties experienced by people who have illnesses with no readily visible symptoms. The book is light on descriptions of specific conditions, which works to its advantage since it is less about any particular illness than about the experiences people have in common when their illnesses are masked by an outward appearance of health. This book is not only a resource for individuals with concealed chronic illnesses or pain, but also for their loved ones, for health professionals, and for mental health professionals. What Sveilich unmasks in this book is not only the hidden face of chronic illness, but also the harm caused by our appearance-obsessed culture.

This amazing book is the best of the bunch...
I'm not easily impressed. This book impressed me.

I have read just about every book available on the topic of coping with chronic illness and pain. None of them come close to this one by Sveilich. She seems to know the subject quite well and presents unique resources from experts and professionals in the field.

Of course, the best experts are the people who actually live with chronic health disorders and they are respresented throughout this book. The profiles are amazing. I saw my story in just about all of the 55 profiles included. I also found some great coping tools to apply to my own life.

Good insights and coping tips were offered by psychologists as well as physicians. The author also discusses mind-body medicine and complementary approaches as well as traditional medicine. From Zen to Zoloft and everything in-between... this book has it all.

My only remaining question is, why isn't JUST FINE on the New York Bestseller list?

It should be.