After the Diagnosis : From Crisis to Personal Renewal for Patients With Chronic Illness

I was diagnosed a month ago with MS and frankly the past month was not a fun one - it was filled with many of the emotions that are discussed in this book. When I ordered this book I thought it was going to read more like one of those self help books and I secretly dreded such a thing thinking it would be dry and boring - not so with this one! Its quite interesting to read - stories and situations are used in each chapter... Read Full Review

This book is a total validation of the feelings and fears I experienced after the onset of my genetic illness. No one else understood, but JoAnn LeMaistre did, and finding that I was not alone in my experience and learning that there was a process I had to endure made things easier. I was so moved that I found JoAnn and joined one of her support groups! This is a must-read for people newly diagnosed AND their families. An... Read Full Review

JoAnn LeMaistre,Ph.D., the author of this book, is a clinical psychologist who specializes her practice in dealing with patients who have a chronic medical illness or disability. She herself lives with MS, and bases the foundation of this book from both a personal and professional standpoint. She breaks the book down into chapters regarding Crisis, Isolation, Anger, Reconstruction, Intermittent Depression, Renewal, Helping,... Read Full Review

The author knows what she is talking about; she is not just a psychoterapist with a doctoral degree, but also a multiple sclerosis patient who has greatly damaged eyesight. Emotionally, however, her eyesight is 20/20: She can look pain, fear, disappointment and extremely altered lifestyles right in the face, with no glib or over-easy answers. You'll find yourself in this book, even if your problem is not MS; she shows... Read Full Review