Nancy's World

DECEMBER 27, 2023

I'm still alive, but feeling my age, just turned 77. I've had several emails asking about no updates to my site, so thank you to all those who care about me. It's hard to believe that Shirley died at age 75 and here I am, older than she. To me, her memory is alive and well, but many others have forgotten her contributions to our knowledge about DID. Her case was among the first to be diagnosed and treated. Since then, others have come forth to receive the help they need. May she rest in peace and be a guide and guardian angel to many others who are walking in her footsteps.

maRCH 24, 2023

Well, it has definitely been a while since I updated...Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine have come and gone. I've traveled, had surgery, been sick, ate like a starving pig, and been a champion couch potato. I think about my DID friends all the time and wonder how they are doing. It's a rough world we live in these days. I'm trying to update this ancient Sybil site, but I'm old and slow these days, but I'll do what I can as I'm able. Take care of yourself my friends out there. Be blessed. If you're interested, send me a friend invite on Facebook and we can connect that way. Or zap an email, and I will respond.
I found this list of movies and TV series about DID if you'd like to bingo watch them: United States of Tara; Fight Club; Me, Myself and Irene; Sybil; Frankie and Alice; The Ward; Primal Fear; Pscho; Three Faces of Eve; Secret Window; Raising Cain; Becker; and Heros. Some are better than others. My favorite, of course, is Sybil, the original starring Sally Field.

September 14, 2022

The book below is not on the topic of DID, but if you're interested in historical events, this is the book for you. It was recently published by my friend, Phil Thorne. He lives in England and worked on this book for decades. Keep in mind that to have it shipped to the States is fairly expensive, but worth the money if you're a history buff. Congrats to my buddy, Phil, for his lifelong accomplishment. if you need more info, you can still contact me, [email protected].

Computers can 'spot the difference' between healthy brains and the brains of people with DID ... by King's College London
Machine-learning and neuroimaging techniques have been used to accurately distinguish between individuals with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and healthy individuals, on the basis of their brain structure, in new research part funded by the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre and published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Using machine learning techniques to recognize patterns in the brain scans, the researchers were able to discriminate between the two groups with an overall accuracy of 73%, significantly higher than the level of accuracy you would expect by chance. This research, using the largest ever sample of individuals with DID in a brain imaging study, is the first to demonstrate that individuals with DID can be distinguished from healthy individuals on the basis of their brain structure.
DID, formerly known as 'multiple personality disorder', is one of the most disputed and controversial mental health disorders, with serious problems around diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Many patients with DID share a history of years of misdiagnoses, inefficient pharmacological treatment and several hospitalizations.
On a personal note, I've been MIA for months on this web site due to various reasons...medical, travel, old age drama, and lack of ambition. I've had various friends and visitors to sybilsfriend.com inquiring and I want them to know I'm OK. Please email me and I will respond ([email protected]). I love hearing from you. Cyber Hugs to all and may God's blessings be yours. --- Nancy

January 18, 2022

Another year is upon us, covid is still with us and we are all weary. Robert and I are hanging on, doing the best we can to live our lives to the fullest. We took a cruise in October with our daughters for their birthdays and that was truly a fun adventure. A few old friends have popped back into my life and that is always special. All of them are involved or interested in one way or another with DID. Stay well, my friends. Keep on trucking and keep the faith that all will be well. Be blessed.

Book Overview
In a memoir that began as a suicide note, the author describes her day-to-day struggles with multiple personalities and her years of therapy with a psychologist who helped her piece together her past.

Until now, multiple personality disorder (MPD) has been one of the most baffling mental health problems of our time. In More Than One, Dr. Terri Clark, a psychiatrist who specializes in MPD, provides a faithful yet compassionate examination of this little-understood disorder. Dr. Clark reveals clinical origins and history of MPD, features and characteristics of persons with MPD, the relationship between child abuse and MPD, the relationship between satanic ritual abuse and MPD, successful therapy methods, plus a glossary and a list of special resources.

july 28, 2021

Wow, time flies when you're old like me. It's been months since I posted and I feel guilty about that. My husband and I have spent our time traveling and keeping doctor appointments. We also moved from the house we were in for 40 plus years to a condo across town. It was a huge undertaking for two old people, but we did it. This was a necessary move due to stairs we can no longer climb and costly home repairs and upkeep that was never ending. I will soon be the same age Shirley was when she passed in 1998. Recently I have been in contact with a documentary maker in England who is interested in exploring the relationship between therapists and those who have DID. We zoom talked about Shirley. It will be interesting to see how she deals with this topic. Rest in peace, Shirley. I hope you're teaching art to the angels and decorating the heavens.

