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by Casey Berna (Author)
Endometriosis is so much more than "a bad period" or a reproductive disease.
Endometriosis ravages us, decimating our organs, fertility, and quality of life. It can affect multiple systems in our bodies, including our 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 us of, we still have value. We still have strengths. We are worthy of love, dignity, and joy because we exist, despite our limited capacities. We may not have complete control over our bodies, but through support, self-love, and self-care we can make sure it doesn't ravage every bit of us.Author Biography
Casey Berna has a Master's of Social Work from Fordham University and is a licensed clinical social worker. She currently maintains her own private practice where she specializes in supporting patients dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, and medical trauma in the endometriosis, infertility, pregnancy loss and chronic illness communities.
As a long-standing patient advocate, Casey has collaborated with Project Endo, The Endometriosis Research Center, The Endometriosis Summit, The Endometriosis Coalition, The Sister-Girl Foundation, and the Latina Endometriosis League of America to improve access to care while calling attention to the mental health impact of endometriosis and infertility. She has also had the pleasure of working with other nonprofits in the community, such as Gynoqueer, Extrapelvic Not Rare, and received EndoBlack, Inc.'s, Outstanding Ally award at their inaugural gala. Her documentary, "Endotruths: Impact of Endometriosis and Infertility on Mental Health," was featured in the Unmentionables Film Festival in Harlem, New York.
