Talking about illness is never easy. Whether we're a patient, caregiver, family member, or friend, it's so easy to literally talk ourselves into negative feelings and overall despair. That's why we need "healthy" speaking techniques that help us better say it like it is.This book teaches readers a variety of strategies for choosing words wisely to better insure shared meaning and understanding. It also helps readers become aware of verbal "maps" that can negatively affect how they think and behave toward an illness. Most importantly, it teaches readers how to adjust conversations across the changing landscape of an illness experience, including special chapters on "pain" and "remission/recovery."Learn how to enter into the courageous conversations an illness experience demands in ways that can lessen anxiety and lead to renewed hope.