KERRY J HECKMAN, LICSW
  • Blog
  • About
  • Therapy
  • Resources
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

Movie Review: Under Our Skin

1/23/2016

1 Comment

 
Under Our Skin came out in 2009, and aside from small victories, things are very similar in Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment.

Lyme disease is one of the most common and fastest growing infections in the country, yet there is still no reliable test or successful treatment protocol for late-stage or chronic Lyme. This film is a voice for all the silent sufferers. 

The film follows a few specific cases of Lyme. The one that stood out to me was a young, vibrant woman, who had severe Bell's palsy and frequent seizures. She was referred to a psychiatrist and told it was all in her head. Her desperation was heartbreaking. 
Movie Review: Under Our Skin
(This post contains affiliate links)

One featured patient travels with U2 on tour. At one point she said, "The hardest thing is everybody thinks I'm normal." On the outside she looked perfectly healthy, but she was walking around in constant pain. This is a common experience for Lyme patients. 

Another patient recalls a time when a doctor said, "You don't have Lyme Disease." This type of invalidation happens frequently to Lyme patients from multiple sources, such as doctors, other medical professionals, friends, and family.

The movie left a bitter taste in my mouth. People simply want a diagnosis, not a controversy. Unfortunately that is the reality for Lyme patients around the world. 

Near the end of the movie a doctor says, "We're going to learn more about chronic illness." This is one way to look at the controversy in a positive light. I think as we solve the mystery of Lyme disease and other chronic infections there will be a breakthrough in conditions previously thought of as incurable, such as certain autoimmune diseases and Alzheimer's disease. 

The movie runs 144 minutes and you can stream it on Hulu or on Amazon Prime. You can also buy the director's cut on Amazon here:
Movie Review: Under Our Skin
​
​This is a must see if you are a Lyme patient or know someone who is.

"You can damage the brain, you can damage the body, but the center of...the person you meet...she was whole." - Karen Cavanagh from OWN's Belief
1 Comment

    Welcome

    I'm Kerry (She/Her/Hers) and I am a licensed therapist, group facilitator, poet, writer, & speaker. This is a place to acknowledge and validate our suffering and trauma, while also learning how to turn toward aliveness and spaciousness. 

    Kerry J Heckman

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Book Reviews
    Columns
    Guest Posts
    Healing Words
    Publications
    Tuning In

      SIGN UP BY EMAIL

    Subscribe
Copyright © 2020 Kerry J Heckman All rights reserved. Disclaimer.

    Sign up For Newsletter

Subscribe
  • Blog
  • About
  • Therapy
  • Resources
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer