Books are an important part of many people's recovery. As a survivor/librarian, I wanted to share a list of those books that have been particularly useful to me. I make no claim to have read all of the books out there, which are numerous. Of the books I have read, these are the ones that have helped me the most.
There is a long tradition of using books to help people in difficult situations. This is known as "bibliotherapy." It has been defined as "A process of dynamic interaction between the personality of the reader and literature-interaction which may be utilized for personality assessment, adjustment, and growth." The books most helpful in promoting my growth are listed below.
As with all resources, your mileage may vary. I would hope that this list would be taken as a suggestion rather than a commandment to read certain books. The list is annotated so the reader can discover why I like these books.
Note: There unfortunately is a large quantity of anti-survivor literature out there. I read some of those books in the mistaken belief that they would promote "balance." Instead, they made me feel rotten about myself. Because anti-survivor (in other words, aggressively skeptical and not very compassionate) books do not promote the goals of bibliotherapy, they are not listed here.
It is important to note that the authors of these books do not agree with each other about everything, nor do I agree with every single thing in all of these books. I believe that books are most useful when used for informational purposes rather than as Gospel truth. Readers may very well disagree with some information presented in these books. I believe that critically evaluating authors' claims is a good thing.
I have included books that do not specifically deal with trauma, but that I have found to be particularly helpful and meaningful. I could not put a list together, for example, without mentioning Karen by Marie Killilea, which is my favorite book and one that I have loved for many years.
I hope this list will inspire readers to think of their own favorite books and why they have enjoyed them.
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The Courage to Heal. Bass, Ellen, and Davis, Laura. 1994. New York: HarperCollins. $22.50.
This book is a classic, and its status is well-deserved. A problem is that it focuses exclusively on women, but other than that it's hard to find a better treatment of the issues. It covers everything from dealing with families to sexual healing, and is based on interviews with 100 women from diverse backgrounds. I find it to be inspiring and reassuring in that I am truly not alone.
This book is one of the first books I read in the recovery process, and I still cherish it for its message that I am not alone, and the inspirational words it contains. It is a very rare skill to combine direct treatment of sexual abuse with an inspiring message of solidarity and recovery, and Bass and Davis manage that in this book.
The process of therapy has changed somewhat since the publication of this book. Bass and Davis describe an early phase of recovery as "The Emergency Stage." One of their pieces of advice for this stage is "allow yourself to obsess." This type of immersion in abuse issues, which to some extent happens naturally, is usually not recommended any longer. Now therapists tend to focus much more on maintaining function in the present.
This book more than any other has been the focus of controversy, because false memory advocates tend to vehemently disagree with much of what is in it. I believe that Ellen Bass and Laura Davis showed tremendous courage in continuing to support survivors by refusing to cave in and retract their message when times got tough.
Creating Sanctuary: Toward the Evolution of Sane Societies. Bloom, Sandra. 1997. New York: Routledge. $24.95.
This is a very well-written book by the executive director of The Sanctuary, an inpatient trauma treatment program. She starts by describing her experience with "Dawn," an incest survivor with a dissociative disorder. She goes on to describe trauma theory, discuss the process of attachment, describe the history of the recognition (or lack thereof) of trauma in psychiatry, and finally describe her experience with "creating sanctuary."
A key point is that people cannot be understood in isolation but instead need to be viewed as members of a community. Gloria Steinem describes this as "that rare, original, once-in-a-lifetime book that could save lives." I'd have to say it lives up to the hype.
Managing Traumatic Stress through Art: Drawing from the CENTER. 1995. The Sidran Press. $22.95.
This book contains exercises on trauma-related topics that can be done with a basic set of art supplies. The exercises are of three types: developing basic tools for managing stress, acknowledging and regulating emotions, and being and functioning in the world. Each exercise is accompanied by questions that the user can answer in the "written reflections" part.
I have not done all of the exercises, but I have done a number of them. My favorite exercise so far is the "role quilt." This involves listing current "life roles" and making a paper quilt out of them. I found this to be useful and instructive.
Multiple Personality Disorder from the Inside Out. Cohen, Giller, Lynn W. 1991. The Sidran Press. $18.95.
This is one of my favorite books on multiple personality disorder/dissociative identity disorder. In this book, 132 people discuss life with MPD (now DID). The book covers all aspects of treatment, from pain to hope, and addresses the controversial issue of integration. Friends and non-offending family members also share their observations.
The selections include both prose and poetry. One of my favorite contributions is a poem by Judy W., which she ends by saying the following:
It's quiet are they gone?
or are they gone
until I see them again?
That is a sentiment I can easily relate to.
Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy. Courtois, Christine A. 1988. W.W. Norton &Co. $21.95.
