Customer Reviews

Feeling Unreal: Depersonalization Disorder and the Loss of the Self

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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I first experienced depersonalization and derealization around age 4 or 5. It wasn't frightening then; it was simply a "game of existential thinking" I had control of. But as the years progressed it became a debilitating altered state of consciousness that took over my life. I have had both symptoms "DP" and "DR" -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even in my dreams -- for over thirty years. This altered state has stolen my goals and dreams; it has severely affected my social and occupational pursuits.

I was certain I was in a tiny minority with this until I found a support forum on the internet in 1999. No doctor bothered to mention this is a common symptom or disorder. There are untold numbers like me who have done their own research, and many more who know nothing of what's happening to them -- and they cannot get help or even understanding from the medical community.

I have been infuriated by the lack of knowledge in the mental health profession about the disabling severity of these symptoms be they primary or co morbid with other mental and neurological illnesses. I have likewise been astounded by the number of mental health professionals (even M.D. psychiatrists) who aren't even aware of these symptoms or dismiss them as "not of much concern" even when they are the reason an individual seeks help -- specifically for these odd feelings; I am not alone in battling with doctors and therapists with no clue about Depersonalization Disorder.

Thank you Dr. Simeon for your efforts to understand "DP" and for getting the word out in this first English language book devoted exclusively to Depersonalization Disorder (and none of the other dissociative disorders.)

This book is for laypersons and mental health workers alike. It offers comfort to those with DP -- a greater understanding of the illness -- and will hopefully reach the medical community which must be educated. Knowledge is power for the sufferer and imperative for the therapist.

It is about time.

Depersonalization is the condition that seems very rarely to be talked about (esp. in comparison to depression and anxiety). Finally a book about depersonalization -- I am so glad. This book is concise, clear, and offers a spectrum of interpretations of depersonalization -- from the clinical, medical, physical -- to the spiritual. Probably most importantly of all there are 1st-person accounts from people who experienced or are experiencing long-term depersonalization in their lives. And this is the greatest gift, because now others can read that someone else somewhere has felt as they have -- that they are unreal, that they don't really exist, that everything looks strange/foreign to them, that they don't recognize their own lives and feel like they live in a dream. It is hard to explain to someone who doesn't know what this is like -- that it can be terrifying or enlightening. How can you share this perspective with others who can't perceive of what you mean when you say this? For whatever reason people experience depersonalization -- I am glad this book finally shares information. Is it a curse or a blessing, an insight or a disorder -- to see the world this way? I am glad the discussion is open now. when i first experienced depersonalization I only found small bits of information to understand what I was experiencing. I still feel I live in a dream, but now the terror of it has changed to a different way of being. Thank you for publishing this book -- there are people who have waited a long time to know they are not alone in how they experience the world. This seems to just be the beginning of a new understanding of depersonalization...and of life itself.

Feeling Unreal is the first definitive book that covers the disorder we know very little about. The information contained within is presented in close scrutiny that does not lack detail on any point. The myriad of questions people with depersonalization disorder ask can be found here. Questions of all nature about DPD is answered with accurate, comprehensive information. This book is a godsend to sufferers of DPD. As a sufferer of DPD, the information is very accurate to what I have described as depersonalization. This is an eye opener to the medical field that may incite pharmaceutical research to produce effective medication.

Not only does Feeling Unreal explain the disorder itself, it also mentions in which DPD may have been present in early literature or history, such as the great Shakespeare.

Take it from someone that suffers from this enigmatic disorder. This book has answered all of my questions on the disorder and goes beyond. I give it a 5 out of 5.

I thought I was the only one. I was amazed at how informative this book is. One of the personal accounts is almost identical to my own. I never knew it had a name until I discovered this book. It has given me renewed hope. I hope this book inspires more research in the field of depersonalization. If you even suspect you may suffer from this, read it.

An enlightening book on a subject that has needed Illumination. This book covers the many forms and facets of DPD as well as the many ways it has been described, defined and managed. It covers therapies and medicines that have helped and those that have not. The case studies are fascinating and show just how varied this disorder manifests itself. It is so well written that it seemed every question and skeptic querie that came to mind regarding the cases were anticipated by the authors and answered by the end of the chapers. An easy read on a tough subject!

This is remarkably erudite and well-written for a book by an American psychiatrist. For some reason American psychiatrists have always been rather uninterested in unreality. Reading it prompted me to re-read some work Guy Edwards and Scott Angus did years ago at Bergen Pines Hospital, ("Depersonalization", British Journal of Psychiatry February1972, pages 242-244) and I noted that every reference there was British. The American lack of interest may be part of the reason that victims of depersonalization so often complain that their therapists do not understand them. In some cases the therapists are genuinely ignorant of the disorder. However the fear of not being understood may be intrinsic to the condition. Patients constantly use such phrases as "I don't know how to describe it" and "you don't understand" and remain convinced that no-one else feels as they do, so perhaps this book will help them in that respect. It is not very optimistic about treatment and prognosis and might not be very encouraging as a self-help manual. I think professionals in the field will find it interesting, It is highly readable and the authors show a commendable knowledge of the earlier French and German literature and treat the psychoanalytic writings and claims of psychopharmacologists with a seasoned skepticism.

Most of my life I have had an experience that no-one else seemed to share or understand (depersonalisation). It is reassuring to see that it does exist and that it is not that uncommon. The book describes the experience perfectly, but I agree that further exploration is essential to fully comprehend what is going on.

For therapists, doctors, family members and friends of a person affected by this condition, this is one of the most thorough books I have seen on the topic. As for persons affected with depersonalization, this book will probably trigger you and increase negative symptoms. As all sufferers of DP know, we are very affected by both positive and negative information. The positive information is vital to keeping hope, positively changing thought patterns and recovering. This book triggered my DP negatively and left me feeling hopeless and fearful that I would never overcome DP. I am presently recovering from DP with the help of a therapist (I gave her the copy of this book so she could educate herself about my condition) and the book that is helping me is called: Depersonalization: A Comprehensive Guide on How to Cope With and Alleviate it by Shaun O'Connor A Recovered Sufferer. You can download it instantly from Shaun's website. I then had it printed at Kinkos. You can recover from this! One moment at a time...

I really loved this book. I have had DP/DR for the last 4 years. It is incredibly difficult to live with. It can be very difficult to function while you feel out of body and disoriented. The vast majority of doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists have had no idea what I was talking about- it's so hard to describe. Finally I have a name for my disorder. However, even the reputable Kaiser psychiatrists I've seen have barely even heard of DP/DR. I've had to do a lot of my own research and be my own advocate for medication. FYI- if you suffer from DP/ DR, antipsychotics will not work!!! I tried 5 of them and none of them helped. I've been on clomipramine (anafranil) for a year and my symptoms are totally under control finally (until I tried to go off clomipramine and they came back). To those who suffer- try clomipramine (as described in the book)! It actually works! Loved this book, best by far on the subject.

This book was excellent, providing a good review of much of the literature, the symptoms and some treatment options. The book is realistic and does not promote any "miracle" cures for depersonalizaiton, but is a good guidline for clinicians and for those with depersonalization disorder.