Customer Reviews

Amongst Ourselves: A Self-Help Guide to Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I read this book and it has helped me so much. I do not have DID, but am working with a woman I sponsor in a 12 step program. Our relationship has broadened to include (necessarily) her DID and self harm issues. This book is a very good place to start if you are just learning of your diagnosis, or someone you love is struggling with it. It is written in simple language, and the exercises are really beneficial. My "baby" and I have done a few so far and plan to do more. It is reassuring to her that there are others out there who not only suffer from DID, but have survived and conquered daily living with this disorder. I cannot recommend this book enough as a common sense, straightforward entry level into the world of DID. Thank you, Karen & Tracy, for your courage and your willingness to share your experience with us. You have helped more than you could know.!

We were diagnosed with DID earlier this year following hospitalisation. It was confusing, frightening and outwith the realms of our experience to understand many things which have led to us being, well, us. This book covers everything you need to know about DID in a concise but readable and understandable way. Any "fancy language" is explained and there are examples to help identify with your own experiences as well as clearly laid out sections for family members and coming out as multiple. This book is especially good for friends and family as it explains to them in clear language what DID is and the prejudicial misconceptions about it. This is an excellent book that every DID family or anyone who has a DID friend or family member should own. Buy it - its that simple.

When I first began my process of dealing with my being DID, I read everything I could find on the disorder. But nothing I read, until this book, gave me insight into how to manage my life. This book helps me live my life better each and everyday. I hope that for others with this disorder, this is the first book on the subject that they read. It gives me such hope! Thank you Karen and Tracy.

We had read everything we could get our hands on about MPD, hoping to find something we could use both as a therapeutic source for ourselves and a resource to share with important people in our life.This book not only does just that, but most importantly, it consistantly exudes respect for the multiple as a whole as well as for each alter. Rosalee, one of the alters of one of the authors, describes various facets of living with MPD with honesty and candor. We feel that this book should be distributed like World War Two propaganda: out of low-flying airplanes, to the masses.

This book is most helpful for someone who lives with or loves a multiple...not necessarily someone who wants to "heal" a multiple. The descriptions of the messes the little ones make, the patience to guide some of the personalities into healthy living and eating, the world's perception of multiples as crazy (which they're not), Rosalie the wise....this is a warm and funny and loving book.

One of the authors is a highly educated, successful multiple( or should I say, some of the authors are...?) The other is a singleton who lives in the same house with the multiples, loves most of them, and is a psychologist in her own right. It must have taken courage to write it and "come out." But it was worth it! Just ask anyone who shares a life with a bunch of "others."

It will make you believe in multiple identities, although they are rarely as dramatic or out of control as fiction portrays them.

Having neared completion in therapy for this suvival skill I am always interested in anothers experience and viewpoint. When reading this if you are a person who dissociates I hope you will realize that your experience may be different. It is crucial that you find a therapist that understands dissociation and is willing to learn the correct way to work with you. Perhaps that is the most important message of this book. Anything you read that helps explain the abusive cause, this survival skill, and helps you realize that it in not a crazy persons illness, is worth taking the time to read. For those therapists who still doubt the existence of this ability you should not be treating surviors of abuse. The book suggests you refer to someone with experience and I agree. Thankyou to the authors for making that point clear.

This book is good in the sense that it explains alot to the newly diagnosed or their significant other. However, I found that most if it was just asking you to answer questions in your journal and telling you what you already know (If you've had DID for more than 6 months). Easy read though.