High 3.

There is repetition, and the little cartoons didn't really work for me, but the information is vital.

I suffered from a variety of chronic health conditions for 7 years, and this book, in combination with other material, was instrumental in my recovery.

I'd read one of Sarno's books on the Mind-body theory a year prior to this, and I was frustrated with the lack of practical advice, eventually giving up. It wasn't until hitting rock bottom and stumbling across the SIRPA website that I decided to give things another go. Some of the practical suggestions in this book, in tandem with interacting with other "TMS" sufferers on the wiki/forum, were all I needed to be free from my symptoms in a matter of weeks.

Quick contrast - I went from: Daily pain, discomfort, tenderness and tingling in my arms, shoulders and neck. Severe muscle weakness (no phone use, no computer, no pressing buttons, limited use of cutlery etc.)

To: Playing and recording complicated guitar parts for whole days, playing gigs, typing, mouse use, lifting gear etc. - symptom free.

I don't ascribe to absolutely everything that's said in the book, and some of the practical stuff I chose to skip as it didn't fit with my worldview. But overall, this is an excellent resource, and not one to be sniffed at.

If you're a sufferer of chronic illness and want to go beyond just managing your symptoms, then give this a go. What have you got to lose? ( )