Dissociative Identity Disorder: Self-Help and Memoirs

See also: DID Plurality

and Books about Healing PTSD, Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders (traumadissociation.com)

Keep in mind that authors have different perspectives about topics such as integration, particularly if the book is older. Glossary of Terms – Learn About DID

Workbooks

Amazon.com: Growing Beyond Survival: A Self-Help Toolkit for Managing Traumatic Stress, Second Edition: 9781886968226: Elizabeth G. Vermilyea, MA: Books

Amazon.com: The Complex PTSD Journal: A Guided Journal to Help You Heal, Grow, and Thrive: 9781638780892: Okosi PsyD, Mercedes J.: Books

Transforming The Living Legacy of Trauma: A Workbook for Survivors and Therapists: Fisher, Janina: 9781683733485: Amazon.com: Books

Amazon.com: The Finding Solid Ground Program Workbook: Overcoming Obstacles in Trauma Recovery: 9780197629031: Schielke, H., Brand, Bethany L., Lanius, Ruth A.: Books also on Kindle

Dear Little Ones (Book 1): Hope, Help, and Healing for Your Inner Children

Dear Little Ones book 1 also on Kindle

Author: Jade Miller 2021
Overview: Aimed at children and inner child parts of adults with DID, this book provides gentle, affirming messages to help explain DID in a compassionate and age-appropriate manner. It fosters a sense of safety and understanding for younger alters, encouraging healing and self-acceptance.
also available on audible

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The Family Inside hardcover

• Author: Doris Bryant and Judy Kessler 1992
• Overview: Written for those with DID and their loved ones, this book offers insights into the experience of living with multiple parts. It includes personal accounts, therapeutic strategies, and practical advice for fostering communication and cooperation among alters.

Got Parts?: An Insider's Guide to Managing Life Successfully with Dissociative Identity Disorder (everand.com) 2004

Read on Everand

"Got Parts? An Insider's Guide to Managing Life Successfully with Dissociative Identity Disorder 

also on Kindle and Audible

(New Horizons in Therapy 2004) by A.T.W. "Got Parts? was written by a survivor of DID in association with her therapist and therapy group. This book is filled with successful coping techniques and strategies to enhance the day-to-day functioning of adult survivors of DID in relationships, work, parenting, self-confidence, and self-care. Got Parts will help you introduce yourself to your internal family and improve its communication, integration, and well-being. Although written to carefully avoid triggering, it delivers well-grounded guidelines for living that DID people need to do on the way to recovery. Coping strategies included help you with issues related to triggers, flashbacks, and body memories. Got Parts also includes a detailed list of outside resources you can draw on. This book is intended to be used in conjunction with a therapist and is not a substitute for therapy."

Becoming the One also on Kindle and Audible

• Author: Sheleana Aiyana 2024
• Overview: While not exclusively about dissociation, this book discusses the journey of healing from trauma and reconnecting with the self. It encourages readers to embrace their wholeness and find inner peace through self-love and integration.

Switching Time also on Kindle and Audible
Author: Richard Baer 2008
Overview: A true story of a therapist working with a patient with DID. Dr. Baer chronicles his patient Karen’s journey, exploring her traumatic past, the emergence of her alters, and the challenges of therapy. It provides a compelling look at the therapeutic process and the complexity of DID.

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The Myth of Sanity also on Kindle and Audible

• Author: Martha Stout 2002
• Overview: This book examines how dissociation manifests in everyday life, not just in individuals with DID. Dr. Stout explores the ways people unconsciously use dissociation to cope with trauma and how it affects their sense of self and relationships.

THE STRANGER IN THE MIRROR: Dissociation: The Hidden Epidemic  also on Kindle

by Marlene Steinberg, Maxine Schnall 2000. 

"This book drags you into it. I found myself going back to it again and again, I was through the first hundred pages and thought the easy reading and understand of
this book in unbelievable. I didn't think I would be able to read it norless understand it. I had to take that chance and was I shocked when I realized it was on my level. This is a must read book for all.
I found myself all thought this book, and at times we found ourselves.
Thank You so much for this information it has given me a better understanding after years of talking with a therapist on some of the insanity that my life has taken me through."

"Amongst Ourselves: A Self-Help Guide to Living With Dissociative Identity Disorder 

by Tracy, Ph.D. Alderman, Karen Marshall LCSW, 1998,
"We had read everything we could get our hands on about MPD, hoping to find something we could use both as a therapeutic source for ourselves and a resource to share with important people in our life. This book not only does just that, but most importantly, it consistantly exudes respect for the multiple as a whole as well as for each alter. Rosalee, one of the alters of one of the authors, describes various facets of living with MPD with honesty and candor. We feel that this book
should be distributed like World War Two propaganda: out of low-flying airplanes, to the masses."

"Growing Beyond Survival 2000, is a versatile workbook can be used as an independent self-help program, in the context of individual therapy, or in a group setting. It teaches trauma survivors to recognize, contextualize, and understand distressing dissociative and posttraumatic reactions. It also creates a structure in which to learn and practice skills for self-regulation of the troublesome thoughts, feelings, and impulses related to traumatic experiences."

