Would like more suggestions for coping with the realization of chronic pain.

[Guest guest]

Cheryl,

I wanted to write and tell you how much I appreciated the book

recommendation. I am making it a project to get used to the idea that

my chronic illness is not going away, it is progressing. I need to be

picking and choosing what is important, more and more.

I feel at peace, now that I am admitting to myself that magical

thinking will not make my illness go away. There are still tons of

things that I can do and I am saying a peaceful " goodbye, " to the very

physical woman of my youth and middle adult years.

Any other publications that you can come up with would be appreciated.

It may sound conceited, but I do plan on writing about chronic illness

and, hopefully, getting published. I have worked as a freelance

journalist from March 2003 to September 2005 and then my illness took

a downturn, with severe depression. I went back to work, full-time in

April 2006 and then went to part-time in September 2006. In October

2007, I have started to do freelance work again and I am working to

sharpen up my skills to write about what I and others experience

everyday. The reality of living with an invisible chronic illness.

Anyway, enough about me and my plans; any other books that people

found to be helpful would be appreciated. I have fibromyalgia,

asthma, allergies and sensitivities, plus I have had many bouts of

depression, starting in 1993, about the time my illnesses started

affecting my life.

Thanks in advance, Penny