This was one of the first books I read in my recovery process. I was struck by the author's compassion and by the comprehensive treatment of the subject. It is fairly technical and is written for therapists rather than clients. It lays out what was known about incest and recovery as of 1988. The book describes the different types of incest, provides a theoretical framework for understanding it, and discusses recovery. I find this book helpful for its compassionate treatment of a difficult subject and its comprehensiveness.
This is not a book I read straight through; instead, I use it as a reference and look topics up in the index, or read short sections of it at a time.
Recollections of Sexual Abuse: Treatment Principles and Guidelines. Courtois, Christine A. 1999. W.W. Norton and Company. $23.95.
This book contains the best treatment of the recovered memory controversy that I have read to date (though I can't say I've read them all). Dr. Courtois provides a summary that clearly lays out both the false memory and the traumatic stress positions, and says that she believes the traumatic stress position is the right one. She writes with compassion, a distinct plus for the reader who wants to become informed about the great memory debate.
The book is fairly technical and is aimed at therapists. The author describes the recovered memory controversy, provides an overview of child sexual abuse and memory and describes the consensus model of posttrauma treatment. She also presents guidelines for assessment and diagnosis and working with memory issues, and describes a treatment model with application to ten clinical memory scenarios.
This book brought me back "into the fold" of trauma recovery. I had been in therapy for a while in the early 1990's dealing with survivor issues. I got away from it for several years due to the prevalence of false memory beliefs, which made me feel too ashamed to continue. Reading this book made me realize that the traumatic stress position was the one I really agreed with. That led to my finding my current therapist, who is wonderful. Fortunately for me, Dr. Courtois put in a lot of effort to comprehensively review the literature and write this book, which helped me greatly.
Not Trauma ALONE: Therapy for Child Abuse Survivors in Family and Social Context. Gold, Steven N. 2000.Taylor & Francis. $38.95.
Dr. Gold says that adult survivors of traumatic childhoods are not taught the life skills they need to prosper. This difficulty, as much as instances of abuse, causes difficulty later on. The author recommends that therapy not focus on processing traumatic material, but rather focus on managing difficulties in the present. One of the chapters I found the most useful is called "Unprepared: The legacy of an ineffective family background." The author says that abuse occurs in an atmosphere that is destructive to healthy attachment and transmission of life skills. He pays far more attention to the atmosphere in which the child develops than anyone else I have read, which is a valuable contribution.
This book has many positive aspects. Two of them that easily come to mind are that the cogent arguments against abreactions and the inclusion of many experiences of male survivors, who are often neglected.
I find the discussion of dissociation to be very useful. Dr. Gold believes there are risks in focusing too much on extreme forms of dissociation. He believes that DID is overdiagnosed, while lesser forms of dissociation are often ignored. Since I am not a professional, I can't comment on the issue of overdiagnosis. I can say though that dissociation as I experience it, which is dissociative disorder not otherwise specified (DDNOS), is not written about very much.
The one area in which I disagree with Dr. Gold is in his tendency to portray his contextual model of dealing with abuse as "right" and other forms of trauma-based therapy as "wrong." Dr. Gold's contextual model is repeatedly presented as superior to the "abuse trauma" model. While I agree that the contextual model is a very good one, I don't think that the "abuse trauma" model always involves being stuck in the past, endlessly processing traumatic memories and deteriorating. I think a lot depends upon the needs of the individual client, the way in which the work is handled, and the skill of the therapist.
I understand Dr. Gold's arguments by making an analogy to the sinking of the Titanic. Childhood traumas are similar to the collision with the iceberg and the sinking of the boat. In this case, the time to process those traumatic memories is not when you are shivering in the lifeboat waiting to be rescued. Later on, when you have been rescued and are safe, you may or may not need to process your trauma of being on a ship that sank. But the important thing is to be safe first. In the end, rather than the trauma itself (the ship sinking) killing you, it is the cold water (the inhospitable atmosphere that survivors face) that is going to do you in. Many authors don't adequately discuss the unwelcoming environment that survivors must often put up with. Dr. Gold does, and it's hard to overestimate the value of this contribution.
Reading this book made it easier for me to stay committed to therapy. I would much rather focus on life skills than go through abreactions. Additionally, my performance at work improved after I read this book.
The Dissociative Identity Disorder Sourcebook. Haddock, Deborah Bray. 2001. Chicago: Contemporary Books. $16.95.
This book filled a gap in the literature by providing a comprehensive resource on DID. Dr. Haddock begins by providing an overview of dissociation, describes childhood development and the formation of DID. She describes diagnosis and the stages of therapy, which are stabilization, trauma work, and integration work. There are chapters on self-help and coping, learning to trust again, medication, and what to do when seeing a therapist is not enough. Appendix A lists treatment programs, and Appendix B lists resources. Many Voices is listed on page 271.
Trauma and Recovery. Herman, Judith. 1992/1997. New York: Basic Books. $16.00.
What can I say? This book is a classic from the very first sentence: "The ordinary response to atrocities is to banish them from consciousness." In this book, Dr. Herman describes the history of trauma as periodically remembered, then forgotten. She describes the trauma of war veterans and the domestic traumas to which women and children are subjected. She proposes a new diagnosis, "complex post-traumatic disorder," which she believes better characterizes the response of people who have been repeatedly traumatized over the years. She describes the recovery process as one that involves establishing safety, remembering and mourning the trauma, and finally reconnecting, both with oneself and with others. An afterword to the 1997 edition covers the false memory controversy. Much of what seems to be "basic knowledge" about trauma is contained in this book.
After Silence. Raine, Nancy Venable. 1998. New York: Crown Publishers. $11.20.
This is a really powerful memoir about "rape and my journey back." The author was raped by a stranger as an adult in October 1985. She interweaves her personal story with trauma theory. After several years in recovery, she moved from silence to speaking of rape, and along the way she encountered a lot of criticism and misunderstanding. With courage she persisted. She writes extremely well, and the result is very moving.
In the introduction, she says the following:
"Rape has long been considered a crime so unspeakable, so shameful to its victims,
that they are rendered mute and cloaked in protective anonymity. In giving language
to my own experience, I hope I can make rape less "unspeakable." I hope to dispel
at least some part of the fear and shame that has made victims mute. If I can
expand the possibility for other survivors to speak, if they so choose, in an
environment of informed tolerance and, ultimately, of acceptance, I will feel
blessed by the darkness I have known. The victims of rape must carry their memories
with them for the rest of their lives. They must not also carry the burden of
silence and shame."
More Alike Than Different: Treating Severely Dissociative Trauma Survivors. Rivera, Margo. 1996. University of Toronto Press. $24.95.
The title made me like this book before I bought it. I wanted to hear about how I was not so different from other people despite dissociation. The author writes from a feminist perspective and keeps language about "disorders" to a minimum, because she says it's insulting to people who have already been insulted enough. That is an approach that I like. The author also invites readers to disagree with her and I like that too, because I often carry on mental debates with authors.
Dr. Rivera starts by putting multiple personality in context. She says multiplicity is the solution, not the problem. She describes learning the language of dissociation, and the processes of assessment and constructing the healing process (she encourages clients to maintain as much functioning as possible while they heal). She discusses the recovered memory controversy, and there are chapters on ritual abuse and lesbian and gay survivors.
She does not view dissociation in itself as the major problem for clients with DID. As she says, "Multiplicity is not the struggle. Dealing with dissociation is not the core of the struggle. The struggle is trying to live a life that was truncated and damaged, trying to express what was silenced under pain of death, trying to build on the ruins a new and just existence."
The Dissociative Child: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management. Silberg, Joyanna. 1998. The Sidran Press. $45.00.
This book is interesting because it describes the needs and treatment of dissociative children. This is an area that has not gotten a whole lot of attention in the literature. It is important to treat children who dissociate so that they are not alone with their problems for years or decades, as many dissociative adults have been.
The book begins by discussing issues of diagnosis, which include the treatment of dissociative disorders in the DSM, interviewing strategies, and psychological testing. The second part covers treatment, and describes the factors associated with a positive outcome. A key difference between children and adults is that the involvement of the parents is associated with a better outcome for children. The third part of the book describes management of symptoms, with attention given to the treatment needed from pediatricians and school interventions.
There are many similarities between what children need and what adults need. For example, chapter seven of this book describes a "five domain crisis model." The areas that need attention are cognitive, affective, physical, interpersonal, and spiritual. I believe these five areas are the same that require attention in adults, and that this model can be useful to adults as well.
The Stranger in the Mirror: Dissociation-The Hidden Epidemic. Steinberg, Marlene and Maxine Schnall. 2001. HarperCollins. $14.00.
This book provides an excellent overview of dissociation and recovery. Dr. Steinberg believes dissociation is made up of five core symptoms: amnesia, depersonalization (feeling detached from oneself), derealization (the feeling that the world is unreal), identity confusion, and identity alteration. Dr. Steinberg is the author of the Steinberg Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D).
