Product Description
Finally, a book that addresses your concerns about DID

From Eve to Sybil to Truddi Chase, the media have long chronicled the lives of people with dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder. The Dissociative Identity Disorder Sourcebook serves as a much-needed bridge for communication between the dissociative individual and therapists, family, and friends who also have to learn to deal with the effects of this truly astonishing disorder. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Cant tell you how much this helped me!
I have a friend who is DID with approximately 157 alters and this book has helped me COMPLETELY to not only understand what he is going through but how to be a friend with someone who has so many different sides to them.It speaks in yomans terms and deals with information for not only DID people, but therapists and friends or family members of a person with DID.I highly recommend this book. It has helped me to understand not only what he is going through on a daily basis but how to be a friend with so many different people living within 1.
Excellent book with great information!!! HIGHLY recommend it for anyone having a friend or family member with DID.
I most cetainly did NOT think this book was only helpful for female DIDs. Its a great resource for both MALE and FEMALES
I thought this book was SO good, Im getting him a copy!

Dissociative Identity Disorder - excellent reference
Well-written book on a very difficult subject. Overview, diagnosing and treatment philosophies give therapists and others an understanding as well as ideas of different approaches for treatment.
A excellent resource for staff working on an inpatient behavioral health unit or an outpatient setting.
Includes survival techniques for care-givers and therapists for dealing with traumatized people.
Highly recommended.

I'm not crazy
I was recently diagnosised with DID and immediately thought that I must be crazy.This book really helped me to understand my internal process to a disturbing external world and how I coped with it.What I thought were "normal" voices in my head are parts and I wondered for so long why I was constantly struggling with myself. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the manifestations of DID.I found it extremely helpful and an essential part of my recovery.

Great for therapists, lacking for family members wanting to learn
I felt like this book explained DID more on a therapist level than a family member's level.It is a great book, but not what I was looking for.

Very Helpful
I found this book extremely helpful as a resource in understanding DID.From diagnosis to treatment options and lists of helpful contacts for people discovering they have this condition, the author covered everything you could want to know about Dissociative Identity Disorder. ... Read more

Product Description
(New Harbinger Publications) Author is a clinical psychologist living in San Diego, CA. Self-help guide for persons with dissociative identity disorder (DID) or multiple personality disorder (MPD). Discusses skills and strategies to manage living with these disorders, the positive aspects, what to expect from therapy, and how DID affects lives. For consumers. Softcover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

To Integrate or not To Integrate?
Regardless of your answer, Amongst Ourselves is a groundbreaking workbook for people diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (or Multiple Personality Disorder).The book encourages inward exploration that is absolutely necessary no matter whether you are going to integrate or not.This gift should always be given with a brightly colored journal and plenty of writing instruments -- you are expected to work through the exercises as you go.It is also a good book for friends, family and loved ones to look at or read; it is full of straightforward discussion of what is needed.The workbook portion will work best for people who are either recently diagnosed or who are in the middle of a tremendous amount of work on themselves.Topics include personal safety of many types, how to choose a therapist, exploring strengths, and taking care of oneself.I worked through the book from 2000-2003 while working on myself without the supervision of a therapist, with a brief foray to attempting to see my therapist again in 2001.This was one of several books that helped me work on myself, although I had been doing some of the work they describe since my diagnosis in 1986.I recently published an empowerment book and came out of the closet to everyone.I definitely recommend Amongst Ourselves for friends & family of multiples, therapists who deal with multiples, and most especially every multiple should own a copy!

Really easy read and informative
I really liked this book.It was definitely an easy read, and manages to keep things interesting. The information is definitely more geared towards someone who was perhaps recently diagnosed or suspects that he/she might be suffering from dissociative issues, as it is pretty basic and not very in-depth.It seems like a great book to have significant others and family members of those with DID to read as well. I really enjoyed reading the book and it was a page-turner.

What I expected from Amongst Ourselves
I was looking for a book that would actually help me on working with inside parts.This book delved mininimally in this area and then went back to basic living with DID, i.e., safety plan, letting people know - the basics.Not at all what I was looking for.

Validating and Practical Guide for Multiples and Those Who Love Them
I was recently diagnosed with DID after years and years of struggling with my system and believing that I was quite literally insane and needed to be locked away... For years I have been diagnosed as having Major Depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia (sp?), PTSD, etc... I had a major, disruptive depressive episode five months ago and I'm just now partially recovering. I was fortunate enough to find an intelligent, articulate, and warm therapist that I trusted enough to tell the secret that I've been holding for 20 years. I told her about The People Who Live Behind My Eyes, Joan, Jessica, Erica with a "c", Michael, Little Kara, Adarin (pronounced a-duh-reen), and Mmemnon. She lent me Amongst Ourselves and suggested that I read it and that we use it in therapy.

This book has been a profound and virtually divine gift. Not only is it written well and from the perspective of one who has alters (who speak in the book too), but it has helpful and practical exercises for those who might or have DID.

You may find some of the exercises to be childish or cheesy, but give them a try. They really help. I admit I haven't completed every one, but I hope to. Among my favorites are the ones that deal with "losing time" and regaining/connecting consciousness with your alters. Little Kara misplaces things a lot and it makes us frustrated sometimes... But, having this as a resource in addition to a wonderful therapist helps us to have consciousness with one another so that we don't lose things or forget who we are talking to.

Common media and conventional thinking have distorted MPD/DID and those who live with it. In addition, there are people, scholars and laypersons alike, who believe the condition doesn't exist. These types of portrayals have negatively colored many people's perception.

This book helps to clear some of the mystery and myth away from DID by validating it and by presenting it as a survival mechanism that some develop in response to highly traumatizing and prolonged events (i.e. , ritual abuse, physical, sexual, emotional abuse and domestic violence).

The authors basically argue that those who have DID are exceptionally intelligent, articulate, and creative people who often function "normally" in daily life. That is, multiples have successful careers, have professional degrees,families, and are relatively well-rounded individuals. The exception is that we process information a bit differently. When multiple people share one body, information-knowledge and behavior is bound to be quite different from the "singleton" experience...

