Chronic Resilience: 10 Sanity-Saving Strategies for Women Coping with the Stress of Illness

by Danea Horn

Chronic illness comes with stress, and Chronic Resilience provides a complete self-help blueprint for managing the difficulties chronic illness presents. Certified life coach and speaker Danea Horn, who suffers from chronic kidney disease, infertility, and other demanding health challenges due to a birth disorder, offers techniques and ways to rebound from the pressures of having a body that's doing things you wish you could control.

Chronic Resilience shows how to:

- Stop pushing yourself so hard.
- Use research to empower - not frighten - yourself.
- Let yourself be pissed!
- Train your troops in how to care for you.
- Cultivate focus and flexibility.
- Find things to be grateful for.
- Focus on what you can do, not what you can't.

Each chapter also contains highlights of interviews with women dealing with chronic health issues ranging from cancer to organ transplant, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), MS, Cushing's disease, diabetes, and others.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help, Illness, Disability

236 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

Danea Horn was born with VACTERL Association, a rare birth disorder that caused malformations in six systems in the body and left her with chronic kidney disease and other demanding health challenges. Her diagnosis was described by Doctor Hardy Hendren of Boston Children's Hospital as one of "nature's worst malformations."

Through this intense journey of physical challenge and self-exploration, Danea’s message of embracing our inherent humanity emerged. Her first website Creative Affirmations has inspired readers over one million times. Danea blogs weekly for Health Bistro at Lifescript. She has been featured on or written articles for: RenaLife Magazine, Goodness Magazine, Mind Body Green, Crazy Sexy Life, KevinMD.com and Good Day Sacramento. Her presentation clients include the Portland Trail Blazers, the Entrepreneurs' Organization, Stanford Continuing Studies and Mary Kay.

Danea’s book, Chronic Resilience: 10 Sanity-Saving Strategies for Women Coping with the Stress of Illness, will be published this August by Conari Press.

"Danea Horn has put an honest and wise voice to the intimate journey of illness. She lights a fire for self-compassion and puts stress in its place, while providing empowering suggestions for living with grace and Chronic Resilience. I highly recommend this groundbreaking book."
- Kris Carr, New York Times Best Selling Author

Reviews

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this book in slowly as it should be almost like a page of the day, chapter of the day, devotional style but please read as you may or must - whatever speed you want. This book is a *MUST* for all those chronically-ill patients, those caring for those patients, friends and family, counselors, educators, etc. It is not a deep dive but it is not shallow either. It gives just the right mix and gives action points too that I found incredibly helpful so much so I plan to dive back in again and again but first I want to retrace what she discusses in journaling. She asks readers fun questions and some BIG LIFE QUESTIONS. I ended up highlighting (online) numerous points of her conversation. This gal is easily relatable and has an overwhelming conversational style to her writing. I am amazed at the amount she covered in the book like what to take to the hospital, how she herself overcame a certain appointment, and dealing with life after feeling chronically crummy. She also included mini-features from “chronically resilient” patients and that happened to be a highlight for me. She could have even done a second book with just interviews. I totally would have read it. There were some areas I wanted more content but overall I enjoyed it throughly. Anyway, 4/5 Inspiring, Uplifting. Especially for me, sometimes I felt like “YES, YES, YES! Exactly! Someone knows how I feel!” One to be Savored.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although she doesn't address it, Horn's advice is applicable to those of us with chronic mental illness. Many of her strategies could improve anyone's life, regardless of their state of health. Others serve mainly to ease the burden of those living with chronic illness. Either way, her strategies can simplify your life. Some are challenging, but all are feasible.

[Verónica Fleitas Solich · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and applicable read.
Without a doubt, a very good experience both for those who suffer from a chronic illness and for those who accompany someone who suffers from it.
It does not contain any divine revelation but simply the reminder that we are human and that is the most important thing.
And as the author explains well, it is not what you have to live but how you live it.

[Lael Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this book up thinking it was a different focus than chronic illness-but it has good info even for those without illness. And written from perspective of someone who has had to cut away the 'fluff' and find what's most important to focus on

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful and practical. It’s so easy to fall back into comparing your life (and yourSELF) before and after. This book reminds us in straightforward ways that it will not be the same and does not HAVE to be the same to be happy and meaningful.

[Janice Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

As some who has been dealing with dysautonomia/POTS for 25 years, I was thrilled to finally find a book full of practical strategies for chronic illness sufferers. The book is well-organized and should probably be read chapter-by-chapter, giving oneself time to journal and mull things over. Within the chapters, Dana typically presents a mix of her own stories/struggles along with advice (loved her vulnerability), probative questions, and stories from other women. I can attest that many of the strategies she suggests are ones that I employ today and have utilized continually over the past 25 years. Get your highlighter and journal ready, then get to reading!!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough good about this book and how often it has inspired and encouraged me over the last 5+ years. Written in bite-sized chunks, easy enough to manage when dealing with chronic conditions and a busy life, this and The Art of Resilience (by Carol Orsborn) have remained close at hand on my bedside table for many years now, with frequent returns to refresh my memory or just to re-experience the sensation of truly being seen and assisted again. Highly recommended.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem of a book filled with so much wisdom and practical info one could only understand having been through it. Really grateful to now have this to return to again and again for that mindset of chronic resilience.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid advice, interspersed with stories of women dealing with chronic illness. Journaling activities encourage the reader to engage with the material, but I chose not to.

[Riv · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very helpful if you have been newly diagnosed with a chronic illness! The book offers not only support and understanding for your new situation but also guidelines and practical advice for helping you live with illness. I was able to immediately apply a lot of the advice in the book, such as: finding clarity about my values, setting small attainable goals and taking steps toward them daily/weekly, creating a health binder with all of your medical tests and info (very useful!), focus on gratitude on a daily basis, etc. This book most definitely helped me to get through a rough time and big adjustment.
I gave the book four stars instead of five for two reasons:
1.) It is written for women. I can't help but wonder why. I think that with a few adjustments, this book could be accessible to both men and women. Why limit the audience?
2.) I don't know if the book is as useful for people who have lived with chronic illness for a longer time. Much of the practical advice could/would be. I can only speak from my experience...and I can definitely say that it is very useful for you if you are also newly diagnosed. I'm not sure if it offers much new information for those with experience. I guess that varies from person to person. If you have more experience with chronic illness, it is still worth checking out the reviews and table if contents to see if you find the information and advice helpful.

[Gerard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes a book like this is needed for someone to comprehend what exactly is going on and how to cope with such.
Even though we all tell everybody else how to deal with things, we never quite "get it".
This book will help you through some of that.

I received the book for free through Goodreads Firstreads.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone coming to terms with a chronic illness this book is like the friend you need to push you in the right direction. Written in a warm, realistic tone the advice and stories of real women are invaluable.

[Wendy Kennar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An invaluable book! I feel fortunate to have discovered this book. It's a guide, really, that will help me live (and hopefully thrive) with a chronic medical condition.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book with some great advice for living your best with chronic illness.