Guide to Resources

Each resource has:
 – Title and Author (or source)
 – Level of difficulty to indicate how hard it is to read, or absorb the information (Easy, Medium, Hard)
– A rating out of five stars for how awesome I personally think it is (hint: I don’t always stick to just five stars…)
– A blurb based on my experience with it (why I rate it, audience it’s best for)
– Link!

Wikipedia
(Easy ***)

Yeah, you heard right. Wikipedia! It’s summarised, and it’s simple. If you want a high level overview Dabrowski’s framework in about 15 minutes flat, start here (just don’t expect any detailed explanations). I’ve found this is a good link for sharing with other people to explain the basics of the theory in a way that won’t overwhelm them, and it’s Wikipedia, so people trust it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_disintegration

Dabrowski Interview on YouTube
(Medium ****)

This interview with Kazimierz Dabrowski takes place in a coffee shop, and a provides a wonderful insight into the man himself. I find there is something profoundly comforting and calm about him, and his thoughts on things like meditation are quite profound. If you want to get to know what the man behind the theory was like, this is a good place to start. Credit must go to ‘Giftedness’ – this is not one of my videos…

Psychology In Seattle Podcast – Gifted People Are Misunderstood

(Easy ***)
Podcast with Lisa Erickson (which I unfortunately can only find on YouTube and not podcasting platforms). Excellent conversation about some of the issues OE adults face. This podcast was what inspired me to start creating resources for OE on YouTube.

The Origins and Conceptual Evolution of Overexcitability

(Medium ***)
Written by Chris Wells and Frank Falk
Frank and Chris look at the origins of overexcitability (i.e. it’s traceable history in psychology) and how it came up into Dabrowski’s work, and evolved into the concepts we have today. They examine it’s relationship to ADHD, and current myths and misconceptions are busted.

Reexamining Overexcitability: A Framework for Understanding Intense Experience

(Medium ***)
Written by Michael Piechowski and Chris Wells
This focuses on gifted children and teens, but does well to cover ground on the subject of challenges experienced by those with OE. 

Personality-Shaping Through Positive Disintegration

(Hard ***********)
Kazimierz Dabrowski M.D., Ph.D.
Listen, if you’re going to get just ONE book from Dabrowski, this is the one. He describes personality’s individual and universal characteristics, the methods involved in shaping it, and case studies of famous personalities (including Augustine and Michelangelo). This book has informed so much of my work, and my understanding of his concepts. This one was published after ‘Positive Disintegration’ and I think by this point, KD was explaining himself much better, AND it’s a lot longer and more comprehensive.

‘Mellow Out’ They Say. If Only I Could.

(Easy ****)
Michael Piechowski Ph.D.
If you have OE, and don’t see yourself in the teenagers quoted in this book, I will eat my right arm. It says at the beginning – “This book is intended for parents and teachers of intense and sensitive young people and to serve the young people as a friendly mirror in which they can recognise themselves for who they are” – but is a book which will serve gifted people of all ages. It is considered one of the best books on overexcitability.  Mellow Out explores intensity and sensitivity, and also has a table of traits that relate to OE. More than that, it’s an easy read, so if heavy academia isn’t your scene, definitely give this a go.

Psychoneurosis Is Not an Illness

(Hard **********)
Kazimierz Dabrowski M.D., Ph.D.
Exceedingly difficult to get a hold of, but if you can get a chance to read it, it’ll change your life! This book’s main message is exactly as the title reads – that psychoneurosis (difficult emotions) are not illness, but necessary for growth. It’s neurodivergent affirming, and challenges current notions on mental health. Way ahead of it’s time, and well worth the effort.

Intergifted
(Easy ********)
Are you gifted? Trying to navigate life as a gifted person? Check out this website, because not only will you find resources, but you’ll find a community of your peeps too. You can also get a giftedness profile assessment, which is cool.
https://intergifted.com 

CMM Institute
(Easy *******)
I’ve loved working with the CMM folks, and having them on the PD podcast. We’ve had a great time exploring the links between CMM (Co-ordinated Management of Meaning) theory, and Positive disintegration. Because CMM is all about how we communicate with others, this website has a lot of great communication tools, which I am sure will add richness and a new lens to your autopsychotherapy practices. 
https://cmminstitute.org 

ADDitude Mag
(Easy*****)
For people with ADD / ADHD, so if you have this diagnosis, you’ll be right at home. But ADD or not, if you have trouble focusing and get easily distracted by your own brain  some of these coping strategies might also help with your OE. 

American Psychological Association
(Medium***)
No shortage of articles on emotions, trauma, and other things you could very well use in your autopsychotherapy toolkit.  Learning to cope with volatile emotions is also a good idea, especially when it comes to controlling your anger. Nothing corrodes relationships faster than a short fuse.