What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dissociative Identity Disorder Sourcebook
Finally, a book that addresses your concerns about DID
From Eve to Sybil to Truddi Chase, the media have long chronicled the lives of people with dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder. The Dissociative Identity Disorder Sourcebook serves as a much-needed bridge for communication between the dissociative individual and therapists, family, and friends who also have to learn to deal with the effects of this truly astonishing disorder.
From Eve to Sybil to Truddi Chase, the media have long chronicled the lives of people with dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder. The Dissociative Identity Disorder Sourcebook serves as a much-needed bridge for communication between the dissociative individual and therapists, family, and friends who also have to learn to deal with the effects of this truly astonishing disorder.
311 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
120 people are currently reading
1252 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 7, 2014
This book is definitely more for older parts. It's very textbook-ish but has LOTS of information. We liked the self-care notecard book idea and some of the suggestions about internal communication and the sharing letter template. But it's all very similar to things we've gotten from other sources. If you're looking for a therapist and/or a group it might be useful as a first book, but it's definitely not our favorite.
April 29, 2012
Thorough, accurate and compassionate...ideal mixture of clinical and layman's language. I've given copies of this book to my clients with DID and they have found it helpful; particularly the resources and practical healing strategies.
March 11, 2014
I came across this book when I was looking into the state of dissociation. Although I don't have Dissociative Identity Disorder myself (or know anyone with it), I found it very useful to understand the concept of dissociation and how it's present in everybody to varying degrees.
March 19, 2021
It's hard to really give a review for this since I know I am nitpicking but I will go ahead nonetheless.
I think this book is primarily good for people who know someone with DiD but do not understand even remotely. It illustrates things in a manner that people who have no idea (or worse, the Hollywood idea) of what happens or why or what DiD can even look like in people. I feel this would be an excellent read for parents or something similar, especially for someone who struggles to understand the core concepts on paper. This makes it hard for me to rate it how I personally felt about it because it's by no means a BAD book.
That being said, I do not recommend this book for a person who has the disorder and has already been in any kind of treatment. Maybe as an introduction after receiving some kind of diagnoses? But even then I do not know if I would recommend it. I took issue with how the author infantilized the disorder on frequent occasion, claiming over and over that patients will just 'randomly turn into' children as some hallmark of the disorder. I understand that this is an important issue and one that gets frequently misunderstood but it casts a very condescending stereotype, making it challenging to read.
Dissociative Identity is of course, linked with childhood and early childhood trauma but it is not defined by totally out of control turn into a toddler and state your name loudly play with stuffed animals on the floor out of nowhere to strangers. Nor should it be explained this way to people who have no concept of what dissociation looks like or feels like. I feel the sentiment of 'consult your therapist regarding your child alters' is definitely great advice and an important question to ask- but I think that could have been as far as it went. Systems can be very different in terms of needs and age regression. Healing persecutors can be just as important as giving child alters attention for example.
Outside of this issue a lot of the information and advice were already things one would know through therapy (again, not bashing just saying that for most people, by the time you receive a DiD diagnosis you've already been through years of psychiatric care). All of this aside, this feels like a heartfelt attempt to bring some better information into the (very depressing) catalogue of Dissociative Disorder literature, that I can appreciate.
I think this book is primarily good for people who know someone with DiD but do not understand even remotely. It illustrates things in a manner that people who have no idea (or worse, the Hollywood idea) of what happens or why or what DiD can even look like in people. I feel this would be an excellent read for parents or something similar, especially for someone who struggles to understand the core concepts on paper. This makes it hard for me to rate it how I personally felt about it because it's by no means a BAD book.
That being said, I do not recommend this book for a person who has the disorder and has already been in any kind of treatment. Maybe as an introduction after receiving some kind of diagnoses? But even then I do not know if I would recommend it. I took issue with how the author infantilized the disorder on frequent occasion, claiming over and over that patients will just 'randomly turn into' children as some hallmark of the disorder. I understand that this is an important issue and one that gets frequently misunderstood but it casts a very condescending stereotype, making it challenging to read.
Dissociative Identity is of course, linked with childhood and early childhood trauma but it is not defined by totally out of control turn into a toddler and state your name loudly play with stuffed animals on the floor out of nowhere to strangers. Nor should it be explained this way to people who have no concept of what dissociation looks like or feels like. I feel the sentiment of 'consult your therapist regarding your child alters' is definitely great advice and an important question to ask- but I think that could have been as far as it went. Systems can be very different in terms of needs and age regression. Healing persecutors can be just as important as giving child alters attention for example.
Outside of this issue a lot of the information and advice were already things one would know through therapy (again, not bashing just saying that for most people, by the time you receive a DiD diagnosis you've already been through years of psychiatric care). All of this aside, this feels like a heartfelt attempt to bring some better information into the (very depressing) catalogue of Dissociative Disorder literature, that I can appreciate.
