Endometriosis from Harm to Hope - by Casey Berna (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Endometriosis is an excruciating and invasive disease. It ravages a person, decimating our organs, fertility, and quality of life. It's so much more than "a bad period" or a reproductive disease. It can affect multiple systems in our bodies, including your digestive system, urinary system, endocrine system, nervous system, and immune system.

Endometriosis from Harm to Hope explains what endometriosis is, how to manage it, and while there is no cure, what your current treatment options are. Written by a mental health provider who dealt with her own endometriosis for decades, this guide does not gloss over the difficult mental toll of a chronic disease like endometriosis. Instead, it weaves in stories of patients who've been where you are and gives you the tools you need to advocate for yourself in the doctor's office, look after your mental health, and educate yourself, no matter where you are in your endometriosis journey.

Endometriosis has taken many things, but despite all it has robbed from us, we still have value. We still have strengths. We are worthy of love, dignity, and joy because we exist, despite our limited capabilities. We may not have complete control over what the disease takes from us, but through support, self-love, and self-care we can make sure it doesn't ravage every bit of us.

About the Author

Casey Berna has a Master's of Social Work from Fordham University with a concentration in Clinical Social Work. She currently maintains her own private practice in North Carolina, where she utilizes a strengths-based approach to support clients with anxiety, depression, grief, burn out, and relationship challenges.

As an in-demand patient advocate, Casey has collaborated with Endowhat, the Endometriosis Summit, the Sister-Girl Foundation, the Endometriosis Foundation of America, and EndoMarch and spoken about the mental health impact of endometriosis and infertility. She has also had the pleasure of working with other nonprofits in the community, such as Endoqueer, Extrapelvic Not Rare, and received EndoBlack's Outstanding Ally award at their inaugural gala in 2022. Her documentary, "Endotruths: Impact of Endometriosis and Infertility on Mental Health," was featured in the Unmentionables Film Festival in Harlem, New York.