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A review by rebeccazh
What Doesn't Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness - Lessons from a Body in Revolt by Tessa Miller
5.0
Tessa Miller writes unflinchingly as she details her struggles in her fight to live. The front few chapters were very very hard to read - she goes into detail about her illness (the pain, the terror, the not knowing), her close brush with death, and it just reminded me of how fragile and fleeting the good moments in life can be and not to take any of it for granted.
She talks about life with chronic illness and disability justice, and from there touches on everything we need to live a fulfilling, good and healthy life - politics, public health, societal attitudes towards disability, capitalism, gender, trauma, mental health, bodies, etc. Her training as a journalist shows because her voice is conversational but very clear and she could explain complicated medical concepts in very informative ways.
Highly highly recommend this book. I felt a rollercoaster of emotions. How she fell to the lowest points and brush with death, unpacking all that trauma and her renewed perspective (which sounds a bit like post traumatic growth) and gratitude reminded me of some of my own mental health journey and reminded me of the fragility and beauty of being alive.
She talks about life with chronic illness and disability justice, and from there touches on everything we need to live a fulfilling, good and healthy life - politics, public health, societal attitudes towards disability, capitalism, gender, trauma, mental health, bodies, etc. Her training as a journalist shows because her voice is conversational but very clear and she could explain complicated medical concepts in very informative ways.
Highly highly recommend this book. I felt a rollercoaster of emotions. How she fell to the lowest points and brush with death, unpacking all that trauma and her renewed perspective (which sounds a bit like post traumatic growth) and gratitude reminded me of some of my own mental health journey and reminded me of the fragility and beauty of being alive.