One other thing I like about this book is that the authors don't advocate one therapy over another. Karen seems to lean more toward "living as a committee/family," rather than "integration." Personally, I like this approach. Whether you're working to establish communication with your alters or working to integrate them into a whole personality it's all about your perspective and how you want to live.

This book is useful for those who may think they have DID, those living with it, therapists, and family-friends of a multiple. It has a section for therapists and a section for family-friends, which provides insightful and easy-to-read information about DID and how to understand your role in relating to and interacting with someone who has DID.

Helpful to not just ourselves
We really enjoyed reading this book.It was insightful and well writen.It is helpful for family, friends and individuals with DID. ... Read more

Product Description
A Volume in the Jossey-Bass Library of Current Clinical Technique

Discusses clinical treatment, including cognitive therapy, psychodynamic therapy, short-term in-patient treatment, longer term hospitalization, and the correct use of hypnosis. Also discussed is how the study of this controversial diagnosis reveals the inner workings of the normal functioning mind.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Another DID treatment book
I have an extensive collection of DID treatment books.This one did not especially stand out, but I like to be well read.

Self Help Reader
I bought this book thinking more along the lines if "Self Help".I got 1/2 way through and gave it to my Doctor. It was very text book and rather clinical for my abilities but I would suggest that if you are helping a patient with DID this is a good source for referance.

Compared to the other books on MPD,this is the best.
I've been treating MPD for over a decade, but this book has the best in the field giving us their decades of experience.It really helped me to get current, and improved my clinical practice.I copy Dr. Spira'sintroductory chapter to give to my patients.I have the hardback, which isno longer available, but the paperback is cheaper anyway.

Best book I've read on the subject.
This is the best book to date on the subject of DID/MPD.The authors are the leaders in the field, and they offer concise and detailed information about how to treat patients with multiple personalities in in-patient andout-patient settings.Dr. Spira's introductory chapter is especiallyhelpful and offers a good context for the chapters that follow. There arechapters on psychological assessment, the develop of DID, treatments from avariety of perspectives, and even a chapter of psychotropic medications!This is a great book for anyone who has ever treated someone with MPD, orwho want to better understand dissociative disorders. ... Read more

Product Description
Got Parts? was written by a survivor of DID in association with her therapist and therapy group. This book is filled with successful coping techniques and strategies to enhance the day-to-day functioning of adult survivors of DID in relationships, work, parenting, self-confidence, and self-care.Got Parts will help you introduce yourself to your internal family and improve its communication, integration, and well-being.Although written to carefully avoid triggering, it delivers well-grounded guidelines for living that DID people need to do on the way to recovery.Coping strategies included help you with issues related to triggers, flashbacks, and body memories.Got Parts also includes a detailed list of outside resources you can draw on.This book is intended to be used in conjunction with a therapist and is not a substitute for therapy.

Once thought of as a rare and mysterious psychiatric curiosity, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is now understood to be a fairly common outcome of severe trauma in young children—most typically extreme and repeated physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse, and often lack of attachment. Formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder, DID is a condition in which a person has two or more distinct identities or personality states that recurrently take control of the person's consciousness and behavior. Symptoms can include depression, mood swings, panic or anxiety attacks, substance abuse, memory loss, propensity for trances, sleep and eating disorders, distrust, detachment, lack of self-care, and distress or impairment at work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

A Great First Read To Learn About MPD/DID
If you know little or nothing about Multiple Personality Disorder, this book makes for a great first read to learn about MPD/DID.

The most practical guide for sufferers and therapists
When I purchased the book I was really pleased to find such a practical approach to working with clients with DID. The explanation is framed in such away that the client is able to understand and therapist and client can collaborate together in the therapy.

Gots Parts
This book was extremely helpful to learn more about the diagnosis of DID and to understand how to react and respond to folks with DID. Excellent information in a non medical way; easy to understand and comprehend; and very insightful.

Comprehensive, Easy to Read, Groundbreaking!
We often see characters in tv shows and movies who have multiple personality disorder.They are usually not portrayed realistically.This book sheds a tremendous amount of light on a much misunderstood malady.Today, we refer to this disorder as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).This name for the disorder is much more descriptive of the actual disorder.Previously, it was believed by most to be an extremely rare condition, bought on by some sort of trauma.Today, psychologists understand that DID is a fairly common outcome of individuals, often young children, who have endured severe trauma, usually cruel and repeated physical, sexual, mental and emotionalabuse.Additionally, the patient often lacks attachment to others.

To be diagnosedwith DID, a person exhibits two or more distinct personalities. or identities that may alternate taking control of the person's consciousness, actions and behavior.While the person may exhibit a wide range of symptoms, the most common appear to be depression, memory loss, substance or drug abuse,panic and/or anxiety attacks, entering a "trance-like" state, sleeping or eating disorders,distrust of others, and lack of self care or hygene.

The author, A.T.W., is a survivor of DID, and has written a book of rarely seen depth and explanation of the disorder.The book discusses and explains the work and steps taken by the author, her Therapist and the therapy group.DID is a serious disorder, and while the book offers exceptional methods and techniques, it is not meant to work alone to handle the disorder.Individuals suffering DID would best be served by utilizing the exercises in the book with a qualified therapist. , it is not a substitute for intense therapy, but instead a worthwhile tool for use in conjunction with a qualified therapist.

A person with DID needs numerous coping mechanisms and an understanding of the disorder.With the proper help, it is possible for the patient to learn to work with his or her differing identities, integrating them to work together to allow the patient to live a fulfilling and satisfying life.Focusing on individual responsibility, I think this book could be a groundbreaking work in the field of DID.It offers a hopeful, helpful, understanding guide for those surviving with DID and their families.Highly recommended, and offers rare insight and understanding.

Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder from the inside.
"Got Parts? An Insider's GUide to Managing Life Successfully With Dissociative Identity Disorder" (whew!)is the best book I have yet read on D.I.D., a disorder that is still not really in the consciousness of the wider public.This is an authentic, useful, and ultimately hopeful book from the point of view of a middle-aged women with multiple personalities.ATW's (the author's initials) advice covers: the symptoms of D.I.D.; learning to know your alters, both old and young; making a safe space for the alters when they are not "on"; how to "lockdown" alters who are a threat to the core personality; how to get the treatment you need; self-care; and the work of re-integrating at least some of the inner personalities.As someone who has a family member recently diagnosed with D.I.D., I found this the most informative and helpful of all the books I've read.This would be a compassionate gift for a parent, spouse, sibling, or friend of someone with D.I.D.I cannot recommend this highly enough. ... Read more

Product Description
Encounters with people diagnosed as having dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder almost invariably result in transforming therapists into enthusiasts or sceptics. This collection includes chapters written by advocates of both schools of thought. ... Read more

Product Description

"Thorough and accurate. Jane Hyman vividly portrays the internal world of DID and understands the logic and function of dissociated parts of the mind. This is the most detailed exploration I have read of the different types of parts, their origins and functions."
--Colin A. Ross, M.D.Past President, The International Society for the Study of Dissociationand authorofDissociative Identity Disorder

Be inspired by these women who havesurvived--and even thrived--with dissociative identity disorder

People with dissociative identity disorder (formerlycalled multiple personality disorder) are widelythought to be highly dysfunctional. This fascinatingbook debunks this myth. I Am More Than One gives you an inside look at women who have achieved successwhile living with the condition. Theiruplifting stories shed light on a misunderstood butmanageable condition—and point the way toward anactive, functional, and fulfilling life.

Customer Reviews (11)

Please Don't Let This Book Go Out of Print!
This groundbreaking book is the best and most helpful book I've ever read.For women with DID who are high functioning and thought they were the only ones, this book is a godsend. It puts all of the current research together with heartwarming stories, to show that people with multiple personalities can function whether or not the parts choose to integrate. I just logged on to buy two more copies, but discovered that today that, instead of paying $18.95 for another new book, I would have to pay at least $27.49 for a used copy, or $128.18 for a new copy. PLEASE, to you nice people at McGraw Hill Publishing, PLEASE reprint I am More Than One, by Jane Wegscheider Hyman, ASAP!Our therapists need to read this so that they can understand us!Our semi-suicidal friends with DID need to read this to know that there is hope, and that they are not alone! This book can and will save lives!

Thank you Dr. Hyman
I am Reba, one of the women Dr. Hyman interviewed for this book.I just want to thank her for giving voice to me and to the other women in the book.Dr. Hyman shows that living with DID is not like the sensationalized movies seen on television.For the most part, those with DID work very hard to keep life "normal" and to keep other people from knowing about their "other parts" and their history.

I/we are working toward completely Joining Together, what therapists call "integration".We prefer the term "Joining Together", as that is what we are doing: becoming one, unified, a team working together as one, whole.As we join together, life is much more peaceful, joyful, and fulfilling.

I send to Dr. Hyman my greatest respect and appreciation.

To all who may read this book, I send my wishes for a peaceful, joyful life.

Reba

i am more than one
i feel that this book is very informative for people and councillors,who are struggling with D.I.D. its an inspiration, clearly written and easy to understand, especially as the subject is complicated and for all of us who have D.I.D. its helpful to know we are not alone and that people are begining to understand D.I.D. and reconize it.

Real Story of DID
This book tells of several real women who have DID.It doesn't have the extreme fiction stories. It shows that DID is very rarely like the movies Sybll or The 3 Faces of EVE.If you want to hear the truth this is what you get.

A Breath Of Fresh Air
I found this to be an excellent book.It isn't extreme and doesn't attempt to sensationalize the topic.The story tells itself through the true life experiences of the women.This book offers a breath of fresh air to the subject of DID.The diagnosis is often misunderstood however this is written in such a way as to help most readers have a better understanding of what people with DID go through and how the mind is so wonderful in protecting itself and its host. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a book about the triumph of inner authority over thedebilitating effects of trauma and abuse. In a simple andstraightforward style, a three-phase model for treating dissociativeidentity disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder)is introduced. The Collective Heart model is consistent with thecurrent standards of care which emphasize caution andrestraint. Additionally, the Collective Heart Model has several uniquefeatures: it highlights the retrieval of personal authority ratherthan the retrieval of traumatic memories, identifies the fundamentalinner unity underlying the fragmented personality system, andintroduces techniques that facilitate communication betweenpersonalities and between each personality's conscious mind and thecollective heart. Six chapters of fascinating case vignettesillustrate therapeutic techniques and show how clients tap into theirunderlying inner unity to create conditions for their own maturation,making it safe for their alters to grow, heal, and eventually join thehost as a seamless, harmonious whole. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Another DID resource text
I try to be well read on dissocative disorders.this book did not provide me with any news information per se maybe just a different spin on what's already out there.Kluft's and Ross's books tend to be more comprehensive.

Treating Dissociatve Identity Disorder:The Power of the Collective Heart
Excellent! Comprehensive, practical, and professional guidance for helping those who suffer with a dissociative disorder lead healthy and productive lives. This book showcases a specific treatment technique which is based upon the "Collective Heart" model - a phrase coined by one of the author's patients.The differentiating factor of this particular therapeutic modality is the assertion that the patient is capable of tapping into their own inner wisdom with the aid of structured relaxation techniques, and is then able to access what is known to be the internal "executive authority" as a means to repair their fragmented personality system.The author has clearly outlined these techniques and has demonstrated favorable outcomes in her case-study depictions.This book comes highly recommended for any clinician who has a rigorous and contemporary interest in the successful treatment of dissociative disorders.

