In Sickness and in Health: The Physical Consequences of Emotional Stress in Marriage

I am no stranger to the topic in this book. And neither is the author. He is one of the few professionals who writes about infidelity and includes the agonizing toll it takes physically on the betrayed - not just emotionally. He validated everything I went through. And although he is Christian, he doesn't throw his religion in your face as so many others do, so those of other religions would be able to read the book without feeling left out. Especially if you're a woman struggling with betrayal and suffering from depression, grief, heartburn, IBS, fatigue, brain fog, insomnia, and a host of other physical symptoms, this is a good book for you.

This book answers all questions and alleviates concerns I have had about my own health. If you feel confused and almost like you're living in a fog and want some answers, this book is a great place to start. It pairs well with Leslie Vernick's The Emotionally Destructive Marriage (actually, they fit together so well they could be offered as a package deal.)

Excellent read about the mind body connection in this regard...

Marriage is hard and can sometimes deprive strength and health

Who is ready to take back control of their life? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?If you answered YES then you need a copy of this book.This is a book is for couples looking to strengthen their relationships and step up their marriage.Less stress in your marriage makes for a better life together.Healing yourself is connected with healing others. This is such an eye opening read.I gave this book 4 stars and I recommend it for all couples.The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

When I was a young wife, I eagerly read Christian marriage books. Now, fifteen years into marriage I'm highly selective about what marriage books I read, having recognized that some of them perpetuate lies, unhealthy thinking patterns, and even abuse. Therefore, when I chose to read In Sickness and In Health by David Hawkins, Ph.D.,with Tyson Hawkins, M.D., and Joshua Hawkins, M.D., I went in a bit skeptical, questioning if the authors could marry Christian beliefs with a healthy perspective on struggling marriages.I'm glad I took the time to read In Sickness and In Health as it fascinated me from the beginning. I knew little to nothing of psychosomatic medicine before reading the book. Much of the information about how mental and emotional stress can impact one's body was totally new to me. I would say at least half the book addresses physical symptoms of stress in marriage before moving on to encouragement for wives in difficult marital situations.In terms of bias for or against divorce, I'd say In Sickness and In Health stayed pretty neutral. It didn't lean heavily to either side though it did acknowledge that divorce is sometimes necessary. The book doesn't attempt to delve into theological issues regarding divorce. Rather, it focuses on getting the woman to notice her symptoms, acknowledge that a difficult marriage may likely be the source of her physical ailments, and empower women to pursue healing – emotionally, mentally, spiritually, physically, and relationally.The premise is that when a woman prioritizes and pursues health, she will start the process of making healthy decisions that will likely beget more healthy decisions, healthy patterns, and healthy relationships. Dr. David Hawkins (who is the main author) doesn't attempt to address every issue that a woman may face in a struggling marriage, though plenty of examples are given. He's honest that becoming healthy requires effort and there will be both difficult times and hard decisions.Hands down, Chapter 10 (Disappointment with God) was my personal favorite as it deals with personal faith as it relates to marriage. He's honest that faith can be a source of confusion for wives when theology is mixed with partial truths and personal thoughts. I liked that Dr. Hawkins affirms that wives are allowed to have healthy boundaries, stand up to abuse, and that God is with the person who puts his or her trust in God. I loved the end of the chapter where he states: “From a crisis, however, we can expect a new life to emerge, a new faith to be reborn.” I have found this true in my own life and marriage.In Sickness and In Health: The Physical Consequences of Emotional Stress in Marriage by David Hawkins, Ph.D., with Tyson Hawkins, M.D., and Joshua Hawkins, M.D. was highly interesting to me. Because of its honesty, information, and healthy perspective, I can recommend it to wives in difficult situations. Also, women can find a great deal of helpful information in the book in regards to being mentally and emotionally healthy, not just in marriage, but in all of life.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

This book examines how relationships can make a person physically sick and ways to treat this. Specifically, it looks at the effects of traumatic abuse—whether physical or emotional— on women.This is a topic that usually is uncomfortable for people to discuss. For the women afflicted, there is often a belief that it is “all in their heads”. For the practitioners, depending on their areas of specialization, they may not have received training that equips them to treat their patients on this level. Throughout the book, the author discusses each of the physical effects and demonstrates their connection to the cause of relationship stress. In addition, the author, who is a psychiatrist, and his two sons, who are both medical doctors, contribute insights and counsel geared toward promoting healing.The author emphasizes that there are no overnight cures for this situation. However, the information presented in this book serves to begin the conversation about this issue and to bring it to the forefront of the treatment considerations provided to the person in this relationship issue. Definitely, this is a necessary book for our present time as this issue of relationship stress that affects the mind and the body becomes more prevalent.I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher and Net Galley. However, the thoughts expressed are totally my own.

This is an eye-opening book about how stress leads to physical illness. This book is a must read for any woman that is under stress. I will refer back to this book often. Thank you Harvest House Publishers via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. This is my honest opinion of this book.