 

"Managing Traumatic Stress Through Art 1995, will inspire survivors to explore the aftermath of traumatic stress as it affects self-image, relationships with others, and functioning in the world. The 26 projects in this book encourage creative growth and help to establish a sense of personal safety, while exploring and honoring feelings of anger, fear, shame, and sadness. The art experiences are broad enough to be of value to survivors of a wide variety of traumatic experiences, ranging from childhood abuse to accidents to disabling mental illness."

 

"In The Way of the Journal, 1998, therapist and author Kathleen Adams, M.A. teaches her trademark approach to using reflective writing as a therapeutic process. Adams' ten-step "quick and easy" method was created to provide sexual abuse survivors and dissociative clients with ways to maximize structure, balance, and permission while minimizing overstimulation and overwhelming feeling. Developed while working with dissociative disorders patients at a national treatment center, The Way of the Journal can be used by all survivors, as well as anyone in pain who wishes to gain greater self-understanding."

Becoming Yourself: Overcoming Mind Fragmentation in Trauma Survivors

• Author: Dr. Janina Fisher
• Overview: This book explores mind fragmentation and dissociation as responses to trauma. Dr. Fisher presents practical techniques rooted in neuroscience and trauma therapy, emphasizing the integration of fragmented parts into a cohesive sense of self. Strategies include somatic awareness, mindfulness, and internal dialogue to foster healing and self-compassion.

Overcoming Depersonalization and Feelings of Unreality

• Author: Fugen Neziroglu and Katharine Donnelly
• Overview: A guide for those struggling with depersonalization and derealization, this book combines psychoeducation with cognitive-behavioral strategies to address symptoms of disconnection from reality. It provides exercises to ground oneself, address underlying anxiety or trauma, and develop a greater sense of self-awareness and presence.

A Logical Way of Being

• Author: Melanie Goodwin
• Overview: This book is a self-help guide written for individuals with DID. Melanie Goodwin uses clear language and logical frameworks to demystify dissociation and provide actionable advice for understanding and working with parts. The book offers tools for communication, cooperation, and internal harmony between alters.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (also on Audible)

• Author: Dr. Bessel van der Kolk 2014
• Overview: This foundational book on trauma explains how traumatic experiences affect the brain and body. Dr. van der Kolk emphasizes the role of dissociation in trauma and explores various therapies, such as EMDR, yoga, and neurofeedback, to help individuals process trauma and reconnect with their bodies. It provides a blend of research and clinical anecdotes to underscore the importance of healing through body-mind integration.

Memoirs

When Rabbit Howls also on Kindle

• Authors: The Troops for Truddi Chase
• Year: 1987
• Overview: This autobiographical book chronicles the life of Truddi Chase, who developed DID as a result of severe childhood abuse. Written collaboratively by her multiple alters ("The Troops"), it provides raw and unfiltered insight into living with DID, the trauma behind its development, and the therapeutic journey.

All of Me: How I Learned to Live with the Many Personalities Sharing My Body also on Kindle

See: Two People with DID Talk

• Author: Kim Noble
• Year: 2011
• Overview: Kim Noble shares her personal experience with DID, detailing how her alters live distinct lives and the challenges she faces navigating daily life. The book explores her journey through therapy, self-discovery, and ultimately finding a sense of unity.

Read on Everand

I Am WE: My Life with Multiple Personalities

• Author: Christine Pattillo
• Year: 2013
• Overview: Christine Pattillo shares her personal journey with DID, detailing the challenges and triumphs of living with multiple alters. The book offers hope and understanding for those with DID and their loved ones, emphasizing resilience and healing. 

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The Girl in the Green Dress also on Kindle

• Author: Cathryn Kemp coming out in 2025
• Overview: A memoir recounting the author’s struggle with severe trauma and DID. Cathryn Kemp shares her journey through therapy, the discovery of her alters, and the challenges of integrating traumatic memories. It highlights resilience and the path to recovery.
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As If it Didn't Happen out of print

• Author: Maggie Claire
• Overview: A memoir about living with and healing from DID. Maggie Claire shares her experiences of dissociation, trauma, and recovery, shedding light on the emotional and psychological impact of dissociative disorders.
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  The Flock also on Kindle

  • Author: Joan Frances Casey 1992
  • Overview: A personal memoir of living with DID, Joan Frances Casey describes her experiences with her “flock” of alters, her therapeutic journey, and her path toward integration. It’s an inspiring story of resilience and healing.
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    No Two Paths the Same: Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder

    • Author: Christine Pattillo
    • Overview: This memoir details the personal journey of the author living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Christine Pattillo describes her experiences with different alters, the challenges of diagnosis, and her path toward self-understanding and healing. It offers an empathetic view into the reality of DID and provides hope for those on a similar path.