Excellent Resource
I am a psychotherapist who works with trauma survivors. The techniques outlined in Dr. Krakauer's book are excellent whether dissociation is a factor or not. I have used many of the techniques outlined in her book with various clients who experience extreme dissociation. Both my clients and I find the techniques gentle, insightful, and helpful. The book is written in a manner that made it easy to readily incorporate the techniques into my work. The author's theory that all people have access to a wise, strong, internal resource was my own theory and experience prior to finding her book. It is a valuable reference in my library. ... Read more

Product Description

Valerie Sinason's Treating Survivors of Satanist Abuse addressed a subject that many professionals working in the field had been uncomfortable discussing. Her work in disability and abuse has consistently broken new ground in addressing subjects that many people have found initially hard to deal with. This new book covers the equally unexplored subject of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), and is the first major British book available for both clinicians and the intelligent lay public on this subject.

Attachment, Trauma and Multiplicity explains the phenomenon of DID, the conflicting models of the human mind that have been found to try and understand it, the political conflict over the subject, and, with the permission of patients, clinical accounts. Valerie Sinason, along with an impressive array of contributors, covers:

the background history and a description of the condition
issues of diagnoses
treatment issues
the stages of dissociation that lead to full-blown DID
the legal and management problems.

Attachment, Trauma and Multiplicity will be indispensable to professionals in the UK increasingly concerned about their lack of training in this subject and the fear it evokes in them and their teams.

Product Description
Since the publication of Colin A. Ross's influential work Multiple Personality Disorder in 1989, this challenging field has evolved rapidly—with new thinking, new research, and a new name: dissociative identity disorder (DID). Keeping pace with these developments, this retitled Second Edition has been skillfully revised and expanded to offer a comprehensive, detailed, and fully up-to-date grounding in the history, diagnosis, and treatment of DID.

Readers will find three new chapters covering epidemiology, a sound critique of skeptics of DID, and the problem of attachment to the perpetrator and the locus of control shift. There is also a fresh look at the pathways leading to DID, a discussion of the false memory controversy, and more, with material throughout based on the latest research and the author's extensive clinical and forensic experience.

By providing an in-depth examination of this complex illness, Dissociative Identity Disorder not only facilitates a deeper understanding of people who have used dissociation to cope with years of childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, but also reveals new insights into many other psychiatric disorders in which dissociation plays a role. Like Multiple Personality Disorder, this updated volume is an authoritative and indispensable reference for psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers and other mental health professionals, as well as researchers in these fields.

"Ross provides a comprehensive and interesting account of the history of MPD, dispelling many myths. He presents new insight into the treatment of MPD, with information about such concerns as how to talk to a patient, how to schedule your time, and how to keep your private and [professional] lives separate. . . . Multiple Personality Disorder will be an invaluable addition to the reference libraries of sexual abuse clinics, child abuse agencies, and correctional facilities, as well as clinicians." —Family Violence Bulletin ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The "Bible" of treating DID
This is many times considered the Bible of treating DID because it is so comprehensive.Now, will everything in the book apply to your treatment of a multiple?Certainly not as every system is unique therefore the therapy protocol must meet the need of the patient. Ross's book does give great starting points.He is not too clear of what to do when the lines begin to blur between therapist and client.Transference is so complicated and I dont think he devoted enough to exploring its complexity.

Good read for both the professional and lay person
As a RN, I read this book from both the personal and professional level. The information was very important and informative, but I did find two things that really stuck out as being difficult to apply to my specific situation. The first difficulty I had was the discussion of alters that other alters are not aware of them....I do nog have current periods of amnesia except when I am driving, etc. The big problem is that I have no recall of my life before 13 years of age. This book help put the DID diagnosis into a more clear picture for me.

Review by Dr. Carol North, MD
See a review of research on DID/MPD by Dr. Carol North, MD of Washington University for excellent critique of DID/MPD as a real disorder.

Rich, thorough, and definitive
I've read several books on this affliction, and this is the most comprehensive book available for therapists. Ross has many years of experience and knows the traps and detours in treating dissociative-traumatized patients. He understands the critical, child-like gap in the patient's thinking, believing that he/she was in control and thus to blame for what happened. Letting go of guilt means facing the frightening truth: the victim wasn't in control.

Dissociation arises from the conflict between the victims' attachment to their abusers and their need for survival. Above all, it embodies the need to keep secrets, even from oneself. This fact and the victim's ambivalent feelings are what make dissociative disorders different from post-traumatic stress due to public traumas such as assault, combat, and the like.

Ross is also very good at dispelling the myths you hear:

- Dissociation and dissociative identity disorder (DID) are not real or merely created by therapists.

- There's no objective evidence for DID. In fact, the evidence for DID is better than for many psychiatric conditions. And the brain physiology of traumatic stress is well-established.

- DID (or "multiple personalities") is rare. It's actually not that uncommon, perhaps a percent or so of the population. DID has been misdiagnosed and misunderstood for decades. Then add those suffering from related post-traumatic stress and borderline personality disorders.

- Alters are "separate personalities." Alters are actually distinct states, separated by amnesia barriers, of a single mind, frozen at different ages and distinct contexts by chronic, overwhelmingly stressful and traumatic experiences. They are triggered and revived by similar experiences later in life.

The name of the disorder was changed from "multiple personality" to "dissociative identity" to remove the implication that the victim is more than one person in one body. The victim's identity (memories, thoughts, and feelings continuously integrated in time into a single "I") is fragmented, not multiple.

The dissociated have, not more than one personality, but *less* than one.

- It has to be "Sybil" to be real. Actually, DID cases as extreme as Sybil's are rare. Most DID cases are more subtle and, by their nature, involve sophisticated strageties of hiding and self-protection.

- Recovered abuse memories are false. Actually, they're generally true. Therapists must carefully avoid leading questions and suggestion, however, and probing and validating memory takes time.

Such memories are not "repressed" - a false idea inspired by Freud. One part always knew and never forgot. The other part never knew and so had nothing to forget. Forgetting is not involved. The key to the memory problem is the existence of alters, not "repression" or forgetting.