January 26, 2021

It's been many months since I last posted. The past year was very difficult in so many ways and I'm sure many of you feel the same. My husband and I have had many medical issues, but hopefully this year will be better for all of us. Yesterday was Shirley's birthday. I think about her a lot, especially when I pause and focus on her two paintings that are hanging in my dining room. I hope she is at peace and that she is looking down on me with love. Shirley was cremated after her death in 1998. Her paintings have been sold, auctioned, and displayed in galleries. Her life has been recounted in books, magazines, movies, and in countless discussions world wide. Her life mattered because she was the impetus for widespread awareness of DID, dissociative identity disorder. May she rest in peace knowing that her life inspired others to speak up, speak out, and advocate for all who live with DID and all other mental issues.

July 28, 2020

Note from Nancy:
My website, sybilsfriend.com is dedicated to my friend, Shirley.
With it I have always tried to inform and educate others about the realities of DID.
I hope you find it enlightening and that your perception
of dissociative identity disorder is "altered" in a positive way.
[email protected]

The most characteristic symptom of DID that individuals recognize is multiple or split personalities. However, calling them 'personalities' is questionable. Rather than having multiple personalities, an individual with dissociative identity disorder has several alternate senses of self that aren't unified as a whole. These senses of self are called 'alters.' Alters typically each have their own name, speech, distinct body language, and memories. When another alter 'fronts,' meaning they are the one controlling the body and interacting with the world, they typically don't have access to the memories of the other alters. This can lead to blackouts, which is where the dissociative part of the disorder's name comes in. There hasn't been enough research proving exactly how alters form neurologically or why. The most prevalent theory is different alters are a form of self-protection. A protective alter may endure abuse so the main 'host' doesn't have to experience those memories. - from HealthPrep, Guide to Symptoms of DID

June 3, 2020

Well, time flies when you're having fun. Not! We have been quarantined, self isolating, and washing our hands till they bleed. It's time to move on and step out into the world again. Not, says our friends.

As for my husband and me, we are venturing out; visiting with family, eating out, traveling to Vegas next week. Wait! what did she just write? Yes, we are indeed doing that. Actually, we will be mostly in Laughlin which is 90 miles south of Vegas, but what the heck. Life is short and we're resuming ours. I'll let you know how that works out. In the meantime, be blessed however you choose to spend your time.

February, 15, 2020

I hadn't seen these before and thought those living with DID, as well as those of us who advocate for those same individuals, would be interested in these items. By wearing the bracelets or pins, perhaps we will be given opportunities to explain to others what they represent.

January 12, 2020

Life has a way of slapping you in the face sometimes when you least expect it. I have been off my website for months with no updates due to my health woes. I seem to be on the mend now, thank the good Lord for blessing me with healing following surgery and a five day hospital stay. In the meantime, someone sent me a photo of Shirley which I would like to share. My memory is fuzzy as to who to credit, but want to say thank you to that person, and ask them to contact me again. The photo was taken when she was teaching in Michigan. I also recently learned that Shirley was once in charge of the occupational therapy department for the mentally ill at the Porter Sanitarium in Denver, Colorado. I don't know for how long she was employed there.

September 24, 2019

In this unique book, persons with Dissociative Disorders and their significant others address the complex issues of diagnosis, therapy, and maintaining personal relationships. "Viewed from the inside out," Dissociative Identity Disorder takes on an impassioned voice as those who struggle with dissociation share their experiences, obstacles, and triumphs. Contributions by 146 individuals diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder and the people with whom they share their lives have been gathered into an accessible and practical volume for therapists, clients, and lay readers interested in how to better be supportive of individuals who suffer with dissociative diagnoses. Many will find that the book validates their own experiences and feelings, as it explores the post-diagnosis journey. Published by The Sidran Foundation with the Eastern Regional Conference on Abuse and Multiple Personality and the newsletter Many Voices, Multiple Personality Disorder from the Inside Out has been compiled and edited by a therapist, a client, and a family member. In addition to the first-person writings described above, the volume contains an introductory chapter describing MPD and dissociation, a glossary of terms, a list of resources, and an index. Winner of the prestigious 1991 Distinguished Achievement Award given by the International Society for the Study of Multiple Personality and Dissociation.

July 15, 2019

Shirley's art, Doves, is on the cover of my book. It was on exhibit at the University of Kentucky along with her other paintings. I loved Doves and used it with the owner's permission on the cover of my book. It reminded me of the relationship between Shirley and her therapist, Dr. Wilbur. It also reminded me of the relationship that Shirley and I had. The owner, Jim Ballard, eventually made sure that I became the owner of the original. It hangs in my dining room with her other art, Footbridge in Georgia. Thank you, Jim, and rest in peace.