August 28, 2013
I have needed to find resources to research this topic, and I count this as the top resource I have found. It's written for the layman, laying all of the information out step-by-step. The explanations are easily understood by the average person, and the reading level is also geared to the average reader. The book makes clear that this Disorder originates in the psychological and pathological realms of coping with severe, prolonged trauma, abuse, and fear. It describes exactly what this Disorder is, formerly called multiple personality disorder, how the "altars" or differing personalities may form, be like, or interact (or not), choices of therapists and therapy, learning healthy coping skills, integrating the personalities, and much more. It is a wonderful resource and guide for those who suffer from the disorder, their families and friends, and their therapists. Many therapists are not trained in treating this illness. It's an empowering message for the DID sufferer of regaining the ability to trust, moving out of therapy into stabilization, and living a life of hope and happiness. It's been a great source of information as part of my research, and, as it is meant to do, it has given me a higher awareness of the suffering of these DID individuals and compassion for them as they learn to live with the disorder in a healthy manner.p
July 7, 2021
We were recently diagnosed with DID, so reading through this after diagnosis helps a lot. Some things seem outdated or geared towards mostly overt systems, but still this is a helpful guide overall.
September 15, 2019
Very, very good.
This is an underappreciated textbook that explains, once and for all, that people with mutliple personalities are not ... Gollum.
My preccccccccccccious
Wait, people with multiple personalities actually don't always ... act like Smeagul/Gollum, switching from naive and chaotically good to murderously evil? Because of a ring?
Among mental illnesses and personality disorders, multiple personality disorder (MPD) - now called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) - is probably the most misunderstood.
One of the reasons is, of course, the media. Movies (especially thrillers) like to portray sufferers of MPD/DID as nice people who are oblivious to their criminal DARK SIDE that just happens to roam the streets whenever the host gets a headache *ominous music*
It's a Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde thing. If the host notices anything at all, he is at war with himself, cringing, screaming and rolling around until the metamorphosis to the evil self is complete *maniacal laugh*
He? Yes, why are so many portrayals of dissociators in the media male (killers)? It is a fact that most dissociators are female (if only because many males do not seek help), but that is not at all adressed by the exagerated image the illness has in the media.
This book will teach you:
- What MPD/DID really is and how the dissociator feels and where the illness originates.
- the purpose and behavior of alters
- how DID is treated
- misconceptions about the illness
- different coping techniques and therapy methods
and much more. So if you would like to know what poor Gollum is going through on the inside (coping and dissociating from the traumatic meeting with the ring) then this is the book for you!
This is an underappreciated textbook that explains, once and for all, that people with mutliple personalities are not ... Gollum.
My preccccccccccccious
Wait, people with multiple personalities actually don't always ... act like Smeagul/Gollum, switching from naive and chaotically good to murderously evil? Because of a ring?
Among mental illnesses and personality disorders, multiple personality disorder (MPD) - now called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) - is probably the most misunderstood.
One of the reasons is, of course, the media. Movies (especially thrillers) like to portray sufferers of MPD/DID as nice people who are oblivious to their criminal DARK SIDE that just happens to roam the streets whenever the host gets a headache *ominous music*
It's a Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde thing. If the host notices anything at all, he is at war with himself, cringing, screaming and rolling around until the metamorphosis to the evil self is complete *maniacal laugh*
He? Yes, why are so many portrayals of dissociators in the media male (killers)? It is a fact that most dissociators are female (if only because many males do not seek help), but that is not at all adressed by the exagerated image the illness has in the media.
This book will teach you:
- What MPD/DID really is and how the dissociator feels and where the illness originates.
- the purpose and behavior of alters
- how DID is treated
- misconceptions about the illness
- different coping techniques and therapy methods
and much more. So if you would like to know what poor Gollum is going through on the inside (coping and dissociating from the traumatic meeting with the ring) then this is the book for you!
February 7, 2018
The most respectful and comprehensive guide I've seen. It's broad, and addresses very different audiences, which means it sometimes glosses over some things, necessarily, and I don't agree with every last piece of its advice.... but still it's an amazing accomplishment to have written something so comprehensive, that does such a great job of addressing 3 crucial audiences (people with DID, therapists, people who care about someone with DID). Well done, Ms. Haddock!
May 6, 2019
Great resource
Great resource for newly diagnosed individuals with DID, their families, friends and spouses.
This book goes into detail for therapy types and how tiger started, as well as the disorder, for those who had never received talk therapy ( or limited amounts) before.
This book was at times triggering, and did warn readers early on that it could be triggering. I recommend reading it slowly and not being afraid to coming back to it to reread.