- DID is demon possession. Actually, demon possession is DID.

Demon possession evolved into DID by the late 19th century and became a central concern of psychiatry, under the name of "hysteria." The distressing fact is that that psychiatry has regressed in some ways since then. All the cool psychologists circa 1900 were studying it (Breuer, Freud, Janet, James, Myers, Prince, etc.). Nietzsche alludes to "subjective multiplicity" and the fallacy of the "soul atom" in Beyond Good and Evil (1886). And let's not forget Lady MacBeth or Jekyll and Hyde.

- DID is an autohypnotic disorder. A half-truth. Dissociation/autohypnosis is a defense against abuse.

- DID is really schizophrenia. Still a common mistake, because of the popular confusion over "schizo." Doctors misunderstand because some DID symptoms superficially sound like schizophrenia. But DID is not a psychotic disorder. It does involve mood disturbances, usually depression and anxiety, sometimes mania.

- Dissociative patients are crazy. Actually, the traumatic situations they were in were crazy. DID is how their minds cope with distressing, uncontrollable situations. The patients are basically sane and fine. That's the paradox.

- Trauma is all caused by sexual abuse, or sexual abuse of girls. Or it's a product of evil patriarchy, or some such kindergarden Marxism.

Actually, boys are probably subject to as much abuse as girls, perhaps more physical and emotional than sexual. The perpetrators are themselves often mentally ill and/or drug-addicted. Mothers often play a major and surprising role. And female DID victims are more likely to seek treatment.

- We don't hear about DID, so it can't be real. Actually, we hear about abuse all the time, less about the lives that it ruins. Few people want to know about it and try to quickly forget about it. (Therapists exhibit the same pattern as well.) The victims would like to forget too - but become dissociative instead.

Besides Ross, there are other shorter and excellent books on dissociation, DID, and multiple personality disorder.

- James Chu, Rebuilding Shattered Lives (for therapists)

- Marlene Steinberg, The Stranger in the Mirror. Explains why DID sufferers are treated endlessly for their secondary disorders, while missing the essential problem. Provides standardized criteria for dissociation: amnesia, depersonalization, derealization, identity confusion, and identity alteration.

Also, very interesting discussion of false memories, screen memories, and memories of satanic ritual abuse and alien abuction - why they arise and seem so real, even when they're false.

- Lenore Terr, Too Scared to Cry and Unchained Memories. Definitive, readable studies of trauma, partly based on her experience with the Chowchilla child kidnapping victims. Explains why it's taken so long to replace cliches about childhood trauma with real understanding and why there's still professional resistance.

- The books by David Pelzer (the child called "It")

Excellent Resource
This is an excellent resource for the diagnosis and treatment of dissociation.I did my clinical training with Dr. Ross and found him to be knowlegeable, accurate, and compassionate in his assessment of dissociation and it's treatment.The book is every bit as helpful and necessary to an understanding of dissociation whether you agree with the diagnosis or not. ... Read more

Product Description

Herschel Walker is widely regarded as one of football's greatest running backs. He led the University of Georgia to victory in the Sugar Bowl on the way to an NCAA Championship and he capped a sensational college career by earning the 1982 Heisman Trophy. Herschel spent twelve years in the NFL, where he rushed for more than eight thousand yards and scored sixty-one rushing touchdowns.

But despite the acclaim he won as a football legend, track star, Olympic competitor, and later a successful businessman, Herschel realized that his life, at times, was simply out of control. He often felt angry, self-destructive, and unable to connect meaningfully with friends and family. Drawing on his deep faith, Herschel turned to professionals for help and was ultimately diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder.

While some might have taken this diagnosis as a setback, Herschel approached his mental health with the same indomitable spirit he brought to the playing field. It also gave him, for the first time, insight into his life's unexplained passages, stretches of time that seemed forever lost. Herschel came to understand that during those times, his "alters," or alternate personalities, were in control.

Born into a poor, but loving family in the South, Herschel was an overweight child with a stutter who suffered terrible bullying at school. He now understands that he created "alters" who could withstand abuse. But beyond simply enduring, other "alters" came forward to help Herschel overcome numerous obstacles and, by the time he graduated high school, become an athlete recognized on a national level.

In Breaking Free, Herschel tells his story -- from the joys and hardships of childhood to his explosive impact on college football to his remarkable professional career. And he gives voice and hope to those suffering from DID. Herschel shows how this disorder played an integral role in his accomplishments and how he has learned to live with it today. His compelling account testifies to the strength of the human spirit and its ability to overcome any challenge. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

My thoughts on Breaking Free By Herschel Walker
I enjoyed reading "Breaking Free" by Herschel Walker, but was a bit disappointed by it because it wasn't what I thought it was going to be.He never told how his family reacted to his diagnosis of DID, nor where he was as far as his therapy today, or where he was as far as integration.I know he was trying to remove the stygma from DID, but not having suffered the extreme abuse I did, it was hard to relate to him.Also he may have grown up with very little as I did, but he's never suffered the financial hardships I have as an adult because of extreme panic and anxiety disorders I have a hard time holding a job. Plus during my abuse I received permanent damage to some of my joints and have to deal with pain on a daily basis.Unfortunately for me I don't have an alter who can take the pain so I don't have to deal with it.Where as he's got the freedom to announce to the world that he's DID, if I did that I'd have to share what caused my DID. Since I've already lost my extended family because they don't believe me about my abuse and men in my family are some of my abusers, I don't have the freedom to share my diagnosis with anyone outside my adult children, husband and one good friend and of course my therapist. This makes me feel very isolated and alone. I know Herschel understands the loneliness and isolation, but when I'm ready to write my autobiography I will have to use a "Pen Name". There are those in my family who might sue me for defamation of character as one of my abusers is in full time ministry and it would destroy his ministry, and as a Christian I just can't do that no matter what he did to me.I am glad Herschel was able to share his story and that he's benefited from it, as I'm sure others have, but I don't have the freedom he has to share his story.Over all it was informationaland good to read of someone else having what I do, but he has fame behind him and can use his name to promote his story and book, I just don't have that luxury and I have many, many, more alters than he has.Yes for him, integration is the ultimate goal, but for my alters there will never be total integration since I've been DID for over 52 years of my life and some of my adult alters as well as some of my child and middle alters refuse to integrate. Plus I don't know that I could handle the stesses of my life as a singleton.I don't like being DID, but it saved my life and it's the only life I've ever known. Good luck Herschel, it seems you're well on your way to total health.

If you're interested in the author it's likely a must read.It's lower on the list if you're main interest is the DID aspect.
I read this book for the DID aspect and not because it was written by a famous NFL star.I found his successes, despite his abuse and misfortune to be nothing less than extraordinary.He definitely puts a more positive representation of DID than other books I've read.He insists, and in fact demonstrates how his alters aided him in achieving his goals.Instead of being detrimental to his well being and causing physical harm in the form of self injury they help him withstand extreme childhood trauma and encourage him to overcome what may have been his physical limitation.They do go to the extreme in that they are able to ignore pain to the point of undergoing oral surgery with no anesthesia and playing a game with a dislocated shoulder; experiences that would be unbearably painful for the majority of individuals.His incredible discipline and resulting successes are however coupled with a darker and more harmful inability to connect with others on anything other than a guarded level as well as bouts of uncontrollable rage and conflicting voices.His story is undeniably interesting.

Unfortunately I found the writing to be average at best and the tone to be somewhat arrogant.The arrogance is contrary to his clearly stated aim to exclude any arrogance at all.His belief in God and Jesus are an innate part of his personality and he gives them credit for his drive to excel and subsequent financial stability.He claims to be frugal and to reject material extravagance; and yet there is a scene where he enters his garage and must press the unlock button on the keyless entry system to reveal to which of his several expensive vehicles the keys belonged.For me as a reader I could not reconcile these two completely opposing ideas.Either you reject materialism or you own several expensive and even rare automobiles.

I did read the entire book without giving up due to boredom or frustration with the writing, but it is not something I would recommend as a "good" book to read on the subject of DID.If you are a fan of Herschel Walker and interested in his life then I would have to say it is an enlightening and surprisingly revealing memoir and likely a must read.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a good representation of living with DID put this lower on your list.If it's Herschel Walker this books for you.

Breaking Free-Herschel Walker
Very good book!His story about how his disorder developed was quite interesting and was different from what most think of when they think of DID.It was well written and on a level that most could understand.However, while I understand that football was his life I feel that some people might be turned off when reading it because of the many many detailed accounts involving football.Overall I felt it was very good.

this book really disturbed me
I was really looking forward to this book, but was disappointed and disturbed by it.First of all, it's filled in "factual information" that is simply incorrect.At one point the author refers to DID and schizophrenia as personality disorders, and they are not.DID is a dissociative disorder, and schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder.At another point, he says that PTSD is the most widely known dissociative disorder.PTSD is not a dissociative disorder at all, it's an anxiety disorder.These distinctions may not seem important, but if you're going to attempt to explain mental disorders to the public, I think you should take the time to get your facts straight.

Then he talks about the treatment of DID and says that the goal of treatment is integration.Well, that may be his goal, but it's not "the goal."Some experts do think that people with DID need to integrate, but others think the goal of treatment should be communication and cooperation among the different alters.He also says that the patient and therapist are not equal partners in the treatment and that treatment should not be a democracy, that the therapist should be in charge.I find that appalling.The patient is the employer, hiring an employer, the therapist, to do a job for them.The patient is the one in charge, not the therapist.

Really, it seems he does not understand his condition very well.Which is OK, but if you don't understand it well, you probably shouldn't be writing a book trying to explain it to other people.

I was also confused because he stated that DID is always caused by severe child trauma, but then reported he had no severe childhood trauma.Yes, being bullied in school can be traumatic, but it doesn't usually cause DID.And he stated repeatedly that he grew up in a loving, supportive family, but when he described them, they didn't sound all that supportive.I was left wondering what things he left out or what things he is in denial about.

breaking free
I was so pleased to receive this book and its an inspiration for me to begin to read it. the wording is clear and its written in a way that for me who has D.I.D. can understand and get great comfort and encourgment to continue on my road to intergration and healing.thank you so much for herchels bravery in writting this book and give outreach for people like me. ... Read more

Product Description

This revised edition of Attachment, Trauma and Multiplicity investigates the still unaddressed and unexplored subject of Dissociative Identity Disorder. With brand new chapters on police work and attachment theory it has been fully updated to include new research and the latest understanding of patterns of attachment theory that lead to dissociation.

With contributions from psychotherapists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts and service users this book covers the background history and a description of the condition along with the issues of diagnoses and treatment. It also looks at:

• the phenomenon of DID
• the conflicting models of the human mind that have been found to try and understand DID
• the political conflict over the subject including problems for the police
• clinical accounts and personal writing of people with DID.

Attachment, Trauma and Multiplicity, Second Edition will prove essential reading for　therapists and mental health workers as well as being a valuable resource for graduates and researchers.

Product Description

Building on the comprehensive theoretical model of dissociation elegantly developed in The Dissociative Mind, Elizabeth Howell makes another invaluable contribution to the clinical understanding of dissociative states with Understanding and Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder. Howell, working within the realm of relational psychoanalysis, explicates a multifaceted approach to the treatment of this fascinating yet often misunderstood condition, which involves the partitioning of the personality into part-selves that remain unaware of one another, usually the result of severely traumatic experiences.

Howell begins with an explication of dissociation theory and research that includes the dynamic unconscious, trauma theory, attachment, and neuroscience. She then discusses the identification and diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder before moving on to outline a phase-oriented treatment plan, which includes facilitating a multileveled coconstructed therapeutic relationship, emphasizing the multiplicity of transferences, countertransferences, and kinds of potential enactments. She then expands the treatment possibilities to include dreamwork, before moving on to discuss the risks involved in the treatment of DID and how to mitigate them. All concepts and technical approaches are permeated with rich clinical examples.

