Overcoming Depersonalization Disorder: A Mindfulness and Acceptance Guide to Conquering Feelings of Numbness and Unreality [Paperback]

Overcoming Depersonalization Disorder is an excellent book for those suffering depersonalization disorder (and derealization). It's simple, accessible, and easy to read.

I read this book as I was conducting research for a video program I created on how to recover from depersonalization. I was already familiar with many of the terms, but still found this book quite helpful.

The major limitation is that it doesn't include any information on a psychodynamic approach to DP, or how to deal with the childhood issues that truly cause the disorder to occur. Because of this, the book will likely provide a great amount of relief and improvement to sufferers, but a full recovery from the disorder is not likely to occur if the earlier issues aren't dealt with directly. Since psychodynamic therapies (like attachment therapies and family systems therapy) are what truly helped me to experience a full recovery, it's too bad information wasn't included about those approaches. Aside from this omission, this book is a great overview of the more popular behavior therapies used to help people deal with DP in the here and now.

It approaches depersonalization disorder from a behavior standpoint, meaning that it will help you get rid of DP by changing the way you think and behave in the present moment. All of the therapies talked about in here are meant to deal with life in the here and now, not about dealing with past issues like childhood trauma, disorganized attachment, etc. Although different forms of trauma are talked about in the beginning of the book, this discussion is brief, and the therapeutic methods included in this book don't deal with those issues by delving into them (which would be considered a psychodynamic approach).

The book includes a succinct overview of the neurobiology of DP, and comorbid disorders (such as BPD). These sections are short, but are to the point and well written, giving the reader a good grasp of how DP relates to the brain, and other disorders. It's very likely that people with DP have some of these other disorders too.

The core of the book approaches DP from the perspective of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) which along with dialectical behavior therapy, and behavioral activation is considered a "third wave" behavior therapy. What I really appreciate about these ACT sections is that they explain the main concepts of ACT without the usual fluffiness that most ACT books have. They've only included the "nuggets" of ACT and left out much of the belabored psychobabble. This makes it easy to upload these ideas to the mind. These concepts include cognitive defusion, developing values, engaging in value based action as opposed to experiential avoidance, and being mindfully aware of the present moment instead of engaging in constant rumination.

The book includes a chapter on dialectical behavior therapy, which was originally designed for people suffering from borderline personality disorder. There is a chapter on behavior strategies, which mostly centers on exposing one's self to unpleasant situations or sensations. An elaboration on behavioral activation could have been included, particularly an activity-mood monitoring chart. Since many people with depersonalization are particularly passive, behavioral activation could have been stressed more.

The book ends with a brief introduction to cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), a brief discussion of medications (none of which cure DP), and an odd mentioning of a cingulotomy as a possible treatment option. There is also a helpful FAQ section at the end.

Reading Overcoming Depersonalization Disorder is a great way of getting the most important concepts from a number of different therapies, all in one book, without having to wade through too much unpractical information. At 170 pages, this book offers a lot of value to depersonalization sufferers. It's limitation is that it sticks solely to a behavior therapy approach and includes no information on psychodynamic approaches.

As a counselor, I bought this to help understand a client with this disorder. It was, in fact, very helpful, as I knew very little. I also recommended it to the client. It was easy to read and understand, and it had practical guidance and advice for dealing with it. A person going through this disorder often feels very alone - this book helps them to feel like somebody understands and there must be others out there who are also working through it.

This is a well-researched and well-written book, although it was rather difficult to absorb all the information.

I did absorb one very important thing. I think it's important to note that if you are considering a CD PROGRAM or perhaps another "VIRTUAL METHOD" to help with your DPD in the Q&A section of this book it states:

"A WEBSITE PROGRAM SAID IT COULD CURE MY DPD WITH CD THERAPY FOR A PAYMENT. SHOULD I TRUST THIS?

NO. MANY OF THESE WEBSITES MISREPRESENT THEIR PRODUCTS. THERE'S NO EASY OR INSTANT CURE FOR DEPERSONALIZATION, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE WARY OF ANY ORGANIZATION THAT MAKES SUCH CLAIMS."

I am SOOOO glad I noted that because I was on the verge of paying for an ONLINE PROGRAM and THERE IS NO WAY I WILL DO IT NOW!!

Watch out for opportunists - they are truly pathetic!!!!

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