Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation: Skills Training for Patients and Therapists (Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology)

I’m only a chapter in and I know that this book is going to save my life. Been struggling with chronic dissociation for about 4 months now nonstop and this book has so far helped me grasp how it works as a concept… therefore helping me process what I’m going through. I’m so excited to finish reading this book over the next few months and go through every chapter because every single topic seems to hit the nail on the head. The authors know what they’re talking about and that is so receiving as someone struggling with dissociation because not many people can grasp the topic and correctly help me. Absolutely amazing.

Written in such a compassionate way. Includes worksheets, anecdotes, and guides to integrate ourselves back to our true selves. Highly recommended to anyone out there with CPTSD or dissociative coping mechanisms!

I can't say enough about this book. I had gotten very discouraged working with traumatized women and addicts. The first client I used this book with had been stuck for some time and was sinking deeper and deeper into despair, hopelessness, panic, anxiety and depression. She was also morbidly obese. After one session with this manual, she began to have hope, she engaged very actively in the treatment. One of the amazing things I see about working with these methods is that memories begin to surface spontaneously, as the client is ready, and within the context of the therapy, they feel safe to process and share the memories. In the case of this particular client, there was a facet of her abuse that haunted her immensely but she couldn't say why. By the third session, a memory had surfaced which explained it, and she was able to cope with it and process it in session. I found it very interesting that the memory surfaced as a movie on a screen with no sounds or smells, which is something the book indicates will happen. This client, as well as others, are enormously reassured and encouraged by the fact that suddenly everything makes sense, they are not the only ones who feel this way, and that there are therapists who have tons of experience working with these symptoms, to the point that they were able to write a book that both explains and offers hope. I also work with a lot of addicts and have become convinced that almost all addicts suffer from DDNOS, and I believe that this treatment should be a part of any successful substance abuse treatment. When I introduce some of these ideas in a group of addicts, I have the full attention of every person, male and female. They start to ask questions an things begin to fall into place for them. This work is so miraculous that I have purchased a pile of books all dealing with Polyvagal Theory, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Viseral Sensory Neuroscience, etc, to further my understanding of how the viscera reacts to trauma, and the role of neuroleptic not and interception in triggering people to have panic, anxiety, and to carry out behaviors such as self harming, eating disorders and substance abuse. Clients are awed to find out that there is an answer to the formerly mysterious monster that controls them and devours them. I am continuing to read and study, and in the meantime I am reaching my clients in a way that I have never been able to before.

I’m working through this workbook one chapter at a time with my therapist and really like it. I have DID and compared to other books find this to be spot on, and also informative. I appreciate the caring approach.

This book is perfect if you want to get to know more about your mental health this book is the perfect book

I'm unsure if I have a dissociative disorder. But I know I dissociate for sure. This book covers everything I could ever think of in regards to how past trauma and their repetitions have affected me and my life. I felt like someone was dissecting me thoroughly in a way that I have longed for for so long.I read the Kindle edition, and the only annoying part is that I wanted to copy the worksheets so I have them elsewhere to work on. But there is a copy limit due to copyright concerns so I ended up just having to write notes to do the worksheets. Not ideal since I liked keeping the worksheets in one place and coming back to them if there were parts I didn't fill out.In terms of tangible advice, I did find some parts to be repetitive, especially towards the end if you're not running groups. However, it was ultimately helpful since I would get triggered by something written and the repetition would serve as a reminder for what I could do to help myself in that moment. I wish there was something to wrap up the book for those not running groups though. Overall, the book has been and will continue to be a resource for me along my journey.Would definitely recommend for other trauma sufferers plagued with dissociation.