Product Description
The number of cases of MPD has risen dramatically, but many of these cases have been created by inaccurate diagnosis. This book encourages a more critical evaluation of this disorder, which should help clinicians help those accurately diagnosed as well as those incorrectly diagnosed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Helpful View of a Fascinating Controversy
In this thought-provoking, highly readable book, August Piper does NOT deny the existence of multiple personality personality disorder.In fact, he argues that the condition is all too prevalent -- but in many cases seems to be brought on and/or exacerbated by certain therapists whose convictions and practices approach those of a religious cult.(The author cites one theorist who uses the term "oppressive supernatural states disorder," and more than one who recommend treatment by exorcism.)Many of Dr. Piper's fellow-psychiatrists (MDs, as opposed to We-Don't-Know-WHATs) support his conclusions, as does a respectable body of broad research and individual case studies.The important contribution of "Hoax and Reality" is its clear explication, for the benefit of lay readers, of a fascinating controversy.

The Book and Author Do Not Exist
I would have liked to have reviewed a copy of this book, however since I actually have dissociative identities and I know that I do exist, then it must be the author and the book that do not exist.

Not fully understanding doesn't make it non-existent
I found this book unconvincing and perhaps even dangerous for those who may read it trying to understand problems in themselves that may have been noticed by others.

I say this as an adult child of someone - who if ever in a therapist's office - would certainly be diagnosed as having a personality disorder of the type considered a farce by Piper.

He has little to no understanding of what a fractured or multiple personality is, let alone know how to recognize one.

He also discounts the pain that this illness causes those who must associate with the affected person.In my own and siblings life, games we played that were interesting and somewhat fun as children "let's get Mom mad so she says things she won't remember later"; or "let's start a (logic) argument, and then switch sides in the middle so she gets upset and later swears she never said anything", evolved into a sad realization that Mom was never going to be able to participate in anything emotional in our lives without repressing the memory into her other personality (fraction?).

This book does a disservice to the mental health community by presenting personal opinion as scientific fact. While I don't agree with everything spouted out of the multiple personality camp, this problem certainly exists and should be further studied.

Truth Prevails
I am currently reading the book, Hoax & Reality, and I can't thank theauthor enough for telling the truth of this phenomena. I recently had theopportunity to write an article about this issue, but had to turn thearticle down because I didn't believe in it and couldn't write an articlefavoring it when I didn't believe it existed (except as August Piper, Jr.,says, very rarely). I even interviewed someone who claims to have D.I.D.(M.P.D.), and after more than three hours talking to this person, I stilldidn't believe it! Too many things just don't add up. I am so glad someonehas applied true science, common sense and honesty to the phenomena andthat this brave author has decided to take a stand. How wonderful to findsomeone who has the authority (Piper is an M.D.) to back up what I havebelieved for so long! Thank you, August Piper, Jr., M.D.!

Living With THE PACK;Being A Maultiple In Treatment
Hello my name is Meingya @AOL, Iam currently in treatment with, DMS 4300.18/did-mpd.It has taken me four years to find a professional psychiatrist who will treat me . My biggest set backs have been money toprovide payment of services, and a person comfortable enough to work withmy issues.I have been very fortunate, as those who are the same will haveexperienced in their search for adequate treatment and a sense of beingbelieved, and validated. The circumstances that create someone to becomedissociative are as vast as they are directly a survival mechanism directlyrelated to the individual's experiences that made them use this survivaltechnique. I believe there is misuse in any services received by those whochoose to misuse those services. Over a period of time they are found outby the patterns of behaviour they exert and stop, or are confrounted by thetrained professional who can reach them to serve their real problems. Wedon't know many things about our own existence yet, but we should notdiscriminate those who have legitimate problems even though they may berare or unusual. ... Read more

Product Description
Multiple Journeys to One offers eight personal and courageous storieswhich explore the spiritual and psychological healing and integrationof Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly Multiple PersonalityDisorder).Although the writers focus their stories on theintegration/fusion process of their many inside people rather than onthe abuse, some of their backgrounds include, incest, familialtorture, Satanic Ritual Abuse, and programming.By learning toacknowledge, accept, and love each aspect of themselves, the writersexemplify the possibility of healing our divided, compartmentalizedworld. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Many Faces of Courage
I read "Multiple Journeys to One" in October 1999, when it was hot off the presses. It is an amazing testament to human resiliency. As an empathetic person and a "novice" in the area of severe abuse and DID, I was afraid it might be too horrifying. Heeding the cautionary statement about disturbing material andreading with care, I started with the Endorsements, Foreword, Acknowledgements & Introduction, all of which are beautifully written...and Brooke's story, which I appreciated.After reading all the stories, my admiration for one of the authors (a personal friend) and all others who manage to survive such trauma to regrow themselves into such loving, compassionate people grew hugely. I wonder how abusers and perpetrators manage to face themselves? And in considering such circumstances, have wondered if I could have emerged with such strength, resiliency and forgiveness?This is a richly rewarding read and worth your time.

Excellent Book
I highly recommend reading this book!It has validated so many things I had told my therapist, things I thought no one would ever be able to believe.It has provided me with hope and courage to continue my healing. I think it will be very beneficial to all who love and care about someone who has survived as well.I think these ladies are an inspiration and I thank them so much for sharing.

A "Must-Read" Book
I have read and re-read Judy Dragon and Terry Popp's book, "Multiple Journeys To One."I had no substantive knowledge about DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), ritual abuse, or how widespread these issues are prior to reading this book. The format is such that eight individuals openly share their discoveries and the process of healing from DID caused by horrendous abuse.Unlike clinical approaches, which tend to be dry and cerebral, these stories are rich and allow the reader into the inner sanctums of these women's lives.Their personal accounts are real, heart-felt, and achingly personal.For anyone who even considers that there is such a thing as "False Memory Syndrome," I would highly recommend you read this book.For people who do not fully understand DID, read this book.For people who endeavor to understand how those who have been brutally traumatized and yet are still able to heal, I suggest you read and re-read this book as I have done.These courageous women have dared to open the Pandora's Box of their lives to shed light on topics that are too easily dismissed through false labels and scandalous lies and risk, yet again, the potential for abuse through misunderstanding.

