Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of childhood physical and sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, complex trauma, dissociation, self-harm, suicidal ideation, family violence and grief.

What happens when your mind finds a way to protect you from trauma so severe that you can't even remember much of your own childhood?

Maggie Walters is an award-winning author and mental health advocate living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder. After experiencing severe abuse throughout her childhood, Maggie developed a system of around 40 alters who helped her survive experiences she couldn't process herself. Now, through her memoirs Split and Fractured Motherhood, Maggie is challenging the stigma surrounding DID, sharing what life is really like with the condition, and exploring how she has worked to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma while raising her three children.

In this episode she shares:

• How her childhood trauma led to her developing Dissociative Identity Disorder
• Her experience discovering she had multiple personalities and coming to terms with her diagnosis
• How her alters protect her and why she calls her childhood memories "postcard memories"
• What everyday life looks like living with around 40 alters
• Understanding dissociation, trauma triggers and the shame that can come with them
• The importance of therapy, support and learning to accept all parts of herself
• Her experience of becoming a mother and breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma
• How she navigates forgiveness without excusing the abuse she experienced

Key Quotes

"I don't have a mental disorder. I created an amazingly- creative coping mechanism in order to survive horrific circumstances."

"I'm standing here because of who I am. Not in spite of who I am."

"I just want people to know that when you've had trauma, it's not your fault."

More about Maggie

Follow Maggie via her website, Instagram and LinkedIn.

You can get involved with the podcast online

On facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeus

Or on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeus

If you want to contact the podcast, email us here: support@challengesthatchangeus.com

Or check out our website: www.Challengesthatchangeus.com

If you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website:

http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.