*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

CHRONIC is the raw and vulnerable memoir of Rebecca Dimyan. Part non-fiction health guide, and part memoir, Dimyan delves deeply into her experiences with substance abuse, sexual assault, body image issues, chronic pain, and her treatment by western medicine institutions. At its core, CHRONIC is about a woman and how her life has been shaped by endometriosis. Starting from her first menstruation, Dimyan describes the heartbreaking reality of the dismissal of women's pain and her journey to find treatment for her crippling pain.

As a women's health nurse, I nearly always pick up memoirs written by either fellow nurses, or women who are writing about their experiences as patient's. CHRONIC falls into the latter, I was heartbroken to read about Dimyan's experiences in doctor's offices and hospitals-- and believe, while no patient should be dismissed as she was, her story is not unusual.

It's clear when reading certain sections (the health guide parts) that Dimyan did her research, and was very clear that treatment (especially with eastern medicine) should be tailored to the individual with help of a professional. I appreciated her thoroughness and the resources she provided readers-- and believe this book could be a good place for readers to begin their research. CHRONIC is approachable, relatable, and informative; exactly what, I believe, Dimyan was aiming for.

CHRONIC would be a great choice for anyone recently diagnosed with, or wondering if the have, endometriosis. However, this book may also be a good choice for anyone struggling with chronic pain and considering eastern medicine as an alternative or complementary treatment.