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"The evil that is in the world always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence, if they lack understanding. On the whole, men are more good than bad; that however, isn't the real point, but they are more or less ignorant, and it is this that we call vice or virtue; the most incorrigible vice being that of an ignorance that fancies it knows everything...."
The Plague
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| Contact Me if you find any broken links. Thanks. |
| More Links: |
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DPSelfHelp.Com Depersonalization Community
The best internet resource for those suffering from depersonalization and/or derealization. This comprehensive site, with a diverse membership, offers a Forum, Forum Archives, Chat-room, Member Stories, Links to related websites, and more. Register (no charge) and post to exchange support and information.
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Dr. Marlene Steinberg's Comprehensive Website on Dissociation
"Shatter the myths of dissociation - a debilitating psychological condition that affects over 30 million people globally - with Dr. Marlene Steinberg, author of Dr. Steinberg is the originator of The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D), the breakthrough diagnostic test that allows therapists worldwide to diagnose dissociative disorders based on rigorous scientific testing. She has also authored The Handbook for the Assessment of Dissociation: A Clinical Guide, a resource for therapists offering systematic guidelines for assessing dissociative symptoms and disorders." There is a free, confidential depersonalization screening questionnaire on the site.
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The Institute of Psychiatry at the Maudsley, King's College, London.
The foremost research establishment for mental disorders in Europe. Awarded a substantial grant to establish the world's first ever research unit dedicated to the understanding and treatment of depersonalization. Research there has already yielded some important insights into this disorder. Click on the site's "papers and articles" link to find an impressive collection journal articles on DP studies and clinical trials.
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Mount Sinai School of Medicine, U.S.A.
Top location in the United States of ongoing clinical research into depersonalization.
Dr. Daphne Simeon Click on the link for current research and contact information.
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Anxiety Disorders Association of America
"The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the prevention, treatment and cure of anxiety disorders and to improve the lives of all people who suffer from them. Since 1980, by disseminating information, linking people who need treatment with those who can provide it and advocating for cost effective treatments, the ADAA has made it possible for hundreds of thousands of individuals to benefit from its services and publications. The association is made up of professionals who conduct research and treat anxiety disorders and individuals who have a personal or general interest in learning more about such disorders."
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Anxiety-Panic.Com A top search engine for anxiety, panic, phobia, trauma, stress, obsession, depression and related disorders.
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Freedom From Fear
"Freedom From Fear is a national not-for-profit mental health advocacy association founded in 1984 by Mary Guardino. Ms. Guardino founded FFF as an outgrowth of her own personal experiences of suffering with anxiety and depressive illnesses for more than 25 years. The mission of FFF is to aid and counsel individuals and their families who suffer from anxiety and depressive illnesses."
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The Mental Health Research Association - formerly NARSAD
"Previously known as the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, NARSAD is a private, not-for-profit public charity 501(C)(3) organized for the purpose of raising funds for scientific research into the causes, cures, treatments and prevention of severe psychiatric brain and behavior disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression. Its fund-raising and grant-making efforts are led by a Board of Directors with help from a variety of committees, volunteers, staff, and the thousands of donors who support NARSAD." The organization has expanded it's research efforts to include a multitude of brain disorders including bipolar, OCD, borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorders and more.
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The Clearinghouse
National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse. A source of information on empowerment as a mental health consumer. An invaluable guide to making your way through the mental health care system.
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MedScape, WebMD
An excellent resource for psychiatry and neurology research updates. Information summarized from leading medical journals. Free on-line subscription.
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PubMed
"A service of the National Library of Medicine, provides access to over 11 million MEDLINE citations back to the mid-1960's and additional life science journals. PubMed includes links to many sites providing full text articles and other related resources."
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N.O.R.D.. - The National Organization For Rare Disorders, Inc. "Since 1983...working toward the prevention, treatment, and cure of rare 'orphan' diseases."
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MadNotBad
An innovative "stigma-busting" mental health site, made by consumers for consumers. "By collating examples of experiences, opinions and creativity the site helps illuminate the darkness that surrounds mental illness and strives to foster the idea that being 'mad' doesn't make you 'bad' and that it's O.K. to talk about it. Let's challenge the stigma."
