Being diagnosed with a chronic, autoimmune or disabling condition changes everything. Not just the body — it changes identity, relationships, plans, the way we see the future and the way we see ourselves. And yet no one prepares us for what comes next.

Living With Illness is the psychological guide that should have existed from the very beginning.
Written by Daniel FonteSanta — who lives with a disabling condition and systematically sought out the psychological tools that exist to navigate this territory — this book combines scientific rigour with the intimate voice of someone who knows the weight of what he describes from the inside.

What you will find
The book is structured around the Psychological Map of Illness — five emotional territories that describe the journey of those living with chronic illness: the shock of diagnosis, the struggle and the anger, the labyrinth of losing direction, the rebuilding, and finally the new life that can be built within the real conditions that exist.
But it goes far beyond the emotional map. It addresses with depth and honesty the themes that rarely appear together in a single book:

• Chronic restlessness and uncertainty — not knowing how the body will feel tomorrow, the difficulty of making plans, the loss of goals, the permanent hypervigilance
• The trauma of chronic illness — repeated microtraumas, the neurobiology of continuous threat, how the nervous system changes and how it can be regulated
• The relationships illness transforms — what to say and what not to say, how to ask for help without feeling like a burden, how to cope with those who don't understand
• The invisible carer — the emotional process of those who care, carer burnout, how to look after yourself in order to keep caring
• Identity before and after — the identity crisis of illness, the concept of post-rupture identity, how to rebuild an integrated life narrative
• Work and money — managing professional life with a chronic condition, the financial impact that is rarely spoken about
• Self-esteem and self-compassion — post-illness self-criticism, the guilt of falling short of expectations, guided compassion exercises
• The fear of death — finally said out loud, with practical information on advance directives, funeral planning, palliative care, and the legislation on assisted dying in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Spain and Portugal
• Post-traumatic growth — what the science says about growing after suffering

A book to work with, not just to read

Each chapter includes narrative vignettes illustrating real situations, structured exercises with stated objectives and estimated time, anchor phrases for the hardest moments, and practical checklists. The book closes with a 10-Point Manifesto, a Workbook compiling all exercises, and a resources list — books, apps and professional support.



This book is for you if

• You live with a chronic, autoimmune or disabling condition and feel that the psychological dimension is rarely addressed with the depth it deserves
• You care for someone with illness and need space for your own process
• You have recently received a diagnosis and want to understand what is happening inside you
• You have moved past the acute phase and want concrete tools to build a meaningful life within the real conditions you have

Illness changes life. But it doesn't have to be the last word on what our life can be.

Available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Available on Amazon and Kindle

Living (Better) With Illness. A Mental Journey: Guide to the Emotional Process and How to Move Forward (English Edition) eBook : FonteSanta, Daniel, Berrú, Fernando , Unip. Lda, FabledSpectrum: Amazon.es: Texto Digital