Danielle Blum sat down to write a thriller.

What she didn’t plan on? Interviewing over 100 people with dissociative identity disorder (DID), scrapping the story she thought she was telling, and becoming an advocate for mental health and misunderstood diagnoses in the process.

In this Curveball episode, Danie shares how a novel idea turned into something much deeper – a calling. We talk about her journey from curiosity to compassion, what it means to hold other people’s stories with care, and how her research changed her – not just as a writer, but as a human.

We also talk about:
– How the brain protects us by splitting identity
– Why integration isn't always the goal (even if therapy says it is)
– What it’s like to hold secrets that aren’t yours – but feel like they could be
– The “inner worlds” of people living with DID (think pirate ships, schools, and yes, Gollum)
– Trusting your gut, even when it leads to a completely different life in Portugal

If you’re a writer, a feeler, or someone who’s been underestimated – this one’s for you.

Quote:
"Some people build pirate ships or schoolhouses in their inner world. That’s not delusion – that’s protection."

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.danielleblum.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563532341257
https://www.facebook.com/daniestarfish/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamdanielleblum/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/daniestarfish/?hl=en