75 of 79 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Takes the "spookiness" out of DID, June 11, 2000
This review is from: Amongst Ourselves: A Self-Help Guide to Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (Paperback)
I am astounded by the last reviewer' comments (from Fresno, California), and sincerely hope he is not a therapist himself who treats DID clients. Who is more credible: a successful professional who understands DID first-hand, or a researcher with second-hand knowledge at best? The effectiveness of therapy should be measured by the achievements of the client, not the therapist. The authors do not discount peer-reviewed DID literature, and urge DID therapists to stay abreast in this rapidly changing field.
"Amongst Ourselves" has a profound ring of truth and authenticity. What struck me most was how respectful the book is towards individuals with DID. The authors understand this condition from the inside out, and explain it in a simple, logical, straightforward manner (that might conceivably be harmful to the egos of certain psychiatrists). Their down-to-earth, practical viewpoint takes the "spookiness" out of the disorder. Since essentially all individuals with DID underwent childhood trauma, and trauma exists in all gradations of severity, one would expect correspondingly many gradations of DID. I consider myself sub-clinically DID (I can argue my way through the DSM IV criteria, with some stretching). DID metaphors illuminate the survival function of psychological quirks that previously baffled me, and provide practical strategies for coping with them.
I highly recommend this book to anyone. Even if you do not have DID, you may gain radical insight into your internal psychology.
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Validating and Practical Guide for Multiples and Those Who Love Them, July 5, 2006
This review is from: Amongst Ourselves: A Self-Help Guide to Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (Paperback)
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.
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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
INFORMATIVE, September 14, 2004
This review is from: Amongst Ourselves: A Self-Help Guide to Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (Paperback)
I bought this book with two others. When I got it, I didn't think I was going to like it very much. However, I really enjoyed this book and refer to it often. I much prefer this book to "Stranger in the Mirror". This book explains beautifully the challanges of DID, what it is, and how to cope in a very simple and underestand manner. This book is very clear and full of short personal experiences. I felt that the authors both really understand the DID experience. The one draw back which I think is very crucial to our recovery is the authors own views regarding therapy and therapists which I believe should remain their opinions and not be stated in the book. If I did not have an outstanding therapist, I would be very insecure about getting one after their remarks. The other down side of this book is that I felt that not enough attention is stated regarding integration. I felt as if the author was resigned to keeping the alters as part of her family. That was very disturbing. All in all, I really liked the book because of the information that was presented was clear and simple to follow. I will use this book constantly as a vital reference and just leave what doesn't work for me. I would recommend this book highly.
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