Invisible illness : a history, from hysteria to long Covid / Emily Mendenhall.
"This is a 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 from hysteria to long Covid 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 illnesses 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 when you're Black, trans, poor, young, disabled, or undocumented. Weaving together cultural history with intimate interviews, Invisible Illness lifts up the experiences of those living with complex illness to expose the failures of the American healthcare system-and how we can do better."-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780520421523
- ISBN: 0520421523
- Physical Description: xvi, 245 pages ; 23 cm
- Publisher: Oakland, California : University of California Press, [2026]
- Copyright: ©2026
Content descriptions
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 189-236) and index.
- Formatted Contents Note:
- Part one: History -- Hysteria is an old story -- The case of chronic fatigue -- Lyme wars -- Pain without verifiability -- Part two: Politics -- Disabling culture -- The rise of patient activism -- Structural silencing -- Disability consciousness -- Conclusion.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Chronic diseases > United States > History.
Hysteria > United States > History.
Post COVID-19 condition (Disease) > United States > History.
Chronically ill > Care > Social aspects > United States.
People with disabilities > Care > Social aspects > United States.
Discrimination in medical care > United States > History.
Medical anthropology > United States.
Available copies
- 5 of 6 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
- 1 of 1 copy available at Madison County Public Library.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 6 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Main Library | 616.978 MEN (Text) | 30229101437779 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
