What do you think?
Rate this book
A Return to Self: Depersonalization and How to Overcome It
In this book, yoga teacher and writer Malia Bradshaw shares her personal experience with panic disorder and depersonalization/derealization recovery. Depersonalization and Derealization are both states of dissociation that are characterized by feeling separate from oneself or one’s surroundings. Having been through the trenches of dissociation herself, Bradshaw shares the research and coping skills that were monumental in her recovery.
This book addresses her experience with depersonalization, what depersonalization is, what the symptoms are, some possible causes, and nine coping skills to implement into your daily life.
It is in easy-to-navigate book from someone who has been through it and come out the other side.
This book addresses her experience with depersonalization, what depersonalization is, what the symptoms are, some possible causes, and nine coping skills to implement into your daily life.
It is in easy-to-navigate book from someone who has been through it and come out the other side.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2016
10 people are currently reading
25 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 25, 2023
This is more of a blog post than a book. I read it in 45 min. It is not a clinical or researched guide, but rather the author's personal story and coping techniques that have worked for her. While the beginning section has some footnotes giving a basic explanation of DPDR symptoms, the actual coping strategies are not backed up by any research.
This book is not what I expected because it focuses mainly on depersonalization and derealization symptoms that occur as a secondary symptom of panic disorder or during a panic attack, rather than pure DPDR symptoms occurring on their own. I think this book may be more relevant for people who have panic attacks than people who have pure DPDR symptoms.
The coping techniques were a bit too hippy-dippy for me, but that is not to say that they won't be useful for others. Coping strategies like "earthing" involve walking barefoot on the earth and feeling that "you are supported" (by what? Supported in what sense?) Another strategy involves smelling essential oils, especially "earthy" scented ones because this will help DPDR symptoms the most (according to whom? Why?) It seems like earthy scents are the author’s favorite smells, therefore she assumes they are inherently good. Many of the coping strategies are spiritual and probably won't help a non-spiritual person.
It doesn't get into the neurophysiology or causes of DPDR symptoms that deeply. It only briefly mentions that trauma is a major cause of depersonalization, but does not mention any coping strategies that deal with trauma.
There are some good points - that depersonalization is a mechanism to help us cope with extreme stress, and we should take it as a sign that we need rest.
This book is not what I expected because it focuses mainly on depersonalization and derealization symptoms that occur as a secondary symptom of panic disorder or during a panic attack, rather than pure DPDR symptoms occurring on their own. I think this book may be more relevant for people who have panic attacks than people who have pure DPDR symptoms.
The coping techniques were a bit too hippy-dippy for me, but that is not to say that they won't be useful for others. Coping strategies like "earthing" involve walking barefoot on the earth and feeling that "you are supported" (by what? Supported in what sense?) Another strategy involves smelling essential oils, especially "earthy" scented ones because this will help DPDR symptoms the most (according to whom? Why?) It seems like earthy scents are the author’s favorite smells, therefore she assumes they are inherently good. Many of the coping strategies are spiritual and probably won't help a non-spiritual person.
It doesn't get into the neurophysiology or causes of DPDR symptoms that deeply. It only briefly mentions that trauma is a major cause of depersonalization, but does not mention any coping strategies that deal with trauma.
There are some good points - that depersonalization is a mechanism to help us cope with extreme stress, and we should take it as a sign that we need rest.
February 2, 2018
Short but sweet
Helpful tips! Malia is a very gentle soul. Her insights are useful and give a great sense of calm to the suffering reader. Thank you for sharing your experience. It has helped me and surely others, too.
Helpful tips! Malia is a very gentle soul. Her insights are useful and give a great sense of calm to the suffering reader. Thank you for sharing your experience. It has helped me and surely others, too.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews