Multiple Personality Disorder from the Inside Out [Paperback]

W. Giller (Author), Barry M. Cohen (Editor), Esther Giller (Editor), Lynn W. (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 1991

In this unique book, persons with Dissociative Disorders and their significant others address the complex issues of diagnosis, therapy, and maintaining personal relationships. "Viewed from the inside out," Dissociative Identity Disorder takes on an impassioned voice as those who struggle with dissociation share their experiences, obstacles, and triumphs. Contributions by 146 individuals diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder and the people with whom they share their lives have been gathered into an accessible and practical volume for therapists, clients, and lay readers interested in how to better be supportive of individuals who suffer with dissociative diagnoses. Many will find that the book validates their own experiences and feelings, as it explores the post-diagnosis journey. Published by The Sidran Foundation with the Eastern Regional Conference on Abuse and Multiple Personality and the newsletter Many Voices, Multiple Personality Disorder from the Inside Out has been compiled and edited by a therapist, a client, and a family member. In addition to the first-person writings described above, the volume contains an introductory chapter describing MPD and dissociation, a glossary of terms, a list of resources, and an index. Winner of the prestigious 1991 Distinguished Achievement Award given by the International Society for the Study of Multiple Personality and Dissociation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If I had to offer one book to teach people what it's really like to live with multiplicity, I would choose this one." --Meg Nugent, Moving Forward

"A must for anyone whose life has been touched by this complex disorder." --Frank W. Putnam, M.D., Chief Unit on Dissociative Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health

"Multiple Personality Disorder from the Inside Out speaks about multiplicity in a way that makes sense: free of the jargon and esoterica that distances. Full of the power and courage of real people's lives, this book is wonderful, very human, and truly useful." --Ellen Bass, co-author of The Courage to Heal

From the Publisher

This book is published by the Sidran Foundation, a national nonprofit organization devoted to advocacy, education, and research in support of people with traumatic stress conditions. To learn more about the Sidran Foundation and our work, please visit our website at http://www.sidran.org.

Product Details

• Paperback: 245 pages
• Publisher: Sidran Press (September 4, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962916404
• ISBN-13: 978-0962916403
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #417,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, friendly, healing book

, July 7, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Multiple Personality Disorder from the Inside Out (Paperback)

I personally think this is a wonderful book :) It's a collection of writing from 146 multiples and some of their significant others; lots of prose, some poetry and a little art.

The writing was sent in as a response to a questionnaire distributed to readers of <CITE>Many Voices</CITE> and members of ISSMP&D (now ISSD). It contained three open questions for multiples, and one for SOs. The multiple were asked what they wish they had known when they were first diagnosed, and what the would like therapists and SOs to know about MPD. SOs were asked what they would like to share with other friends and SOs of multiples.

From these questions there is is a huge range of responses. From people talking about the terror, or relief of their diagnosis as MP, to guidelines to prevent abuse in therapy, and for health workers dealing with multiples in the emergency room. It is this breadth that makes the book so valuable to me, I can go to it just wanting companionship in my fears, or looking for inspiration, or to help me find a solution to a problem in our inside work.

The book is divided into nine chapters; the first seven deal with the course of therapy (Diagnosis, Pain, Skeptics, Therapy Successes, Therapy Disappointments, Hope, Unification). The last two are about relationships, one (Families and Friends) talking about what the multiple wants from their relationships, the other (Other's Voices) a collection of writing by the SOs themselves, these are authored by many people, including a son, a daughter, a mother, spouses, partners and friends.

The main things I miss in it are writing by littles (I think there are 2 or 3 things, but I'd like to see more), writing by non-"host" alters in general (again there was a little, but not as much as I'd have liked) and writing by therapists.

All I can say in recommendation is that I've read it, I've loaned it to my SO to read, and my counselor read it cover to cover. I think it gave us all a little more hope, and understanding, something that we all so desperately need.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read For Those with MPD and their Loved Ones, August 3, 2000

By 

"keatherwood" (Washington State, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Multiple Personality Disorder from the Inside Out (Paperback)

As someone who has DID/MPD, this is the best overall book I have read. It gives the perspective on MPD from those that know best, the people who have it. Being diagnosed with DID (the new name) is trauma in itself, let alone reading all the mis-information out there, and hearing the sensationalism. This book was like reading about myself. It validated my feelings and helped me not feel so alone and afraid. I still refer to parts of it for inspiration, information, and acknowledgment that I'm not crazy. I had my husband read the book, my therapist has read it, and anyone in my life that wants to be supportive also gets a copy. I am well on the road to recovery now, and I can truly say that this book helped me along the way.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Multiple Personality Disorder From the Inside Out, April 15, 2001

By 

Rebecca Ebner "beccae1" (Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Multiple Personality Disorder from the Inside Out (Paperback)

This book was incredible. I wish I had read it when I was first diagnosed with the disorder, but I was well on my way into integration by the time I found it. Even still, it was helpful because I was able to see that others were feeling the same exact things I had felt and was still feeling. It validated my thoughts and feelings about every aspect of the disorder. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has been diagnosed with MPD, their therapists, their significant others and anyone else who knows someone with MPD and wants to understand what is happening to them.