Book Review

By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Chasing Normal
A Guide for the Newly Disabled and for Those Who Love Them
Dinah Chaudoir Federer
Distynct Solutions 12/08 Paperback $12.95
ISBN: 9780615262628

Dinah Chaudoir Federer has experienced disability from three sides. She has had Charcot-Marie Tooth (CMT) since birth; it is an inherited neurological condition that affects the nerves and weakens the muscles in the extremities. She acquired trigeminal neuraligia when she was 35 years old; it causes intense electrical shock-type pain in the nose, lips, and eyes. Thirdly, for more than 39 years, she has helped people with disabilities move into employment. So if you are newly disabled, or love someone who is, this is the ideal resource for you with its multidimensional overview of the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of the subject. At the end of each chapter, Federer includes a checklist of salient points and practical suggestions from the material she has just presented.

Here are some of the themes covered in this helpful, healing, and inspiring book:

• Be sure to not be afraid to ask for help anytime you are feeling low.
• You are the manager of your health care so only accept the best.
• Don't get stuck in fear, think of it as a dark cloud that comes and goes.
• See grief and loss as part of the healing process.
• Keep loved ones informed as to what your are feeing and what you need.
• When the inner critic is getting you down, try affirmations to get on a more positive track.
• Make the most of the mind-body-spirit connection.
• Eat well and exercise regularly.
• Cherish family and friends as lifelines.
• Embrace the challenges that you face and realize that resistance only depletes you.
• Remove the "F" (Failure) word from your vocabulary.
• Whenever you feel fragile, find fresh ways of lifting your spirit.
• Don't be afraid to experiment with adaptive aids.
• Be on the lookout for miracles and rejoice in little triumphs.
• Know that that helping others is good medicine.

Federer closes with a helpful list of "Things to Remember as You Go Through Your Journey" and with this thought:

"My wish for you is that you are able to regain trust in your life and in Universal Wisdom. I hope that you can find it in yourself to grieve your loss or disability, acknowledge that life is changed and eventually realize that you can create something beautiful as you are now."

Books and Audios Recently Reviewed

Reviews and database copyright © 1970 – 2009
by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat