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It's All in Your Head
- Stories from the Frontline of Psychosomatic Illness
- Narrated by: Maggie Ollerenshaw
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
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It's All in Your Head
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Summary
Winner of the Wellcome Book Prize 2016
Pauline first became ill when she was 15. What seemed to be a urinary infection became joint pain, then life-threatening appendicitis. After a routine operation, Pauline lost all the strength in her legs. Shortly afterwards, convulsions started. But Pauline's tests are normal: her symptoms seem to have no physical cause whatsoever.
This may be an extreme case, but Pauline is not alone. As many as a third of people visiting their GPs have symptoms that are medically unexplained. In most an emotional root is suspected, which is often the last thing a patient wants to hear and a doctor to say.
We accept our hearts can flutter with excitement and our brows can sweat with nerves, but on this journey into the very real world of psychosomatic illness, Suzanne O'Sullivan finds the secrets we are all capable of keeping from ourselves.
Critic reviews
"A fascinating glimpse into the human condition...a forceful call for society to be more open about such suffering." (Ian Birrell, Daily Mail)
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What listeners say about It's All in Your Head
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Faye T.
- 10-02-20
Good if occasionally difficult to listen to
I found the narrator's tone a little patronising at times, but otherwise it is a book I would thoroughly recommend everyone listen to, to gain an understanding about psychosomatic illnesses.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Emma Hopkins
- 10-02-21
a good read
I'm not in the medical profession but the subject of this I find to be very interesting ,although at times a bit confusing to the lay person. Well wrote and narrated!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lou Lou
- 08-11-20
A must read
Beautifully written and perfect narration choice. This book will make a real difference to my clients. Thank you
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- M. Kattukaran
- 31-07-17
Must read for health professionals
Anyone in a clinical profession should make time to read this. Definite eye opener for me!
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Boo Boo
- 22-05-17
A Real Eye-Opener
A very interesting listen, especially if one has often suspected the psychological basis for some illnesses.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Serena O.
- 05-05-21
Absolutely recommend this fantastic book.
Brilliant writing, a truly insightful and inspiring author. The authors kindness and compassion shines through to bring new understanding for how we as a society need to change to support people suffering with these very real conditions.
Only criticism/improvement would be to change the reader, who is very good, and cannot be faulted, to the author. Having heard her other book first, I definitely think Suzanne O'Sullivan should read all her future audible books. And I hope there will be many!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- H W
- 05-03-20
Fantastic!
As a medical doctor I come across all kinds of patients, and surprisingly similar cases to these in this book. A good book and easy to listen to
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- m e n k
- 15-06-22
Informative
I found this book very interesting and informative. I can now look and identify certain illnesses I've had as being psychosomatic.
I would recommend this book to clinical students and professionals.
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- Luna
- 29-12-22
phenomenal
truly, truly fascinating and such a valuable read. I am a British psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist and this was such fascinating reading for me. it was well explained and even though I understand this is technically a medical text it is written to be very accessible and engaging for even non medical professionals. I believe most people would derive something incredibly valuable to their personal life from listening to this book and it could just change their life for the better. I highly and completely recommend this book. thank you Suzanne.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- R. Gower
- 18-03-21
A mixed bag
Very interesting stories and on the side of progress regarding mental health but... riddled with outdated Cartesian dualism as it tries to navigate the mind-body system. It really shouldn't have to be so difficult to prove that the mind effects the body and this is a worthy cause indeed. However, it does not include any of the accepted data available on how psychological trauma creates chronic disease over time. The narrative still wrestles with the false dichotomy between mind and body, tying itself in knots, failing to acknowledge the multi-systemic, interconnectedness of the brain and body via the immune and endocrine system. It also skirts over the shocking statistics about women being repeatedly turned away by health professionals when suffering with life threatening illness, creating unnecessary delays and sometimes loss of life (all because of perceived hysteria). I'd recommend Gabor Matè's work 'When the Body Says No' for hard science and more up-to-date understanding of how our emotional worlds and environmental shapes our health.
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4 people found this helpful