Invisible Illness

A History, from Hysteria to Long Covid
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-0-520-42152-3
Verlag: University of California Press

Buch, Englisch, 264 Seiten, Cloth Over Boards, Format (B × H): 158 mm x 231 mm, Gewicht: 498 g

"An incisive study that illuminates the myriad complexities of chronic illness.”—Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)"Movingly spotlights the struggles of chronically ill patients.”—Publishers WeeklyA moving cultural history of disability—and a powerful call to action to change how our medical system and society supports those with complex chronic conditions

From lupus to Lyme, invisible illness is often dismissed by everyone but the sufferers. Why does the medical establishment continually insist that, when symptoms are hard to explain, they are probably just in your head?

Inspired by her work with long COVID patients, medical anthropologist Emily Mendenhall traces the story of complex chronic conditions to show why both research and practice fail so many. Mendenhall points out disconnects between the reality of chronic disease—which typically involves multiple intersecting problems resulting in unique, individualized illness—and the assumptions of medical providers, who behave as though chronic diseases have uniform effects for everyone. And while invisible illnesses have historically been associated with white middle-class women, being believed that you are sick is even more difficult for patients whose social identities and lived experiences may not align with dominant medical thought. Weaving together cultural history with intimate interviews, Invisible Illness upholds the experiences of those living with complex illness to expose the failures of the American healthcare system—and how we can do better.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mendenhall, Emily

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Mentalitäts- und Sozialgeschichte
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizin, Gesundheitswesen Public Health, Gesundheitsmanagement, Gesundheitsökonomie, Gesundheitspolitik
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziologie Allgemein
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Gender Studies, Geschlechtersoziologie
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizin, Gesundheitswesen Medizin, Gesundheit: Sachbuch, Ratgeber
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Invalidität, Krankheit und Abhängigkeit: Soziale Aspekte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Contents

A Note on Names
A Glossary of Conditions

Introduction

PART ONE: HISTORY
1. Hysteria Is an Old Story
2. The Case of Chronic Fatigue
3. Lyme Wars
4. Pain without Verifiability

PART TWO: POLITICS
5. Disabling Culture
6. The Rise of Patient Activism
7. Structural Silencing
8. Disability Consciousness

Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Über Autor(innen)

Emily Mendenhall is Professor in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, a Guggenheim Fellow, and contributor to Scientific American, Psychology Today, and Vox.