Well Done!
Judy Dragon and Terry Popp have done a wonderful job on this book. It educates and elucidates on a topic that few are willing to explore.Bravo!

The Courage To Share
As I read "Multiple Journeys To One", I realized the tremendous courage it took for each of the people featured to share their stories.By opening their lives, it will help so many more who are seeking"freedom".My son, Johnny was kidnapped in 1982, we now know hewas forced into a "mind controlled pornography ring" in whichthey deliberately create "Multiple Personalities/DID,to control theyoung people kidnapped. The day will come when my son will also need tobring his "Multiple Journeys to One" so too he can be free. ... Read more

Product Description
In March 2001, the National Institutes of Health issued the following warning: "The number of Web sites offering health-related resources grows every day. Many sites provide valuable information, while others may have information that is unreliable or misleading."Furthermore, because of the rapid increase in Internet-based information, many hours can be wasted searching, selecting, and printing.This book was created for medical professionals, students, and members of the general public who want to conduct medical research using the most advanced tools available and spending the least amount of time doing so. ... Read more

Product Description
Personality Disorder is a baffling, confusing and rather bizarre condition. Although Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a formal DSM-IV diagnosis, it is still very controversial, and many professionals claim that it is extremely rare, does not exist or is fictitious. There are many reasons why professionals may be reluctant to acknowledge DID: it is, indeed, baffling, confusing and bizarre. However, there are, perhaps, other reasons for the “low popularity” of this condition.

DID, like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), appears to be caused by trauma. But unlike PTSD, it appears to be caused by prolonged trauma, trauma which started in early childhood or infancy. Listening to accounts of people with DID is confusing due to the multiplicity of speaker(s)—it is also upsetting. The traumatic content of the stories is upsetting. The un-proved claims about terrible crimes are unsettling. We are faced with very difficult legal, ethical, moral and clinical questions, not knowing how to respond, what to believe, how to think.

This book focuses on the most unsavory aspects of DID, namely, the forensic. It explores the role of crime in the lives of people with DID: crimes committed against them, by them and crimes that they have witnessed. The various papers reflect the experiences and thoughts of a range of professionals who have worked with this group: a GP, a psychiatrist, a police officer, a lawyer, psychotherapists and counselors and, most generously, a person who has DID. ... Read more

Product Description
Dissociative Identity Disorder (aka Multiple Personality Disorder) is a rare phenomenon that is controversial in both public and professional mental health arenas.However, these general aspets with clinical case supports are meant to educate providers, the neglected patients and their families of the reality, difficulty, complexities and agonies of these unique people-within-people. ... Read more

Product Description
This was not meant to be a book.When I was a child I knew there was something different about me, but I didn?t know what it was. I knew it had to be a secret because if anyone found out about it, I would be trouble. I thought of it as different ?levels? of myself.I got into therapy to help my teenaged daughter. Who knew I would get help too! My therapist understood immediately when I told her that I had ?levels.? I was diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder (now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder), and learned they are called ?alters? rather than ?levels.?There are four alters: the ?Infant Center of the Universe? was a tiny baby; a ?Little Girl? who was the keeper of the secrets; ?andrew,? a preschooler who lives in the moment without thought of consequences; and the ?Shadow.? I was terrified of the ?Shadow? because I thought it wanted to kill me.My therapist suggested I get a journal to work in while we dealt with this disorder. After each session I thought hard about living with this disorder so I could convey it in a way my therapist could understand. Working on the journal was difficult and painful at times, but it became a journey to peace, understanding, and healing for me. I never intended for anyone other than my therapist to see the journal.The alters are integrated now, and we are all working together. I recently showed my journal to several doctors who were working with me, and they all told me that I needed to publish the journal as a book. They said it would be a great teaching tool, because there is nothing like it available now.So?this book is that journal, unedited and unaltered. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

FINDING ME: Dissociative Identity Disorder from Creation to Intergration
There is nothing out there on DID like this book. It is like walking through the actual process of understanding. Awsome book. ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Dissociative Identity Disorder. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 53. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Dissociative identity disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a condition in which a person displays multiple distinct identities or personalities (known as alter egos or alters), each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment. In the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems the name for this diagnosis is multiple personality disorder. In both systems of terminology, the diagnosis requires that at least two personalities routinely take control of the individual's behavior with an associated memory loss that goes beyond normal forgetfulness; in addition, symptoms cannot be the temporary effects of drug use or a general medical condition. There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the topic. There are many commonly disputed points about DID. These viewpoints critical of DID can be quite varied, with some taking the position that DID does not actually exist as a valid medical diagnosis, and others who think that DID may exist but is either always or usually an adverse side effect of therapy. DID diagnoses appear to be almost entirely confined to the North American continent; reports from other continents are at significantly lower rates. Individuals diagnosed with DID demonstrate a variety of symptoms with wide fluctuations across time; functioning can vary from severe impairment in daily functioning to normal or high abilities. Symptoms can include: Patients may experience an extremely broad array of other symptoms that resemble epilepsy, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, and eating disorders. Reviews of the literature ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=39653 ... Read more

Product Description
A casebook for understanding, diagnosing and treating Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder) with case examples ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disappointing Treatise on DID
A disappointing read.Some of the apparently self-published book is informative but it is full of typographical and grammatical errors that are annoying given a professional wrote the book.There are not many books in this arena because DID, formerly Multiple Personality Disorder, is highly controversial in the psychology/psychoanalytical world.If you want to know something about Dissociative Identity Disorder and you know virtually nothing about it, the book is worth a read.It is overpriced given the value you are likely to get. ... Read more