My Support Forums - View Single Post - Are there any self-help books for dissociation?

Lilly2 · 11:20 PM

I was wondering if there are any self-help books for dissociation??

I've read some of the books about dissociation, as they describe what it is and the symptoms and available treatment offered. However, it's really hard to find a qualified, trained T who believes in and treats dissociation. --Especially at the VA.

In the interim of finding a therapist, or even if I get assigned to a therapist for PTSD, among other things, I heard that self-help books offer supplementary support and tools. However, I don't know of any.

Have any of you come across any good self-help books for dissociation? Have any of those books helped you?

The types of therapies I've had for dissociation alone (not including PTSD, though it is connected), include:

IFS therapy
Grounding techniques
CBT for dissociation management (while inpatient)
Pacing and containing

I'm not sure of any other treatments available, apart from CBT for trauma perhaps, but it's hard to face trauma when dissociation is the primary symptom blocking trauma treatment.

DBT doesn't help me at all, but oddly enough, CBT does.

Desensitization therapies sometimes helps, but it depends on who is "out" or coconscious with me. Some parts may desensitize and feel a sense of relief, which brings me relief when I work alongside them with IFS approaches. But other parts are not desensitized and are still terrified of things, so only IFS approaches help for now, since I have to be patient with those parts and understand their fears, and then eventually accept those fears wholeheartedly as my own.

Sometimes I'd be okay with something, but that same something would be triggering in a different context or even at a different time within the confines of the same context. It's strange. The triggers ebb and flow, and some remain unknown until I discover what my triggers are.

If there were a self-help book for dissociation specifically, it would help both me and hopefully a therapist who is willing to work with me on a self-help book.