Great resource for newly diagnosed individuals with DID, their families, friends and spouses.
This book goes into detail for therapy types and how tiger started, as well as the disorder, for those who had never received talk therapy ( or limited amounts) before.
This book was at times triggering, and did warn readers early on that it could be triggering. I recommend reading it slowly and not being afraid to coming back to it to reread.
February 24, 2019
Great book for people struggling with DID, their loved ones, and even mental health professionals. It had a lot of good information and resources. It definitely reads more like a text book, but it uses regular easy to understand information so its great for people who are not familiar with all of the technical terms.
December 25, 2017
It's rare to come across a client with DID, but because of this it's also rare to come across a lot of info about the disorder in grad school. This book is easy to read and very informative. It would be good for anyone: clinicians, family members and friends of individuals with DID.
March 1, 2015
The portions of medication and group therapy and those parts targeted towards therapists exclusively were a downside to the general reader, but otherwise an excellent book that dispels the myths associated with DID and with the more widely used name of multiple personality disorder.
August 11, 2008
Not Good. Wouldn't Recommend. Much Of This Book Is About The History Of Dissociation. We found much of the info in this book to be very basic, so if you are new to DID you may like it.
January 16, 2009
A very helpful text for the counselor dealing with clients with dissociative disorders on all spectrums.
March 12, 2015
very informative
December 13, 2016
Very informative, lots of case stories from real people. Written so that you don't need a PHD in psychology to understand it.
June 5, 2020
I have always been fascinated with psychology (I even got my degree in the subject) and had to pick up this book as it is one of the few on Dissociative Identity Disorder. This covers various therapy styles, defensive techniques, types of dissociation, and so much more. I think it is also a wonderful resource for anyone who has DID or for any family/friends who want to know more!
I only wish that they had covered/discussed more research that has been done with DID since I am most interested in that, however I still found this interesting.
I only wish that they had covered/discussed more research that has been done with DID since I am most interested in that, however I still found this interesting.
December 11, 2020
This book only confirms my suspicions that talk teraphy is a bunch of mumbo jumbo without any medical or even scientific justification. Imagine you show up at your local ER with a broken leg and the doctor says: "Oh, it's going to take 4 years to fix it and you're going to have to show up once a week and maybe even attend group therapy with other people with broken legs". Would you go for it? Not in a million years I bet.
August 15, 2025
A clear, concise, and information-packed look into dissociative identity disorder (DID) and its causes.
Highly recommend for those new to the disorder. Explains key symptoms, therapeutic interventions, and coping strategies for those recently diagnosed. Perfect for audiences with differing levels of expertise on the subject.
Highly recommend for those new to the disorder. Explains key symptoms, therapeutic interventions, and coping strategies for those recently diagnosed. Perfect for audiences with differing levels of expertise on the subject.
July 19, 2022
Fantastic book! So much information and better understanding for a person with DID and trauma and with those who are in their lives. There is also a whole resource section in the back with a lot more information about books, websites, places, etc. This book is a definite recommended read.
June 27, 2025
A general overview of many things that might impact the life of someone with DID. It is a bit general and outdated, so I didn't find it very helpful, but there were a few good ideas. Bonus points for *speaking about healing with choices (not just integration/unification as the only option)!
February 12, 2020
While the book would benefit from an updated version, there's a lot of solid information here and it remains a good resource for anyone living with a dissociative disorder, particularly DID or OSDD.
December 11, 2020
Took a course on this subject. Very interesting concept. However, in the most part, it only gives out references instead going into detail.
April 21, 2021
Useful. Thoughtful, open-minded, compassionate, realistic, supportive.
June 14, 2021
Clear and concise, this book looks at a lot of different issues that people with DID have.
August 5, 2023
Very helpful explains things so people can understand. Only downside is the resource list in the back of the book is outdated some of the resources are still available but some are not
Read
May 22, 2024i read through this whole book to (fail to) find a specific paragraph fuck me
January 12, 2025
I gave the five stars for the thorough overview as well as the tools included. Even the references in the back were interesting. It’s one I’ll keep for future reference.
February 12, 2023
Felt more for therapists and less the patient
Very informative, but I was looking for a resource geared more the patients and identifying stories from others with DID. I still learned some tools and conversations to broach with my therapist, which seems helpful. It just was not the type of literature I was hoping for which is no fault of the book.
Very informative, but I was looking for a resource geared more the patients and identifying stories from others with DID. I still learned some tools and conversations to broach with my therapist, which seems helpful. It just was not the type of literature I was hoping for which is no fault of the book.
March 17, 2014
Extremely informative and interesting so far. I don't want to rate it just yet but I would probably give it a four thus far but I am only about 40 pages thus far so I have a lot to go. I will keep you updated!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews