Invisible Illness (1982)

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"An incisive study that illuminates the myriad complexities of chronic illness."— Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) "Movingly spotlights the struggles of chronically ill patients."— Publishers Weekly A moving cultural history of disability—and a powerful call to action to change how our medical system and society supports those with complex chronic conditions From lupus to Lyme, invisible illness is often dismissed by everyone but the sufferers. Why does the medical establishment continually insist that, when symptoms are hard to explain, they are probably just in your head? Inspired by her work with long COVID patients, medical anthropologist Emily Mendenhall traces the story of complex chronic conditions to show why both research and practice fail so many. Mendenhall points out disconnects between the reality of chronic disease—which typically involves multiple intersecting