Finding Peace with a Devastating Disease: Reflections on Endometriosis

by Amy Corfeli

How can we have joy in the face of the pain caused by endometriosis? How can we stop spending energy resenting such a large piece of our lives? Is it possible to find peace with endometriosis? What does finding peace even mean? In this beautifully raw and honest collection of seventy-six reflections, Amy delves deep into the crushing pain of a flare, the journey to finding self-compassion, and other topics while she brings us with her on a quest for acceptance, meaning, and a new relationship with illness—and ourselves.

Whether you have endometriosis or another devastating illness, Amy’s vulnerability, along with her introspective question prompts at the end of each reflection, will support your personal exploration into learning what finding peace means to you.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

334 pages, Paperback

Published February 21, 2021

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start this review by saying that I have looked up to Amy as a member of our endo community for a long while now. I myself have endometriosis, and spend much of my time interacting with the endo community on Instagram, Amy’s account included. She is knowledgeable, compassionate, and all around to lovely to “know”— even virtually. Her growth is nothing short of inspiring.

When I first started reading this book, I admit I recoiled slightly. The mindfulness & meditation heavy tones made me defensive because of the medical trauma I’ve endured in the past from healthcare providers: “get out of your ‘I am sick mentality’, ‘manage your stress and you’d feel better’, ‘the pain is in your head’, etc.

But when reading, it became obvious that Amy has been victim to this gaslighting and medical mistreatment as well.

Reading this book flipped a switch for me. I have endo. I will always have endo. I will likely always have chronic pain.

But I realize now that while endo and similar conditions of mine have brought pain into my life, my emotional response to that pain only makes it worse. I have a lot of internal work to do— a lot of emotional healing to work on— and this book gave me the gift of realizing that there is room for improvement, and that even if I can’t lower my pain or get rid of my disease, I can welcome more joy into my life.

Amy, you are a gift— and so was this book. I can’t recommend it enough to anyone who suffers from endo, loves someone with endo, or any other chronic condition.

5/5 stars. Insightful and inspiring read.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, I have to say that this book is a MUST read for anyone with Endo. There is so much to take away from this read that I actually went back and read it again. I hi-lighted even more sentences the second time around.
The author has a gift for describing her experiences in such a way that I actually felt and visualized myself in her position whether she was going on her walk in the Amazon or screaming in pain.
I was impressed as to how well the chapters flowed, and more so impressed at how she exposes her most intimate thoughts, emotions and sometimes embarrassing experiences in her 16 year journey.
I applaud her for revealing her courageous journey while giving us all tools to help us in our own battle to fight this devastating disease.

[Susi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally hate any books that seem like they're "self help". They're always so "This is exactly what you should think." But this book doesn't do that at all. As you read through, the book has questions every couple pages that you can think about (if you'd like). It really made me feel like I wasn't alone, like I had someone to talk to that understands, has been there, and is going to help me get to the other side okay.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endo has been ruining my life since I was 15. I’m in a place now where I want to accept endo, but have been stuck on how to do so. This book helped me a lot with the "how" of accepting endo. It’s given me ideas on how to live more consciously and pay attention to where I derive meaning from. Watching Amy's attempts at peace, plus taking the time to do the self reflections, helped me understand how I can actually do this in my own life.

[Julia Drury Mueller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this. To be fair, she subtitled this "reflections on endometriosis," but I was misled by how many reviews said how "helpful" this was. Endometriosis has increasingly determined the course of my life in decisions big and small for the past 17 years, and it was hard to find any thought in this book that I haven't had before (and that I would've assumed anyone who's been affected for this many years has had many, many times before).

This wasn't a book about endometriosis as much as it was about self-esteem. She writes about believing she has endometriosis because she deserves to suffer, then forgiving herself for having it and assuring herself that she's a good person. I don't have a problem with self-image; I have a problem with inflammatory tissue spreading throughout my body. We may just be too different of people; I felt like I must be a very pragmatic person indeed as I read again - and again, and again, and again - about the affirmations she uses toward herself, the way she talked to a doll about her feelings for years, and how she uses yoga and meditation to manage generalized panic. I'm incredibly glad she's finding what works for her! But this book felt 3x longer than it needed to be as she recounts feelings that made her cry and aspirations to view a devastating disease as a neutral thing.

Lord knows I understand her trauma around unexpected excruciating pain and her superstition about how to prevent it! While I see the benefit of trying to shift your mindset to believing that those things are fine and endurable in our lives, maybe I'm just not mature enough yet to embrace it all as what the universe has for me. But I think I'll always find this book very fluffy.

[Janell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I don’t have or know anyone with endometriosis- I think the title could be replaced with any long term disease. Autoimmune, kidney , Crohns. I appreciated her perspective as a young adult and woman going through this disease. Would recommend to others who have a long term disease.

[Jenna Botwinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has absolutely changed my life. I’ve been in a very dark spot about my health and Stage 4 Endometriosis, and this book has given me so much strength. I would recommend this to anyone.

[Isabela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Necessary reading post op round 4 lol