Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness

Proven Strategies for Discovering Happiness, Meaning, and Fulfillment

Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
200 Pages
Reviewed on 12/28/2021
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Author Biography

Christopher Martin is a school psychologist, husband, father, and an award-winning, bestselling author who has lived with multiple debilitating chronic illnesses and their hidden effects - from chronic fatigue to significant pain to seemingly endless infections - for 25 years. As a result, he is all too aware of how disruptive and life-changing they can be to our daily lives.

He wrote Finding Joy because not enough books exist that offer comprehensive, practical guidance on chronic illness. Christopher enjoyed integrating his background in psychology with his experiences as a patient into realistic easy-to-understand and apply strategies. His deepest hope in writing his most recent book, Finding Joy, is to inspire the reader to live a more abundant life.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness: Proven Strategies for Discovering Happiness, Meaning, and Fulfillment by Christopher Martin is an approachable and useful guide for patients with chronic illness and their caregivers. As a person who suffers from multiple chronic illnesses, Martin understands the toll that such illnesses take not only on the physical body but also on other important aspects that are critical to living a healthy, joyful life. The book delves into grief and stress management and being aware of the limitations of positive psychology while applying its benefits. It explains the importance of support from loved ones when dealing with chronic illness. It also includes advice on navigating healthcare, how to advocate for your own needs and seek a professional opinion, and how to maintain a healthy diet.

Christopher does a brilliant job of explaining the tools for managing the social, spiritual, mental, and physical aspects that chronic illnesses affect, which many times are disregarded. It shows that patients who suffer from chronic illness can still live a wholesome life. I loved that the book contains straightforward tips for patients, their caregivers, and loved ones. Every chapter includes useful advice on how to navigate each topic, such as what to say to a patient, how to help them, and how a patient can navigate their diagnostic journey. The advice contained is also impactful and important in combating issues such as negative self-talk and stress. Though chronic illness can pose significant challenges to a patient’s wellbeing, Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness by Christopher Martin describes strategies for living a happy and rewarding life.

Vernita Naylor

In today's society, you will find at least four generations co-existing under the same roof. We are living longer and, for some, experiencing a more stable quality of life. But for others with more fast food restaurants all around us, technology usage creating a more sedentary lifestyle, and the added COVID pandemic which now results in children being homeschooled, and becoming caregivers to our parents, is causing us to become stressed and overwhelmed. Without proper balance, diseases and illnesses are quickly beginning to surface. Author Christopher Martin understands first-hand your journey and he shows you that you're not alone in his book, Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness: Proven Strategies for Discovering Happiness, Meaning, and Fulfillment. He's not only a two-time author, but a father of 6, a psychologist who has been dealing with a wide array of chronic illnesses, and health discomforts. This book is a self-contained resource that takes the reader from the psychological impact that illnesses have on us, to managing the loss of others while still working through our illnesses, to effective strategies for handling stress, to learning the elements of essential healthcare and allowing the help of others, to healthy eating.

As Christopher shares his journey, he gives others the tools and ability to have a fighting chance to achieve a healthier life. As part of the journey, Christopher offers thought exercises, scriptures, wisdom, and strategies to lead you to the pathway of good health and healing. Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness brings illumination and peace to the darkness of illness and pain. Christopher reflects the transparency of hope and joy at the end of the tunnel of his discomforts. One thing that was essential for me was the importance of having a strong support system for helping to walk the different pathways that we may find ourselves on during these times. If this is also your story, and you're looking for answers, guidance, and solutions to bring you clarity and optimal health, this book is for you.

Daniel D Staats

Christopher Martin is differently-abled. He has multiple chronic illnesses. He has learned how to live—not just cope—with these limitations and shares his experiences in Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness. Problems will be encountered and limitations exist; however, keeping a positive outlook will go far in helping one survive well. Christopher shares the need to use positive psychology to increase health benefits. However, being positive is not the same as blind optimism. A positive outlook on life can be defined as being realistically optimistic. Since God has a purpose even for our suffering, part of our job is to learn the good that will come from our suffering. Laughter, gratitude, and other mindsets all help us find our joy. Christopher shares coping skills most do not think about when in pain. Another area where those with a chronic illness struggle is finding the right doctor and treatment. Christopher covers this too.

Christopher Martin has been there, done that, and did not even get the T-shirt while living with invisible chronic illnesses. In Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness, Christopher shares skills and techniques to help those suffering from chronic diseases find true and lasting joy. As one who has several invisible chronic illnesses, Christopher knows first-hand the struggles these conditions bring with them. Christopher had to learn coping skills, new thought processes, acceptance, and gratitude to do more than just cope and exist. With the training and knowledge contained in this book, Christopher teaches one how to find joy in the darkness and struggle. Our mindset has a much more significant impact on our physical well-being than most people realize. This book will show you how to develop a healthy mindset and find joy in your illness. This book is for you if you have a chronic illness—especially an invisible one.