Life on autopilot : a guide to living with depersonalization disorder ; foreword by Dr. Elaine Hunter and Professor Anthony David

Drawing on the author's experience of depersonalization disorder (DPD), this book aims to provide support, understanding and advice on how to manage everyday life with DPD. With insight from respected figures in the field and those with lived experience, the book details the depersonalization experience, from what it is to the impact it has on everyday life. It also offers coping strategies and practical, positive advice for seeking professional treatment. In both the public and clinical spheres, awareness of DPD is low and it takes an average of 7-12 years to diagnose. This is therefore a much-needed resource, illuminating the experience of those living with this disorder and providing guidance on getting help. "This book sets out to address DPD issues. Getting my head around the science behind the disorder has been very important for me - a basic understanding of what's going on in my head has taken away some of the mystery factor and made the horrible sensations that tiny bit more bearable to live with. I'm going to be speaking with leading experts from around the world to help explain what DPD is from a clinical standpoint, and how it's treated. But in addition to the medical nitty-gritty, I have over a decade's real-world experience of living with DPD and dealing with everything that's come along with it. From the early years of it being the head thing to discovering the condition for the first time; navigating the health services and fighting to get to where I know I need to be; having friends tell me they want nothing more to do with me because of my problems; trying to describe what depersonalization feels like to my family in vague metaphors; having romantic relationships implode; pushing to stay productive and motivated despite everything feeling meaningless; working jobs; not working jobs; and adjusting my core beliefs on what constitutes 'success' in this world. None of it has been easy - and absolutely still isn't - but those are all problems that'll ring true for any fellow sufferer. I hope this book might help us all feel less alone than I have until recently"-- Provided by publisher Title Page 2 Contents 3 Note from the Author 5 Foreword by Dr Elaine Hunter and Professor Anthony David 7 Preface 10 Ch 1: Introduction: Head Thing 12 Ch 2: Brief History of Your Author 17 Ch 3: ‘As If’: The Depersonalization Experience 25 Ch 4: So What Is This Hell?: The Science behind DPD 38 Ch 5: Loss or Disruption?: The Sense of Self 59 Ch 6: ‘...But Isn’t Cannabis Cool?’: Drugs and DPD 71 Ch 7: Seeking Initial Help and Being in Therapy 78 Ch 8: Coping Strategies for a Depersonalized Life 90 Ch 9: I Love You (in Principle): DPD and Relationships 106 Ch 10: Treating DPD 115 Ch 11: #Existing: Technology and DPD 135 Ch 12: Perspectives 143 About Unreal 153 Letter to My Friends (2017) 154 References 158 Join Our Mailing List 163 Acknowledgments 164 Copyright 165 Of Related Interest 166 Combining personal experience with professional advice, this book offers a much-needed insight into living with DPD. It explores the science behind the disorder and the effect that it has on everyday life, offering practical advice and coping strategies for those living with it.