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| Books: |
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These books have spoken to me in some way. Some specifically address depersonalization, anxiety, or depression. Others give the lay-person a clearer understanding of neurology and the workings of the brain.
A few of these books I read as an adolescent; they frightened me, yet provided comfort as well. The protagonists in the fiction books describe some of the strange feelings I could not explain to anyone as a young adult and made me feel less alone until I received a proper diagnosis and found others like myself years later on the internet. Visit the NAMI Bookstore for a wide selection of reading on various mental illnesses and mental health-care topics.
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| New Release Coming July, 2007! |
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Overcoming Depersonalization and Feelings of Unreality
Anthony S. David, 2007 Anthony S. David, FRCP, FRCPsych, MD is Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry and the GKT School of Medicine, London.
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| More Non-Fiction: |
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Daphne Simeon, M.D. and Jeffrey Abugel, 2006
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The Stranger In The Mirror: Dissociation - The Hidden Epidemic
Marlene Steinberg, M.D., Maxine Schnall, 2001
This book tends to have a greater focus on DID (formerly MPD) and trauma but provides an excellent description of the spectrum of dissociative disorders. This features the SCID-D (The Steinberg Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Dissociative Disorders).
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Das Gefühl, ein NO-BODY zu sein: Depersonalisation, Dissoziation und Trauma
Berit Lukas, 2003
An excellent German book about Depersonalization, dissociation, and trauma. It includes a clear, concise approach to the topic as well as a wealth of footnotes, a detailed index, a glossary of terms, and an extensive bibliography.
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A Brief Tour of Human Consciousness
V.S. Ramachandran, M.D., Ph.D., 2004
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Phantoms In The Brain
V.S. Ramachandran, M.D., Ph.D., and Sandra Blakeslee, 1998
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The End Of Stress As We Know It
Bruce McEwen, Ph.D., 2002
"New research into how the brain works can help us understand the reactions our bodies have to various stressful circumstances. By recognizing the physiological function of stress -- also known as 'alostatic load' -- we can learn to live in a way that will limit the damage stress can cause to the body and brain. The insights offered by Dr. McEwen will motivate all of us to adopt a healthy new lifestyle."
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Does Stress Damage The Brain?: Understanding Trauma-Related Disorders from a Mind-Body Perspective
J. Douglas Bremner, M.D., 2002
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Unholy Ghost: Writers on Depression
Edited by Nell Casey, 2001
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The Mind Within The Net, Models of Learning, Thinking, and Acting
Manfred Spitzer, M.D., 1999
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A Mood Apart, The Thinker's Guide to Emotion and Its Disorders
Peter C. Whybrow, M.D., 1997
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Coping With Trauma, A Guide to Self-Understanding
Jon G. Allen, Ph.D., 1995
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The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
Oliver Sacks, M.D., 1987, or any book by this brilliant neurologist
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Understanding The Borderline Mother
Christine Ann Lawson, Ph.D., 2000 This book is of particular interest to me, as there are indications my mother may have had Borderline Personality Disorder (which may soon be reclassified as a "Mood Dysregulation Disorder"). This can only be speculation in hindsight, but it seems to explain much of my mother's unpredictable behavior, rage, overwhelming need to control others, and her inability to maintain stable personal relationships.
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Scientific American
I am passionate about understanding the workings of the brain, and have found many excellent articles in both Scientific American and the new Scientific American Mind. Have a look at these magazines in your local bookstore or library.
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| Autobiographies: |
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Collision with the Infinite: A Life Beyond the Personal Self
Suzanne Segal, 1998
An Unquiet Mind
Nobody Nowhere
Darkness Visible
A Hole in the World: An American Boyhood
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| Fiction: |
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The Bell Jar
Sylvia Plath, 1971
I believe the protagonist's diagnosis of schizophrenia is incorrect. I can't guess what is wrong with her, but she describes many perceptual distortions (in the more dramatic style of a novel) that seem very familiar to me.
