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Usually ships in 1-2 business days | | | | | | The NFL legend and Heisman Trophy winner shares the inspiring story of his life and diagnosis with dissociative identity disorder. Herschel Walker is widely regarded as one of football's greatest running backs. He led the University of Georgia to victory in the Sugar Bowl on the way to an NCAA Championship and he capped a sensational college career by earning the 1982 Heisman Trophy. Herschel spent twelve years in the NFL, where he rushed for more than eight thousand yards and scored sixty-one rushing touchdowns. But despite the acclaim he won as a football legend, track star, Olympic competitor, and later a successful businessman, Herschel realized that his life, at times, was simply out of control. He often felt angry, self-destructive, and unable to connect meaningfully with friends and family. Drawing on his deep faith, Herschel turned to professionals for help and was ultimately diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder. While some might have taken this diagnosis as a setback, Herschel approached his mental health with the same indomitable spirit he brought to the playing field. It also gave him, for the first time, insight into his life's unexplained passages, stretches of time that seemed forever lost. Herschel came to understand that during those times, his "alters," or alternate personalities, were in control. Born into a poor, but loving family in the South, Herschel was an overweight child with a stutter who suffered terrible bullying at school. He now understands that he created "alters" who could withstand abuse. But beyond simply enduring, other "alters" came forward to help Herschel overcome numerous obstacles and, by the time he graduated high school, become an athlete recognized on a national level. In Breaking Free, Herschel tells his story -- from the joys and hardships of childhood to his explosive impact on college football to his remarkable professional career. And he gives voice and hope to those suffering from DID. Herschel shows how this disorder played an integral role in his accomplishments and how he has learned to live with it today. His compelling account testifies to the strength of the human spirit and its ability to overcome any challenge. | | | |
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| | Product Details | | Author: | Herschel Walker | | Hardcover: | 256 pages | | Publisher: | Touchstone | | Publication Date: | April 14, 2008 | | Language: | English | | ISBN: | 1416537481 | | Product Width: | 1.68 centimeters | | Product Height: | 2.37 centimeters | | Product Weight: | 0.01 pounds | | Package Length: | 9.3 inches | | Package Width: | 6.0 inches | | Package Height: | 1.2 inches | | Package Weight: | 0.85 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 23 reviews |
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 23 customer reviews )
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28 of 31 found the following review helpful:
Though-provoking . . . Jun 10, 2008
By Barbara Badham
"book woman"
Overall, I liked this book. One has to admire Herschel for going public with his diagnosis, one poorly understood by the general public and often associated with severe pathology. That took courage, which the author seems to have in abundance. His writing shows an intelligence not commonly associated with sports, and he gives articulate expression to the various manifestations of his version of DID. A real plus of Walker's account is that he describes an "up" side to this condition, stating clearly for the layperson that it has certain adaptive and self-protecting qualities.
That said, I was left with some questions. While the book seemed forthright and honest, he describes about a dozen different "alters" (formerly called multiple personalities) that he claims have arisen from his being tormented as a fat and stuttering schoolboy--while undoubtedly painful, his schoolyard abuse is hardly the type that normally spawns this fragmented condition. And as a clinical psychologist, I have treated DID patients. A more common presentation than his involves distinct changes in personality including voice, body posture, emotional expression, etc. . . . like you are really seeing different people. He says that his shifts were more subtle, nothing that could be seen externally, more like discrete changes in mental state known only to him at the time. That raises (for me, at least) the issue of whether or not this devoted and highly focused athlete is not simply given to a rather strict compartmentalization of his feelings, a medium that he would admit he is not comfortable with. Even his most personal relationships have suffered from his tendency to be so self-contained. Or perhaps DID is best explained as a "spectrum" disorder, ranging in degree of severity, as we now know autism to be. Who knows?
While he talks about his repeated "thrill-seeking" with Russian roulette, Walker notable leaves out of his story the fact that he several times put a gun to his ex-wife's head. And he glosses over a bit the fact that he had an affair despite his born-again Christian beliefs. When a "tell all" book tells not quite all, you are left wondering what more has been left out.
12 of 13 found the following review helpful:
More of a Football story.... May 06, 2008
By Karen Overhill
"blink17"
Just finished reading Hershel's book and found the story very interesting as story about how to survive the crueling life of a football player but not informative enough about the DID diagnosis. I purchased this book because I was excited to hear of someone else who had this condition. As I read on I was hoping to read more about the alters and how the alters "switched" in and out to complete any one task. Since I survived my horrific childhood with "alter" help, I had hoped to read more detail. I'd be interested in meeting and sitting down with Hershel to share some of the "alter chaos" that wasn't written in his book and my story. I, like Hershel, felt the importance of sharing my story as to help others understand the amazing way our minds can protect us while we are suffering through abuse. I believe DID/MPD is a God sent coping mechanism. I shared my life story in the book, "Switching Time" by author Richard Baer.
Although no two cases are the same I found too many differences that have me wondering whether or not this was truly a case of DID? For me, my "alters" weren't so consistant. I accomplished many great things but could never have spent many years in a rigorous exercise schedule to accomplish something as great as becoming a professional football player. However,I've spent many years watching my son play baseball and witness the change in his personality when he is concentrating on baseball. He is in a zone and nothing around him distracts him. I also imagine that those who serve our country, as in the Marines, switch into combat mode when needed. They are also in a different "zone" to fight and protect. I know this because my son is also a Marine who served in Iraq. And he does not have DID. I wonder if Hershel's experiece is more of being a very disciplined athelete determined to succeed by changing his sense of self to accomplish great things regarding sports, rather than actually having DID?
I am glad Hershel survived all that he had. I know, first hand, how hard it was being a victim. I wish him well and future success.
21 of 26 found the following review helpful:
 Questionable case of DID Aug 16, 2008
By Karen L. Bukovitz
"carefree"
Amazing that the title is My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder. He barely mentioned the DID unless it got him out of hot water. The final chapter of the book was a short explanation of what DID is. You could get this info from the Sidran web site and save the cost of the book. Most of his time was spent either stroking his ego or offering an excuse for all the controversial things he has been involved with.
He claims that the splits in his identity occured because of nightmares and some bullies at school. Yet he was able to find solace in a loving and close christian family. Every DID case I have ever heard of, has suffered through horrendous abuse, usually from primary caregivers. Herschel Walker makes light of these survivors.
Save your money.
12 of 14 found the following review helpful:
Self-Indulgent Disservice to "Real" Dissociative Patients Everywhere Jan 03, 2009
By T. Greer
I saw this book in my local bookstore in the last-chance clearance section (which should tell you something right there) and I became interested in the title. Having been a successfully-integrated DID survivor myself, I'm always encouraged to see more books on this subject. I was initially hopeful, since I had not heard of Herschel Walker before--I don't watch footbal--and was truly hoping that this autobiography of another DID person's healing journey would be a helpful one.
Unfortunately, this book was anything but helpful. In fact, it does a disservice to all Dissociative patients everywhere.
First off, the first three chapters of this book is a self-indulgent, almost narcissistic rambling about why he wrote the book in the first place. He seems to be almost apologetic about his "normal" family, in light of how he knows how DID is usually induced in most patients (as he clumsily explains in the first two chapters). He was raised in a good, loving, Christian family, according to Mr. Walker, and no one ever abused him. Yet somehow, because of intense bullying at school and his being oversensitive to the dark as a young child, he "developed" alter personalities to "handle his fears by himself."
Second, and most important, while paging through this travesty of a book, at no time did I read anywhere where a specific alter personality took executive control of the host personality--the SPECIFIC hallmarks and main diagnostic criteria for diagnosing Dissociative Identity Disorder in the first place. And this man was supposedly clinically diagnosed by an acquaintance of his who allegedly runs a Dissociative Disorders clinic. (There was a brief mention in this book of Mr. Walker having a short stay at this clinic and coming face to face with other DID and Dissociative patients who had gone through the more classical severe abuse that induces this condition.) The rest of the book is a meandering autobiography of his football career and the times when he had anger control issues that eventually led him to seek help.
At best, I'm being generous to allow that, perhaps, Mr. Walker may have had **a form of** Dissociative Disorder--maybe even DD-NOS (Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, a diagnosis usually given when DID is too strong a diagnosis, but the subject clearly shows Dissociative tendencies). We all react to stress and trauma in unique and original ways, and it may very well be that for him the bullying and sensitivity was enough to induce him to dissociate as a young boy.
However, reading this book will NOT educate someone newly-diagnosed with DID, nor will it give that person a clear view of what they're facing in the healing process. At best, this was a poorly-written autobiography of a DID patient's journey (which was barely mentioned at the end of the book; he only went into the therapy part in the last 2-3 chapters). At worst, reading this book could set that same newly-diagnosed person back months in their healing process--there is absolutely nothing in this book that matches the medically-recognized definition of Dissociative Identity Disorder as outlined in the DSM IV-R, and it could very well dissuade a person from getting competent treatment from a Dissociative Disorders specialist.
I STRONGLY suggest running far and fast away from this book. There are other, better DID-related books available, including "Life After MPD" by Debra Lighthart (unless religion is a "trigger" for the patient); "First Person Plural" by Cameron West, Ph.D (a much more coherent treatment autobiography); and "A Mind of My Own" by Chris Costner Sizemore, the REAL "Eve" of "Three Faces of Eve" (a wonderful autobiography of her true integration and recovery process--there was more to the story than was first presented).
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
If you're interested in the author it's likely a must read. It's lower on the list if you're main interest is the DID aspect. Apr 18, 2010
By Tiffany Adelyn Metze
"Keep Austin Reading!!!"
I read this book for the DID aspect and not because it was written by a famous NFL star. I found his successes, despite his abuse and misfortune to be nothing less than extraordinary. He definitely puts a more positive representation of DID than other books I've read. He insists, and in fact demonstrates how his alters aided him in achieving his goals. Instead of being detrimental to his well being and causing physical harm in the form of self injury they help him withstand extreme childhood trauma and encourage him to overcome what may have been his physical limitation. They do go to the extreme in that they are able to ignore pain to the point of undergoing oral surgery with no anesthesia and playing a game with a dislocated shoulder; experiences that would be unbearably painful for the majority of individuals. His incredible discipline and resulting successes are however coupled with a darker and more harmful inability to connect with others on anything other than a guarded level as well as bouts of uncontrollable rage and conflicting voices. His story is undeniably interesting.
Unfortunately I found the writing to be average at best and the tone to be somewhat arrogant. The arrogance is contrary to his clearly stated aim to exclude any arrogance at all. His belief in God and Jesus are an innate part of his personality and he gives them credit for his drive to excel and subsequent financial stability. He claims to be frugal and to reject material extravagance; and yet there is a scene where he enters his garage and must press the unlock button on the keyless entry system to reveal to which of his several expensive vehicles the keys belonged. For me as a reader I could not reconcile these two completely opposing ideas. Either you reject materialism or you own several expensive and even rare automobiles.
I did read the entire book without giving up due to boredom or frustration with the writing, but it is not something I would recommend as a "good" book to read on the subject of DID. If you are a fan of Herschel Walker and interested in his life then I would have to say it is an enlightening and surprisingly revealing memoir and likely a must read.
In conclusion, if you're looking for a good representation of living with DID put this lower on your list. If it's Herschel Walker this books for you.
See all 23 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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