The Art of Getting Well: A Five-Step Plan for Maximizing Health When You Have a Chronic Illness

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.
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