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It's All in Your Head

Stories from the Frontline of Psychosomatic Illness

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About this listen

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.

©2016 Susan O'Sullivan (P)2016 Audible, Ltd Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Health Inspiring Mental Health Heartfelt Medicine

Critic reviews

"Doctors' tales of their patients' weirder afflictions have been popular since Oliver Sacks.... Few of them, however, are as bizarre or unsettling, as those described in this extraordinary and extraordinarily compassionate book." (James McConnachie, Sunday Times)
"A fascinating glimpse into the human condition...a forceful call for society to be more open about such suffering." (Ian Birrell, Daily Mail)
All stars
Most relevant
Anyone in a clinical profession should make time to read this. Definite eye opener for me!

Must read for health professionals

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I'm a GP trainee and have seen conversion / psychosomatic / somatising disorders several times, but it is difficult to understand and explain. The author have succeeded in conveying the subject in a light, but still interesting way and with many learning points for professionals.

A must read for GPs and other interested readers.

Great book about a difficult topic!

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It’s a fascinating book but the narrator makes it oh so very dull sounding (she is very monotone). But it’s worth sticking with it as the book itself is really interesting.

Fascinating

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This book should be made a must to read for all GPs, now is the time for them to educate themselves !

Psychosomatic illnesses are more common than ever and a wrong diagnosis damages lives beyond repair.

A must read for parents of teenagers & GPs

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I enjoyed every single bit of this book. I was so engrossed in it I did not want it to end.

I was aware of psycho somatic symptoms etc prior to reading about it but when you read about true cases and how the body has the ability to disrupt and cause seemingly amazing illness, it’s an eye opener.

Brilliantly narrated.

An eye opener

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