During April 2018 -And He Restoreth My Soul Project Honors Survivors of Dissociative Identity Disorder

Greetings Everyone!

April is here again, and that means most sexual assault and child abuse prevention centers have planned their awareness campaigns and are preparing to carry out those plans.

And He Restoreth My Soul Project plans may happen on a smaller scale yet still gives special research and ample time to the topic it will cover. If you remember last year, we examined the effects of sex trafficking on our young people and what various organizations, such as Truckers Against Sex Trafficking, Our Kids Are Not For Sale, and what many are doing to educate, children, parents, and schools about protecting our children.

This year, And He Restoreth My Soul Project will examine trauma that may result in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD).

I was captivated and absorbed into the research about Trauma and its connection to Dissociative Identity Disorder. And as I examined many stories about survivors of Dissociative Identity Disorder, my heart broke. Yet, I also saw hope, especially for those who are still getting help and for those who are managing their alters and are aware of what they need to do to take care of themselves.

As I read about survivors, there were two who impressed me, Truddi Chase and her daughter, Kari Ainsworth and Carol a young lady @ diddispatches these are the personal accounts that will be shared with you during April. I am featuring these two ladies in order to honor all who have experienced trauma at such a magnitude that they needed other personalities to bear the pain.

You will hear from experts, Esther Giller, CEO of Sidran Institute, Patrick Purcell, LMFT, and Roland Bal who has a Ph.D. in the field of trauma, who work with DID survivors. You will also be able to view a presentation created by Laura Astorian, Ph.D. documenting her AP Psychology Class for 12th-grade students. Throughout the month, you will see beautiful art by Harli Tree, a Dissociative Identity Disorder survivor.ctor of Ministry has also written a poem and a prayer from the perspective of a DID survivor to provide hope and encouragement to survivors everywhere.

I was deeply moved as I read an article written by Judy Castelli, a DID survivor who educates the masses about Dissociative Identity Disorder. You can find the entire article at the Mental Health Matters website. The article, to me, seems to be a combination of a plea and a promise for children and adults who have been given a misdiagnosis or are afraid to seek help.

The following is a quote by Judy Castelli:

“It is not easy. It is worth it. There are children for whom we speak, who are yet unseen, unheard. Our collective voices multiplied again and again will be heard, stronger than any-one voice. Our voices will be carried by an angry and loud wind so that no man, no woman, no child will have to suffer alone and unseen, without hope, and in silence.

We hear you. We see you. We believe you. We know you are not bad. You did not do anything. You certainly did not do anything to deserve what was done to you in childhood. It is right that you survived. It is right that you live today. It is right that you grow to be happy and whole. You will survive this. It is for you to survive. It is a part of you. More than anything else, it is who you are. It is right, finally, that you live, alive and in life fully and completely.”

I’m excited about what you are about to experience as you read through the information, and if you have any questions, you can contact me through my website or at queendjh@gmail.com.

As I close, my heart goes out to survivors of abuse. Be it sexual abuse, neglect, and maltreatment, abandonment, physical, or mental abuse, please know HOPE is never dead. HOPE breaths and lives. HOPE will hold you up! HOPE has many components, but what is most important is where you place and anchor your HOPE. For me, my HOPE is in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is a great place to place and anchor HOPE in order to find a Pathway to PEACE.

I serve at the pleasure of God!

Darlene J. Harris

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR APRIL 2018