A Fractured Mind: My Life with Multiple Personality Disorder also on Kindle and Audible

• Author: Robert B. Oxnam 2006
• Overview: A deeply personal memoir, Robert B. Oxnam recounts his life with what was then termed Multiple Personality Disorder (now DID). The book provides an intimate look at his therapeutic journey, the discovery of his multiple selves, and his integration process. It’s an accessible and moving portrayal of the challenges and triumphs associated with DID.

First Person Plural: My Life as a Multiple also on Kindle

• Author: Cameron West 1999
• Overview: A compelling memoir about Cameron West’s journey of discovering he has DID and his therapeutic process to understand and manage his condition.

We Are Not Alone: My Mental Illness Survival Story

• Author: Michelle Novotni
• Overview: A candid account of living with DID, including the challenges of daily life and the path toward recovery and self-understanding.

Shards: A Young Vice Cop Investigates Her Darkest Case of Meth Addiction—Her Own also on Kindle

• Author: Allison Moore 2015
• Overview: While primarily about addiction, this memoir includes insights into the author’s experiences with DID and trauma.

The Sum of My Parts: A Survivor's Story of Dissociative Identity Disorder also on Kindle

• Author: Olga Trujillo 2011
• Overview: Olga Trujillo shares her journey of uncovering repressed memories of abuse, learning to navigate life with DID, and ultimately integrating her parts to reclaim her life.

Crazy

• Author: Lynne Barrett-Lee and Terry Ann Davison
• Overview: A powerful memoir of a woman navigating life with DID, detailing her internal struggles, therapeutic breakthroughs, and ultimate resilience.

Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters also on Kindle and Audible

• Author: Lizbeth Meredith 2106
• Overview: Though not solely focused on DID, this memoir touches on the author’s dissociation and trauma while recounting her heroic journey to rescue her daughters.

Twenty-Two Faces

• Author: Judy Byington 2012
• Overview: The controversial memoir of Jenny Hill, who claims to have survived trauma-based mind control and developed DID. The book’s accuracy has been questioned, but it remains a notable entry in the DID memoir category.

I’m Still Me

• Author: Debra J. Jackson
• Overview: A memoir about healing from trauma and DID, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and integration.

Altered States: The Autobiography of Multiple Personality Disorder

• Author: Paddy H. Rossbach
• Overview: An honest and introspective memoir of living with DID, exploring the author’s therapeutic journey and how they coped with trauma.

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Fictionalized Accounts and Novels Based on DID

Some books are fictionalized but based on real-life experiences or informed by the author’s own journey:
Embrace the Angel by Judith Victoria Douglas
The Echo Room by Amanda Dimmer

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The Perfect Daughter

• Author: D.J. Palmer
• Overview: A psychological thriller about a young woman with DID accused of murder. The book explores themes of mental illness, memory, and identity, presenting a fictional but compelling look at the complexities of DID in the context of a suspenseful legal and family drama.

Fractured

• Author: Dawn Barker
• Year: 2013
• Overview: A fictional psychological thriller that delves into the breakdown of a woman suffering from trauma and dissociation after childbirth. While not solely about DID, the book explores themes of psychological fragmentation and identity through compelling storytelling.

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Notable Anthologies and Collaborative Memoirs

Fragments: A Memoir

• Author: Kathryn Jones
• Overview: A memoir about the fragmented life caused by trauma, written collaboratively with the author’s alters.

Singular Journey: My Life as a Multiple

• Author: Lucy K. Engle
• Overview: The author recounts her life experiences with DID and how she found ways to achieve balance.

 

Mosaic Minds Book Store  "What we offer here is a list of books read by members of the community for which they can offer an opinion of the value of the book to them, and why.  We have an association with Amazon Books where we can offer these books for sale through Amazon for a discount."

There are many good books for survivors of abuse. By following the links below you can read about various books that have been written on the subject of survivorship, DID or not. If you decide to order any of the following books, please click on the link which will take you to Amazon.com. Amazon was gracious enough to allow us to become associates with them. By ordering a book, not only will you be able to learn more about life after trauma, you will help Mosaic Minds in the process.

Personal Stories

Educational

Sybil

DVD

• Authors: Flora Rheta Schreiber
• Year: 1973
• Overview: This seminal book tells the story of "Sybil," a pseudonym for Shirley Ardell Mason, who allegedly had 16 distinct personalities as a result of severe childhood abuse. The book popularized DID (then called Multiple Personality Disorder) and brought widespread attention to the condition.

Sybil in Her Own Words: The Untold Story of Shirley Mason, Her Multiple Personalities, and Paintings

• Author: Patrick Suraci

• Year: 2011

• Overview: This book offers Shirley Mason's perspective through her letters, interviews, and artwork. It challenges some of the claims made in the original Sybil and provides a more personal glimpse into Mason's life and struggles with DID.

Sybil Exposed: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case

• Author: Debbie Nathan

• Year: 2011

• Overview: This investigative book critiques the original Sybil, arguing that Shirley Mason’s DID diagnosis was largely fabricated by her therapist, Dr. Cornelia Wilbur, and the author, Flora Rheta Schreiber. Nathan claims that financial motives and cultural influences contributed to the sensationalized portrayal of DID.

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