This book really got me thinking.

I have seen a couple of reviews of this book where readers have been angry at the content - feeling that the author is dismissing the lived experience of many people with diagnosed conditions and suggesting that only those diagnosed through blood testing or similar can be genuine illnesses.

I didn’t read the book in the same way and I don’t think that was the message the author was conveying - I think she was trying to say that a diagnosis ‘a medical label’ doesn’t change the lived experience of the person and in some ways could be doing more harm than good.

I found the book really thought provoking and I’m still not too sure where I sit in this debate.

In terms of the writing, it was informative and I found it easy to understand. In parts it became repetitive and I think some of it could have been shorter.

Well this book had my brain juices flowing and was utterly thought provoking.

Suzanna discusses conditions such as Huntington’s Disease, Lyme Disease, Long Covid, Cancer, Autism and ADHD and how over diagnosis, over medicating and over testing is causing, in many cases, more harm than good and how the attention needs to be focused on creating a better balance in diagnosis and treatments.

For each condition, Suzanna shares individuals stories, which explore both the positives and negatives to such diagnosis. Her discussion on unregulated Genetic Testing I found truly eye opening and also how social media has a part to play in this issue too.

There is just so much packed into the book and to think about, I truly can’t capture it all in this review - so please, go and give it a read and I would love to hear your thoughts.

I will however leave you with this quote;

💬 “An expectation of constant good health, graceful ageing and an obedient body and mind has left people unprepared for those ordinary bodily declines that affect us all. But I worry most about young people, in a culture that expects success and physical perfection, diagnosis has become a means to account for anything less. Success is not achievable every single time for everyone. A culture of telling people they will get there if they just keep trying isn’t fair on everybody. Every single person cannot achieve their most desired goals and we could be a great deal kinder to ourselves and our children if we learnt to recognise the point that which we are best advised to readjust our expectations. We would be happier if we learnt to better see our real strengths. Sometimes the thing you want to be good at, isn’t the thing you’re really good at. Medical diagnosis has been co-opted to help people deal with these frustrations, but I fear that perpetuates failure and sadness, rather than allowing that to be processed and left behind.”

Thank-you so much @netgalley @hodderbooks and Suzanne for an Audio Advanced Readers Copy, in exchange for an honest review.

“In seeking explanations we are seeking labels… falling into the trap of medicalisation”

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton Audio for this ARC. This was very thought provoking and well informed. It presented a well balanced argument exploring the pros and cons of diagnosis - both health and psychological disorders. It explored the need for being well informed and to always question the messages given to us by society and medical professionals, if it doesn’t sit right, as it is clear that medicine and research is always changing and evolving. Overall, this book will be a great addition to the wider commentary treatment strategies, objective assessments and “to diagnose or not to diagnose that is the question!”

A truly interesting and thought provoking collection of cases and opinions.
As a healthcare professional this has been helpful in my own reflection and insight into patient experiences.
Some points I don’t whole heartedly agree with and seem nuanced.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

This is such a fascinating book that looks at how diagnoses affect our health today.

With so much information available to us, we have more control over our health decisions. However, the author makes us question whether being diagnosed is always a good thing. For example, is it helpful to know you might get a serious illness in the future if you have no symptoms right now? And while being able to self-diagnose seems empowering, could it actually cause harm by making people too focused on labels and conditions?

I'd like to say that this book would make us think more carefully about what it means to be diagnosed and whether it truly helps us.

Not last I would like to thank to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for offering me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

**Listened to audiobook and read along with kindle version)

Firstly, the premise/subtitle of the book is what intrigued me most. But it turns out the book really wasn't for me.
I really disliked this book.
I feel like this book would only be interesting if you have a specific interest in the topics/illnesses in the book. It is certainly very niche. It was very heavy going, with lots of medical jargon and statistics - so it took me a while to get used to O'Sullivan's writing form and style.

I enjoyed the chapter on Autism and ADHD, and the mentions of Dementia - but again, this is only because I have a specific interest in these ailments. The rest of the book was pretty much redundant for me.

I found the narrator a bit monotone too.

Make sure you check out the topics and chapters before buying! Make sure it is actually something of interest!

This was a really interesting and thought provoking audiobook. I have often wondered about over diagnosis, excessive / unnecessary medical screening, and the author discusses these issues so eloquently and in just the right depth. Recommended for anyone interested in the subject.
With grateful thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio, Suzanne O'Sullivan and NetGalley for my early copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book explores a fascinating and important topic, but unfortunately, it becomes repetitive at times. Had it been more succinct, it could have covered a wider range of diagnoses without losing its impact.

That being said, working at the intersection of psychiatry and general medicine, I found each topic engaging. The discussions reinforced many of my own beliefs and echoed the conversations we often have in the office between seeing patients. The subject matter was undeniably compelling—I just wish the book hadn’t been weighed down by its repetitive structure.

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio and Suzanne O'Sullivan for providing me with an early copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts.