Does Anyone Know Of Any Good Books For Helping With Dissociation?

[IWILLBESKINNY]

Really wanting to try help myself a little more, get some more understanding and hopefully some tips and i do love read. Thanks

 

[Lost Pup]

It is not specifically, primarily about dissociation but there is a wonderful book by Belleruth Naparstek called Invisible Heroes that I have found very helpful and encouraging throughout my healing journey.

 

[CVC]

I like the DBT approach. The workbook I've been using for the past year is called The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook, and it's by Matthew McKay, Jeffrey C. Wood, and Jeffrey Brantley. I really like the mindfulness exercises, and I find they work well for dissociation.

 

[IWILLBESKINNY]

Thanks, it looks good and i like the idea of a workbook.

 

[Lost Pup]

I'd also add - any good book on introductory mindfulness meditation can be an extremely useful tool for learning to stop dissociating.

 

[franciemarnie]

The Body Remembers is a great book about PTSD, and I loved how she writes about what she would say to patients to keep them grounded, stop them from dissociating when trauma energy would come through.

One thing I do to ground myself is feel sensation in my body, stay in my body. I do body scans in mindful meditation so there are parts of me that I know always feel good and I will mentally focus on them. Even focusing on buzzing or uncomfortable parts help. It's keeping me in the real time moment and the body doesn't disappear.

The smell of lemon helps me quickly, and also burning sage. Something that you know and like that can hold you in the present might work. Something that engages the senses.

 

[MissMacD]

The Feel Good Book by David Burns.

 

[Abstract]

I have resisted buying any books specifically aimed at trauma as had a bad experience a bit back and was badly triggered. Getting worse means symptoms get worse which means I am further away from managing therapy. I therefore have mostly read dry research and books aimed at coping skills.

I think I am at a point where I can risk it more.

How potentially triggering or destabilising is Invisible Heroes? Any other recommendations? I hope me asking this is OK Iwillbeskinny. By the way, your name concerns me! Makes me want to rename you Iwillheal. ;)

PS. I just looked inside via web and it it frightens the life out of me. :(

 

[Lost Pup]

Abstract, Belleruth Naperstek is a very gentle writer. There are definitely some potentially triggering passages but, on a quick inspection just now, they seem clearly labelled. If you can handle it, I really recommend it. Along with Beyond Betrayal by Richard Gardner, this is one of the only books I've read about Trauma in the past 7 years that stands out.

 

[Hashi]

How potentially triggering or destabilising is Invisible Heroes? Any other recommendations?

I'm not sure what the issue was with the books you tried before. She mentions some examples of trauma in the text but I don't think that's any more than other books on trauma.

For me, the big problem is some of the visualisations she gives. She seems very keen on imagining beings around you or approaching you. She specifies that they're benign - some kind of light beings, angels or whatever - but any kind of being is completely unsafe for me. I'd imagine other people who have nightmares or hallucinations might feel the same. Apparently the visualisations were developed from long experience of working with trauma survivors, so I'm surprised. Maybe it's just me.
`

 

[Hashi]

@Abstract "The Body Remembers" by Babette Rothschild might be worth looking at. It's actually written for therapists, so it's quite theoretical. I'm making an assumption that you're OK enough with reading about how therapy is practised, given the research that you've been reading. Maybe this could be a crossover book for you?

@IWBS I know this isn't a book but to get an idea of Babette Rothschild's approach there are some good videos on You Tube, for example below.. After about four minutes there's an example of a therapist helping a dissociating client to ground using dual awareness. That might be uncomfortable to watch or might be helpful, I don't know. If you think it might be a problem, I'd suggest stop watching when it switches away from Babette Rothschild.

 

[Abstract]

@Lost Pup thank you. I shall definitely look into them both. It's great that we can peak into books online these days.

So ironic @Hashi as I saw footage of this (the client and therapy session) when I first started figuring out intrusions and flashbacks and have wanted to view it again but could not find it. It was so helpful as at that point I didn't understand any of it. It was a revelation. I was grateful as I was working towards getting trauma therapy and diagnoses stuff for the first time. Knowing these things helped me find out more and I don't know how I would have managed without. Thanks for posting it.

I am not sure the word triggered is correct. I started reading and my levels of intrusions and other symptoms spiked dramatically and continued to do so whenever I even went near the book. It isn't so much normal triggering material that is the issue as I am more prepared for that. I am not sure if it is about reality and my denial being suddenly reduced but it almost seems that when it is compassionately put across in the context of trauma that it gets to me in a different way. I can't make sense of it and is a tad annoying as I then can't plan properly. Maybe if I am in intellectuallisation mode it acts as a more significant buffer than I believe is possible. Its almost as if a different part of me is processing things and one that is less vulnerable. I will have a look at the books.

As for visualisations of people being around me.... :wideeyed: