What do you think?
Rate this book
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Survival Guide
Multiple chemical sensitivity is a controversial medical diagnosis characterizing individuals who experience intense and adverse responses as a result of exposure to chemicals, frequently at doses far below those known to cause harm. This book reviews what is known about MCS, describing the symptoms, detailing possible explanations for it and giving step-by-step methods for coping with the illness.
- GenresHealth
375 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
33 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 10, 2012
This book is absolutely essential for anyone with MCS, and especially those new to having MCS.
What it does best is explores the emotional and social issues surrounding having a 'non-legitimised' disease, and a disease that one cannot keep private or keep from affecting others around you. It does this especially well.
I would also recommend it to my fellow M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) patients, as they face many of the same emotional, legal and social issues, as well as having symptoms of chemical sensitivity to a mild-severe extent (along with equally bad or most often far worse - compared to our level of chemical sensitivities, which is most often far less than someone with severe primary MCS - neurological, cognitive and cardiac problems exacerbated by exercise or even mild activity, being upright, thinking, noise and light and so on).
Nowhere have I read such an excellent explanation of the issues that come up when you are forced through your illness to have to ask those around you to modify their behaviour in some way, how to survive one has to both accept the disease and also never stop actively looking for improvements and treatment - and many other issues.
I applaud the author wholeheartedly for putting together such an amazing book, of such a high quality.
Jodi Bassett, The Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E.
What it does best is explores the emotional and social issues surrounding having a 'non-legitimised' disease, and a disease that one cannot keep private or keep from affecting others around you. It does this especially well.
I would also recommend it to my fellow M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) patients, as they face many of the same emotional, legal and social issues, as well as having symptoms of chemical sensitivity to a mild-severe extent (along with equally bad or most often far worse - compared to our level of chemical sensitivities, which is most often far less than someone with severe primary MCS - neurological, cognitive and cardiac problems exacerbated by exercise or even mild activity, being upright, thinking, noise and light and so on).
Nowhere have I read such an excellent explanation of the issues that come up when you are forced through your illness to have to ask those around you to modify their behaviour in some way, how to survive one has to both accept the disease and also never stop actively looking for improvements and treatment - and many other issues.
I applaud the author wholeheartedly for putting together such an amazing book, of such a high quality.
Jodi Bassett, The Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E.
June 26, 2019
Essential. Eye-opening. Down right scary. Read it
March 3, 2013
An informed and compassionate review of the losses, dilemmas, and suffering of those of us who have MCS. I highly recommend it. There is a second edition available with updated information.
This is a growing area of research and awareness as more and more people suffer from this condition and are often unaware that it is the issue. So many trashcan diagnoses, largely untreatable, mask the very real issue of multiple chemical sensitivity which can be managed so that the symptoms are reduced. We live in such a toxic world, it is nearly impossible to eliminate the sources and the effects of exposure once an injury has developed. Dr. Gibson's book allows one to take charge of one's own situation and have a better life. My experience is that no one else can do that for you.
This is a growing area of research and awareness as more and more people suffer from this condition and are often unaware that it is the issue. So many trashcan diagnoses, largely untreatable, mask the very real issue of multiple chemical sensitivity which can be managed so that the symptoms are reduced. We live in such a toxic world, it is nearly impossible to eliminate the sources and the effects of exposure once an injury has developed. Dr. Gibson's book allows one to take charge of one's own situation and have a better life. My experience is that no one else can do that for you.
May 21, 2009
It can lead to a very self-concerned paradigm to study this book, and there is a hopeless feeling about the whole MCS problem, but it is informative.
December 26, 2011
Interesting information on coping, etc with this disability.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews