It's All in Your Head (book)

It's All in Your Head
Author	Suzanne O'Sullivan
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre	Non-fiction
Publisher	Chatto & Windus
Publication date	2015
Pages	336
ISBN	978-0701189266

It's All in Your Head

It's All in Your Head: True Stories of Imaginary Illness is a non-fiction book written by Suzanne O'Sullivan, a consultant neurologist. The book was first published in 2015 by Chatto & Windus. It explores the phenomenon of psychosomatic disorders, where physical symptoms are caused by psychological factors.

Overview[edit | edit source]

The book delves into various case studies of patients who suffer from severe physical symptoms that have no identifiable medical cause. Dr. O'Sullivan examines how these symptoms can be manifestations of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The book aims to shed light on the often misunderstood and stigmatized area of psychosomatic medicine.

Themes[edit | edit source]

One of the central themes of the book is the mind-body connection. Dr. O'Sullivan discusses how psychological stress can manifest as physical illness and the importance of addressing mental health to treat these conditions. The book also touches on the stigma associated with psychosomatic disorders and the challenges patients face in getting a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Reception[edit | edit source]

It's All in Your Head received critical acclaim for its compassionate and insightful approach to a complex subject. It won the Wellcome Book Prize in 2016, which is awarded annually to works of fiction or non-fiction that engage with the topics of health and medicine.