When Ill-Health Becomes Your Enemy

This health guide looks at psychological approaches to treating illness.

It examines the impact of personality factors on illness, and explores alternatives to orthodox medical treatment.

Drawing on an array of contemporary approaches, the authors build a case for treating the whole person, not just the disease.

Moore-Groarke and Thompson illustrate through the use of case histories, the benefits of combining psychological approaches with orthodox treatment in dealing successfully with illness.

The myth that one has to be mad to seek help or advice from a psychologist is debunked.

Many of those whose case histories are included testify to having learned enormously from illness, which can often act as a catalyst to re-address the quality and purpose of life.

Among the topics dealt with in the book are: the complexities of pain; pros and cons of drug intervention; the impact of stress on illness; how personality impacts on illness; and how each individual has the ability to improve their own health.

Gillian Moore-Groarkes and Sylvia Thompson are co-authors of "When Food Becomes Your Enemy".