Becoming One: A Story of Triumph over Multiple Personality Disorder (Paperback)

Accounts of Multiple Personality Disorder have usually been written by mental health professionals as texts or case studies. Now, in Becoming One, Sarah Olson has allowed us the rare privilege of entering her internal world in her first-person account of her journey from fragmentation to wholeness.

Two little girls, the author and her sister, were routinely terrorized and assaulted over a period of years by a family friend. One grew up closed and withdrawn, the other angry and self-destructive. And, most painful of all, their common suffering resulted in estrangement from each other. Becoming One began as Olson's attempt to provide a written account of her memories for her sister as a means of reconciliation and healing.

The author's courage and generosity in candidly sharing her remarkable experiences provide important insights into the world of dissociation. Here is at once a highly personal look into an individual life, the dynamics of a troubled family, and the healing power of the therapeutic process.

"Sarah Olson has written a fascinating account of her amazing healing journey and the mind's creative capacity to surmount unimaginable horror. Everyone can benefit from this inspiring book."
--Lynne D. Finney, J.D., M.S.W. Author of: Reach For the Rainbow: Advanced Healing For Survivors of Sexual Abuse

"Ms. Olson shows the inner strength and determination of an Olympian in her quest for peace and wholeness, and gives hope and understanding to others engaged in traveling similar paths."
--Donald G. Snookal, M.S.
Director, Scott Family Counseling

The Table of Contents:

Foreword, Howard Asher, M.S., M.F.C.C.

Introduction

Chapter

1 The Myth and Truth of My Childhood

2 Resistance and Sexual Abuse

3 Self-Destruction as an Alternative

4 False Memory Syndrome

5 The Early Computer Writings

6 The Cast: An Overview of Alters

7 Resistance in the Therapeutic Setting

8 Hallucinations: A Teddy Bear Named Howard

9 Family Dynamics and Confrontations

10 Charlotte's Role Then and Now

11 Thirty Years On: The Fear Of Being Crazy

12 Dissociative Identity Disorder (MPD) and Denial

13 Trust in the Therapeutic Setting

14 Confusion Stimulus and Sexual Dysfunctions

15 Losing Time

16 Nita (The Outside Sarah)

17 Lynn

18 The Inside Sarah

19 Erin Elisabeth

20 Peter and Rational Suicide

21 Anita and the Ultimate Dangerous Act

22 Missy

23 Integration and Aftermath

24 On Forgiveness and Philosophy

Endnotes

Appendix

Index

About me:

I am the forum administrator of The Survivors Forum on CompuServe (GO SAFEPLACE). We have a private section devoted exclusively to Dissociative Issues, and a section for littles and all inner children to play and discover themselves, The Enchanted Garden. This is in addition to 18 other sections dedicated to various survivor-oriented topics. I can be found in the forum several times a day, and would love to meet you!

I also am co-founder of Synergy-The Institute for Dissociative Disorders, a California nonprofit organization. See http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Synergy_Institute for much more detailed information regarding Synergy's goals and projects, and how you can help us, if you are so inclined.