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Films: |
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Some of the following films are based on an original book by the same title. I am very critical about most films portraying mental illness. Many Hollywood productions perpetuate stereotypes and stigma and rarely refer to a primary need for medical treatment as well as therapy. The films below are the most accurate and engrossing I have seen and I've left out many other excellent ones. There will certainly be more realistic upcoming productions to add to this list in the future. I hate to say I'm becoming a bit jaded about films in general these days. I prefer to see independent films and documentaries.
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Numb
(2007, Insight Film Studios LTD.)
Premiering at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival starring Matthew Perry of "Friends" fame, this is the first mainstream film addressing Depersonalization by writer/director Harris Goldberg (who has Depersonalization himself). "Screenwriter Hudson Milbank suffers from acute depersonalization disorder. So alienated from his own life that he makes the chronically depressed look perky, Hudson lives alone, watches The Golf Channel all day, can't hang on to a relationship, shoplifts in order to get his adrenalin up off the floor, fears that thinking about his dad's death will bring it to pass, loathes his mother, and in general, is as nutty as a crapshack in a peanut farm. Obsessed with the underlying sadness that infuses his wretched existence, Hudson is a man in hell, but he thinks that his long catalogue of dismally unsatisfying and mutually self-destructive relationships is over when SARA stumbles into his life. He knows she can save him. She knows he has to save himself. Together they save each other. And it's funny too." I am a bit concerned that this is a comedy, but I don't know how else it could be sold to a large audience if it were "too serious." This is unfortunate, as DP is far from amusing; it is Hell. I am still very excited to see the film which debuted at this year's Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The film has also been seen at a number of other highly regarded film festivals. This link is now from YouTube. Follow distribution progress at the Internet Movie Database. "Numb" Promotional Trailer featuring Matthew Perry Interview with Matthew Perry about the making of "Numb"
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Nearer My God To Thee (2005, Phenomenal World Cinema)
Documentary. A film by Marc Israel. "Suffering from [years of undiagnosed and debilitating depersonalization] ... filmmaker Marc Israel embarks on a desperate journey to Brazil to seek out famed healer and psychic surgeon John of God. Here Israel encounters not only this controversial 'Miracle Man' but, unavoidably, his own Self."
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Crumb (1994, Sony Picture Classics)
Documentary. Cinematic portrait of the controversial comic book writer and his mentally ill mother and siblings.
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Promise (1986, Hallmark Hall of Fame) with James Garner and James Woods.
Movie for television. A painfully realistic dramatic portrayal of mental illness and its destructive effect on a family.
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Nobody's Child: The Marie Balter Story
(1986, CBS TV Sunday Night Special) with Marlo Thomas.
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Ordinary People (1980, Paramount) with Timothy Hutton, Mary Tyler Moore, and Donald Sutherland. Dated somewhat by a dramatic psychoanalytic bent, but an important film to see. This film is truly a forgotten classic.
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One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975, Facets) with Jack Nicholson.
A must see.
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Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter (1995) Documentary by Deborah Hoffmann. (PBS Broadcast) I have a personal interest in this wonderful work, as my mother had Alzheimer's. This is an especially painful film for me as I wish I had a loving relationship with my mother. We actually got along better when she could no longer remember who I was.
"Born out of love and frustration, Hoffmann's directorial debut weaves together old photographs, home movies, and modern video footage to create a heartfelt, exceedingly intimate evocation of the enduring bond between two people. Nominated for an Academy Award ®, winner of both the Teddy and Caligari awards at the Berlin Film Festival, the film also touched the hearts of many at the Sundance Film Festival and was voted Audience Favorite at San Francisco's Frameline Film Festival. The late Chicago Tribune film critic Gene Siskel said, Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter is the best film about Alzheimer's disease that I've seen."
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mag-no'-li-a (2000, New Line Cinema) Paul Thomas Anderson Picture. A complex and moving drama that reminds us all children deserve respect and unconditional love.
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Awakenings (1990, Columbia) with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams.
A touching "neurological drama" based on the book by Oliver Sacks, M.D. Though not about a psychiatric illness, an excellent film that demonstrates the complexity of the brain.
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© Sandy Gale, 2000-2008
The Pear Blossom Project 
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| April 17, 2008 |