Super Sick: MAKING PEACE
WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS

By: Allison Alexander

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Superheroes aren't sick.

They don’t lie in bed all day because they’re in too much pain to get up. They don’t face the challenges of the chronically ill, which include socially inappropriate topics like mental illness, sex, and diarrhea. The latter, of course, would be exponentially worse in a spandex suit.

Allison Alexander, who has struggled with a chronic illness since she was a child, wants to see herself in her heroes and searches for examples of sick characters in pop culture. She weaves her own painful experiences with stories from other chronic sufferers, engaging with how society values healthiness, how doctors don’t always have answers, and how faith, friendship, and romance add pressure to already complicated situations. If you’re a fan of Marvel, Harry Potter, Final Fantasy, and other stories from pop culture, you may find some familiar references inside.

"Alexander is down-to-earth, relatable, and frank, which makes reading her book feel like having a cozy chat with an empathetic friend. Unlike most books on the topic, SUPER SICK left me feeling inspired, empowered, and confident that I have much to share with the world, even if I’m not your typical superhero."
Kira Lynne
Author of ACHES, PAIN, AND LOVE
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"Nothing is off the table in this book and I admired Allison's frankness and honesty about her condition, involving both bladder and bowel, and her journey through dealing with judgement, finding love, managing work, and balancing illness with sexual desires. I highly recommend this refreshing, original and immensely helpful read!"
Joy H. Selak
Author of YOU DON'T LOOK SICK!
"Warm and down to earth, SUPER SICK offers real talk about the ordinary heroism of living with a chronic illness—from dating to navigating a medical system that often dismisses women's pain. It is a window into the difficulties of being sick in a culture that valourizes health and a much-needed challenge to that culture."
Maya Dusenbery
Author of DOING HARM: THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW BAD MEDICINE AND LAZY SCIENCE LEAVE WOMEN DISMISSED, MISDIAGNOSED, AND SICK
"More than anything, this book is about courage—the courage to face your fears about your health and the courage to keep fighting for your dignity. Through her personal story (which she shares with refreshing candor and honesty), interviews with others, and examples from cultural superheroes, this special book points the way to making peace with your life no matter what obstacles you face."
Toni Bernhard
Author of HOW TO BE SICK
"Allison writes about the life-altering impact of a serious invisible illness with compelling honesty. A validating read for anyone living with a debilitating illness—and a much-needed course for health care professionals, who still aren't taught how to see the extraordinary expertise our patients bring so that we might support and empower them with dignity and respect."
Veronique Mead
MD, MA, Blogger at CHRONIC ILLNESS TRAUMA STUDIES
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Super Sick: Making Peace with Chronic Illness is available online from any major bookseller. You can also order it from your favourite local bookstore or request it from your library!

ISBN: 9781989423110
Publisher: Mythos & Ink
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
Pages: 228
Dimensions: 5.5″ x 8.25″
Format: softcover, hardcover, e-book, large print, audiobook

Allison Alexander

Allison is an earthbending bard from Hoth who loves other-worldly stories. After studying English and Publishing at university, she found her home in books, and now she writes and edits full time.

In her book Super Sick, Allison explores living with a chronic illness and how pop culture’s representation of disability perpetuates the stigmas associated with it. In her newsletter, INVISIBLE INK, she discusses writing and media from a disabled perspective. During chill time, Allison can be found in Hyrule, Middle-earth, or a galaxy far, far away, probably in the company of her husband and imaginary pet owl.

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