[Amyjay]

A few weeks ago I watched this documentary about a woman from Australia who, incredibly, has a veritable "army" of alters that protected her from horrendous, chronic child abuse at the hands of her father. The documentary is well done and was made with respect to the disorder, but it is likely very triggering to watch, so please be very careful and practise self-care if you do.
This woman is incredible. Despite living with - reportedly - over 2000 alters, she has achieved a great deal in her life... thanks to her army of alters, no doubt.

[Amyjay]

Just cautioning again... if you watch it, please be very very careful. It is intense. It involves discussion of abuse, discussions of and with her alters, and also the story of how she, her psychiatrist and a team of detectives brought her abuser to justice. Throughout the video they refer to DID as MPD... my guess is because she was diagnosed when it was still called MPD and is more comfortable with that self view. Ultimately it is the same thing, just with a different name.
It is an incredible story, but a very triggering one. So please practise self-care if you watch it.

Her psychiatrist and her chief detective are amazing. Jenny Haynes herself is amazing. Despite having over 2000 alters and a history unrelenting, torturous abuse, she managed to get herself degrees psychology and criminal law (she earned a PhD but I can't recall what subject that was in) and then pursued justice against her abuser. The abuser was extradited to Australia from the UK and eventually, when face to face with his crimes (and Jenny) in court, he plead guilty to the multitude of charges against him.
She found her justice. She so deserved it.

[Betty_Banana]

Thanks for posting.I watched part of it and decided to take a break before watching more.Its definitely triggering, not just for those with DID but anyone really.

I'm still shocked about the number of alters.

[newday2020]

Thank you for sharing........so encouraging.......she is going to live her life now

I have that many and quite possible more from a lifetime of SRA abuse. So it is quite possible
Thanks for sharing though I havent watched it it is nice to know I am not some sort of "freak" (my word) because of how many I have

[Amyjay]

Originally Posted by Betty_Banana

Thanks for posting.I watched part of it and decided to take a break before watching more.Its definitely triggering, not just for those with DID but anyone really.

I'm still shocked about the number of alters.

Nice work on the self-care there. It really is super intense. But so inspirational!

[Amyjay]

Originally Posted by invisible butterfly

I have that many and quite possible more from a lifetime of SRA abuse. So it is quite possible
Thanks for sharing though I havent watched it it is nice to know I am not some sort of "freak" (my word) because of how many I have

I am so sorry you have felt that way.
It sounds like you (plural) are exactly what you (plural) needed to be.

[Amyjay]

Originally Posted by Betty_Banana

Thanks for posting.I watched part of it and decided to take a break before watching more.Its definitely triggering, not just for those with DID but anyone really.

I'm still shocked about the number of alters.

I imagine a great many of those were "fragments" rather than fully developed selves. One of the alters in the video says that some parts were just created to deal with maybe ten minutes of one incident, and others were fully developed selves. It sounds like the abuse was

Possible trigger:

so extreme that there were times that no alter could take the abuse for long. The abuse caused such extensive injuries over time that she needed to have multiple surgeries to correct the damage.

She had to fortify herself for survival every single day of her childhood. I imagine that's why she needed her "army".

[Amyjay]

I just watched this one about the same woman interviewed by the same reporter. This video is shorter and much less triggering. She is explaining a little about her system, and some of the alters come forward and speak.
I just want to add, this is not at all sensationalist reporting. The program is highly regarded as some of the best journalism in Australia. They don't do frivolous or sensationalist stuff, so for this story to be covered by a major current affairs network is a big deal for journalism in relation to DID (in the southern hemisphere, at least).

Its nice that she is believed for what happened to her. It must feel wonderful getting validated and not called everything under the sun liar like I was....because of course my story isnt real...
But really I do think its wonderful that her story was told

[Amyjay]

Originally Posted by invisible butterfly

Its nice that she is believed for what happened to her. It must feel wonderful getting validated and not called everything under the sun liar like I was....because of course my story isnt real...
But really I do think its wonderful that her story was told

I am so sorry you experience that, Invisible butterfly. I love that the woman in this program was validated. Not only by her psychiatrist, but by a team of detectives, the legal system, and also the journalism team. I wish every survivor of extreme abuse could be validated in such a way. Invalidation - by anyone - is so detrimental to healing. Your experience is your experience. Nobody else gets to determine its truth but you.

Originally Posted by Amyjay

I am so sorry you experience that, Invisible butterfly. I love that the woman in this program was validated. Not only by her psychiatrist, but by a team of detectives, the legal system, and also the journalism team. I wish every survivor of extreme abuse could be validated in such a way. Invalidation - by anyone - is so detrimental to healing. Your experience is your experience. Nobody else gets to determine its truth but you.

That really means a lot to me thank you so much!!!