Being (Sick) Enough

Thoughts on Invisible Illness, Childhood Trauma, and Living Well When Surviving Is Hard

De: Jessica Graham

Narrado por: Jessica Graham

Wise, visceral essays on navigating pain, sex, trauma, spirituality, addiction, recovery, and grief from queer, neurodivergent trauma-resolution guide Jessica Graham

In an unapologetic look at living well with trauma and chronic illness, writer and meditation teacher Jessica Graham offers smart, funny, raw, and mindful insights on untangling—and embracing—the messy realities of being a human alive on this planet today.

Graham gives us permission to accept care—and accept that it’s okay to want care. They weave together personal stories and practical wisdom, offering their take on managing symptoms, getting creative, setting boundaries, and healing from ableist tropes like “you don’t look sick” and “we’re all a little ADHD.”

Graham also shares vulnerable personal history: The adverse childhood experiences that wired their body and brain. The workaholism and addictions that kept their pain lying just below the surface. How illness and trauma intersect to obscure the knowledge that we’re each enough, wholly as we are.

This memoir explores the parts of chronic illness life that don’t get enough airtime: How can we center sex and pleasure when pain gets in the way? How can we live well while living through late-stage capitalist hell? How can we come into relationship with our pain without falling prey to self-blame, magical thinking, or toxic positivity?

Wise and embodied, fearless and necessary, Being (Sick) Enough is both a wild awakening and a love letter to your whole self: the pains and suffering, joys and brightness, and vital connections that hold each of us as we navigate what it means to be here, like this, right now.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Through the depths of trauma, Graham emerges a radiant beacon of healing and hope for a better future. We are fortunate to bask in their brilliance!”
—JEFFREY MARSH, best-selling author of Take Your Own Advice

“As someone who has survived developmental trauma and understands its deep impact on the body, it’s refreshing to hear such an honest voice share personal stories of their own traumatic past.”
—TAMARA LEVITT, author and head of Mindfulness at Calm

“Jessica Graham’s fierce and beautiful voice pierced through these pages and straight into my heart, where it’ll remain.”
—JENNIFER PASTILOFF, best-selling author of On Being Human

“A raw and honest look at surviving trauma and navigating chronic illness and pain as a neurodivergent person while still living life to its fullest. This book avoids toxic positivity while exploring the nonlinear path of recovery, resolution, and learning to love yourself. Graham’s confessional writing is grounded yet lyrical, weaving together snapshots of their lived experience in a way that entertains, inspires, and makes those of us who have ever found ourselves temporarily down for the count feel a little less alone.”
—ANDREA OWEN, best-selling author of Make Some Noise

“A profoundly beautiful and personal work that explores the intersection of complex trauma, chronic illness, and neurodivergence. As a trauma therapist, I thought, ‘Finally!’ I could not help but think of all the many individuals who will likely feel validated and seen by this brave and searing account. I highly recommend this book for anyone who seeks to have a greater under-
standing of mental health and chronic pain.”
—LAUREN MAHER, LMFT, licensed psychotherapist and author of Mindfulness Workbook for Panic Attacks

“Graham describes how to apply a range of mindfulness techniques—such as ‘divide and conquer,’ ‘equanimity with pleasure and pain,’ and ‘connection through compassion’—to mend deep wounding from early life trauma. A rare and valuable resource!”
—SHINZEN YOUNG, meditation teacher and author of The Science of Enlightenment

“Graham acknowledges their limited understanding of trauma from a perspective of white privilege, recognizes the additional traumas faced by marginalized communities, and emphasizes the complexity of blame and the shared pain within their lineage—highlighting the importance of personal responsibility for healing. It’s refreshing to read about sexual health from someone who has chosen to share their personal journey with such vulnerability.”
—SUZANNE SINATRA, sexual health advocate and founder and CEO of Private Packs

For anyone who's struggled with being 'enough'

I've lived what most would consider a 'normal' life—raised by middle-class immigrants who worked tirelessly to give their kids the best opportunities. Yet despite my conventional and mostly uneventful upbringing, navigating life as an adult became a struggle. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder in my early 20s which I've managed through medication, therapy and coaching. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with ADHD and followed a similar path to develop coping skills. Despite mostly thriving, I've often felt like I was simply surviving. There's always been this gnawing feeling that I just wasn't... enough.

Recently, a confidant recommended I check out "Being (Sick) Enough." It didn't just resonate—it gave names to things I couldn't articulate. Listening to the audiobook made it even more impactful. Hearing Jessica read their own words—calmly, directly, vulnerably—made it feel like the kind of conversation I wish was more commonplace amongst my friends and family. Jess eschews sugarcoating and instead embraces raw honesty and tenderness. Reading their words opened a space for self-compassion I'd struggled to access alone.

The essays cover a lot: trauma, chronic illness, ADHD, addiction, sex, grief, healing. The journey is tangled in the way that an examined life tends to be. But the stories never feel frivolous or exaggerated. There were nuggets of wisdom that made me pause and reflect, others that made me feel deeply seen. And then there were moments of levity—unexpected, sharp, even laugh-out-loud funny—that made the heavier stuff easier to hold. That kind of range is rare, and it's part of what makes the book so human.

If you've ever felt like you had to justify your struggles - or like you weren't allowed to be tired, sick, or broken unless you could prove it - this book is worth your time. I can't guarantee that it will "fix" anything. But it might help you stop trying so hard to be "enough"—and realize you already are.