This book is pretty comprehensive in its treatment of dissociation. The first part describes what dissociation is and what it is not. The second part goes through the symptoms of dissociation and provides an opportunity for readers to rate themselves on each symptom. The third part is made up of three fairly long case studies of women who dissociate. Part Four is called "Befriending the Stranger" and describes the four C's on which therapy is based: comfort, communication, cooperation, and connection. I have found this book to be useful in providing an overview of what is currently known about dissociation at this time.
Mending Ourselves: Expressions of Healing and Self-Integration. W., Lynn, editor. 1993. Cincinnati: Many Voices Press. $12.95.
This book is a collection of essays, poetry, and art shared by over 50 Many Voices readers. The book focuses on healing and self-integration. Chapters describe the beginnings of awareness, creating order from chaos, persistence in the face of pain, moving closer to recovery, stories of integration, parables of healing, and afterglow: living in the light. Mending Ourselves gives me hope that recovery is possible.
Goodnight Moon. Brown, Margaret Wise.
I love the simplicity of this book. It is a gentle spoken lullaby that lulls me to sleep when I'm feeling the need for some extra comfort. Its fame is certainly well deserved.
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. Jeffers, Susan. 1987. New York: Ballantine. $14.00.
Lynn W. has long recommended this book. I picked it up at a personal low point, when I felt overwhelmed by fear. Dr. Jeffers describes all kinds of fears and reduces them to one basic fear: "I can't handle it." There are chapters on "how to make a no-lose decision" and "choosing love and trust." Regarding decisions, many people approach decisions as a matter of choosing between right and wrong, which can be paralyzing because often there is no way to tell what is right. However, if decisions are viewed as learning opportunities, then there really is a "no lose decision."
There is a quote in here that I love: "Much of the trick of moving from pain to power is taking action." I find that very helpful. Reading this book has given me more courage to face life.
Karen. Killilea, Marie. 1952/1999. New York: Buccaneer Books. $26.57.
This book tells the story of Karen Killilea, who was born in 1940 with cerebral palsy. Her pediatrician predicted that Karen would never sit up, use her arms, or walk. Her parents faced great difficulties finding a doctor who could help her. At that time, children with disabilities were usually placed in institutions and forgotten.
After much searching, the Killileas found a doctor who taught them to do physical therapy with Karen, which they did for six hours per day for over ten years. Karen learned to walk and use her arms and legs. The Killileas were a warm, loving family with a somewhat offbeat sense of humor, which kept them going through many difficult times.
I read this book for the first time when I was 10, and I still love it. The Killileas faced intense societal disapproval for raising Karen at home and doing advocacy work for cerebral palsy. They learned to shrug off other people's disapproval. They also worked at changing attitudes through public education.
With Love From Karen. Killilea, Marie. 1963. New York: Buccaneer Books. Out of print, but available on Amazon from $1.75.
This is the sequel to Karen, which covers Karen's adolescence and young adulthood. Karen continues to face difficulties imposed by her severe disability, but the love and warmth of the family, and their offbeat sense of humor keep them going. The last chapter of this book, in which Karen faces the choice between using a wheelchair and continuing to walk with braces and crutches, is one of the most moving pieces of writing I have ever read.
Interestingly enough, Marie Killilea documents something that sounds a whole lot like recovered memory in the last chapter of this book. Marie is reflecting on Karen's life and she says that "memories came flooding back-memories that had been wishfully forgotten." These memories had to do with baby Karen's very serious illnesses that almost caused her to die in infancy.
Reading this book as a child, I realized that there were other people out there struggling with very difficult situations and managing to deal with them. This was very helpful to me as I coped with my own difficulties.
Tom's Midnight Garden. Pearce, Phillipa. 1958. London: Oxford University Press. $15.89.
This children's book tells the story of Tom Long, who has found "a secret place in time." He is sent to stay with his aunt and uncle and is extremely bored, until he realizes that at night the clock strikes thirteen. At this time, he goes outside and plays in a beautiful garden with his friend Hatty. The story reminds me of dissociation because Tom's adventures skip around in time. There is no child abuse here, so the story is not triggering. I also like the strong male-female friendship between Tom and Hatty.
Compassion and Self-Hate. Rubin, Theodore Isaac. 1975. New York: Touchstone. $13.00. I picked this book up at a time when I was feeling very depressed. Dr. Rubin describes the serious problems posed by self-hate and then spends a considerable amount of space describing compassion. He says that "compassion is, ultimately, a state of mind in which benevolence reigns supreme and in which a state of grace is established with ourselves." The process of therapy, if it's working well, is about replacing self-hating beliefs with compassionate ones. This book helped me realize that there was an alternative to the despair in which I lived, which was a much-needed contribution.
Special thanks to Mary K for her helpful insight about her favorite books-- Other readers are welcome to share comments, too. -- Lynn W., Editor/Publisher