May 22, 2019

This article contains some interesting statistics about DID.
It is from HealthyPlace.com/Natasha Tracy.
Dissociative identity disorder has always been considered to be quite rare but it may be more common than previously thought and some estimate it to affect 1% of the population. This higher estimated prevalence may be due to the millions of now reported incidences of childhood abuse. Pathological dissociative states are less known in some parts of the world like China. Dissociation is more common in psychiatric patients than in the general population and even more common among those that have suffered childhood trauma.
Other facts about who gets dissociative identity disorder include:

Dissociation is present in all races but is more common in American children.
Females experience more childhood abuse than males at a ratio of 10:1 and thus more females suffer from DID.
However, more males who have been abused may experience pathological dissociation.
Dissociative identity disorder is typically caused by trauma occurring at less than nine years of age.
Early age of abuse onset predicts a greater degree of dissociation.
The average number of alternate personalities a person with DID has is between eight and 13, but there have been cases reported of more than 100 personalities within one individual.

Another statistic about dissociative identity disorder is that dissociative disorders were seen in 17.2% of a large inpatient group seeking treatment for substance abuse.

April 7, 2019

Got Parts? An Insider's Guide
to Managing Life Successfully with Dissociative Identity Disorder
(New Horizons in Therapy)
By Author....A. T. W.
Finally a book for survivors written by a survivor! Got Parts? was written by a survivor of DID in association with her therapist and therapy group. This book is filled with successful coping techniques and strategies to enhance the day-to-day functioning of adult survivors of DID in relationships, work, parenting, self-confidence, and self-care. Got Parts will help you introduce yourself to your internal family and improve its communication, integration, and well-being. Although written to carefully avoid triggering, it delivers well-grounded guidelines for living with DID.

The dissociative identity disorder sourcebook
By ...Deborah Bray Haddock

From Eve to Sybil to Truddi Chase, the media have long chronicled the lives of people with dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder. The Dissociative Identity Disorder Sourcebook serves as a much-needed bridge for communication between the dissociative individual and therapists, family, and friends who also have to learn to deal with the effects of this truly astonishing disorder.

February 16, 2019

I was recently contacted by Kayla Johnson ([email protected]) on behalf of the Tuck Sleep Foundation. She asked that I reference her site that is devoted to spreading awareness of sleep health and wellness. Since I have sleep apnea and use a C-Pap machine at night, I decided to include her contact info for those who might need it. She stated that they have ben working on a collection of in-depth guides about how sleep impacts mental health including How Mental Illness Affects Sleep; Understanding the Link Between Depression, Insomnia, and Seep Problems, and Tuck's Full Collection of Resources. The Tuck Sleep Foundation is a non-profit community devoted to improving sleep hygiene, health and wellness through the creation and dissemination of comprehensive, unbiased, free web-based resources. Tuck has been featured on NPR, Lifehacker, Radiolab and is referenced by many colleges/universities and sleep organizations across the web. Boasting the largest collection of aggregated data on sleep surfaces on the web (over 95,000 customer experiences from nearly 1,000 individual sources), Tuck aims to power consumers, sleep professionals, and the troubled sleeper looking for answers. www.tuck.com/

January 1, 2019

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone. Not to mention New Year's Day. I got busy with Christmas preps and all that entails and didn't get this page updated. Christmas was good with family and friends so I am blessed. Hope you are also in the coming year.

October 14, 2018

Autumn arrives, then before you know it, it's Thanksgiving and Christmas is around the corner. I am so thankful for the life God has given me. I have been blessed with family, friends, and opportunities. As we move forward toward another year, let us remember the past, look forward to the future, and pray for positive outcomes. Be blessed.

August 28, 2018

The art of the novelist is not unrelated to the illness of multiple personality disorder.
It's a much milder form. But the better the book, the nearer to the padded cell you are. - David Mitchell

Sometimes I feel like I need a padded cell when my world is tumbling over into chaos. Such has been the case recently with lots of family drama unfolding. Such is life and sometimes s...t happens that we can't control. We just try to deal with it the best we know how and pray for God's guidance. Be blessed today and every day. As Scarlet O'Hara said, " Tomorrow is another day. "

July 15, 2018

Important Facts you should know about DID by Kristine Fellizar … www.bustle.com
It's A Coping Mechanism
Memory Lapses Are Common
Each Identity Has Its Own Story
It Can Make Someone Feel Like They're Living In A Dream

It's Not Always As Dramatic As Media Likes To Portray It
It Can Last A Lifetime If Left Untreated
It's Not As Uncommon As You Think
According to Dr. Sal Raichbach PsyD, LCSW, "DID is a mental health condition that is often highly misunderstood. TV and movies often sensationalize the way the people with DID act; often portraying switching between very distinct and dramatic personalities. But this isn’t always the case. Instead, it can be a lot less obvious. Many people tend to be unaware that a person lives with this condition. People with Dissociative Identity Disorder don’t always pop in and out of different people, but instead, experience several states of disassociation from their true self. Experts argue on the prevalence of DID, but most agree that bout two percent of the population meet the criteria. If that number doesn't seem like a lot, it's actually comparable to other conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. So, while it is rarer than mental health disorders like anxiety and depression, it’s not as uncommon as people tend to think.

May 30, 2018

March 18, 2018

January 30, 2018

What a pain in the patoot. My laptop is not cooperating and the more I try, the more frustrated I get. We've all been there, but it annoys me to the nth degree. Anyway, rant over. I've spent the last few days completely overhauling sybilsfriend.com. I hadn't done it for a while and tech support suggested I do so. I had to relearn how to do everything. Then, since I'm right brained and obsessive, I agonized over getting each page just right. Thanks for hanging with me over the years. Check out all my hard work. If any of the links don't work, let me know. Or if you find any other mistakes, I also want to know. I already told you I'm right brained and obsessive. LOL

January 28, 2018

I remember when Dr. Wilbur was asked to consult on Mr. Milligan's case. He was accused of being a serial rapist. She came to Columbus to discuss DID with those who were in charge while he was incarcerated.

January 9, 2018

Denial is commonly found among persons with dissociative disorders. My favorite quotation from such a client is, We are not multiple, we made it all up. I have heard this from several different clients. When I hear it, I politely inquire, And who is we?
- Alison Miller, Healing the Unimaginable: Treating Ritual Abuse and Mind Control

November 13, 2017

Today I'm Alice:
Nine Personalities, One Tortured Mind
   - by Alice Jamieson
Knowing I was different with my OCD, anorexia and the voices that no one else seemed to hear made me feel isolated, disconnected. I took everything too seriously. I analysed things to death. I turned every word, and the intonation of every word over in my mind trying to decide exactly what it meant, whether there was a subtext or an implied criticism. I tried to recall the expressions on people’s faces, how those expressions changed, what they meant, whether what they said and the look on their faces matched and were therefore genuine or whether it was a sham, the kind word touched by irony or sarcasm, the smile that means pity. hen people looked at me closely could they see the little girl in my head, being abused in those pornographic clips projected behind my eyes? That is what I would often be thinking and such thoughts ate away at the façade of self-confidence I was constantly raising and repairing.
   ... the Author, describing dissociative identity disorder/mpd symptoms

October 4, 2017

Until now, multiple personality disorder (MPD) has been one of the most baffling mental health problems of our time. In More Than One, Dr. Terri Clark, a psychiatrist who specializes in MPD, provides a faithful yet compassionate examination of this little-understood disorder. Dr. Clark reveals clinical origins and history of MPD, features and characterisitics of persons with MPD, the relationship between child abuse and MPD, the relationship between satanic ritual abuse and MPD, successful therapy methods, plus a glossary and a list of special resources.

Fall is here and winter is on the way. Time to gear up for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This book and the others I list from time to time would make good presents for those who are interested in learning more about DID. I've been reading about it for years and yet I still feel like I'm lacking in knowledge.

August 17, 2017

Common Dissociative Identity Disorder Alter Types by Natasha Tracy
Dissociative identity disorder alters are commonly of specific types. The following are common DID alter types:

Child and adolescent alters – young alters are often the first discovered in therapy and are the most common type of alter. These alters emerge to handle the abuse that the original personality couldn't tolerate. A DID alter may be referred to as a "little" if the alter acts seven years or younger.
Protector or rescuer alters – these alters can be of any age and were created to save the original person from intolerable situations. These DID alters are often tougher and braver than the original personality.
Persecutor alters – these DID alters are modeled after the abuser. Persecutor alters create negative messages blaming the original identity for the abuse and telling them they need to die or pay for it. Often the host will act on these negative messages and self-harm or even attempt suicide. This is often when the person is first introduced to the mental health system.
Perpetrator alters – also modeled after the abuser, these dissociative identity disorder alters direct their hostility outward rather than inward towards other personalities.
Avenger alters – this dissociative identity disorder alter holds the rage from the childhood abuse and may seek retribution from the abuser. They tend to express the anger of the entire system and can be hostile.
While those are the common DID alter types, other alter types occur as well.

   Resource: https://www.healthyplace.com/
   For more info about Dissociative Identity Disorder ...
HealthyPlace.com is the largest consumer mental health site, providing trusted information on mental health disorders and psychiatric medications from both a consumer and expert point of view. They have online psychological tests, breaking mental health news, mental health videos, unique tools like a mood journal and more.

July 2, 2017

For almost every character I've played played in the 43 years I've been working as a professional actor, I've found parts of myself. We are all bipolar in the tiniest essence of what it is. We are all multiple personalities, in a sense, and to be healthy mentally, I think, learning what those multiple personalities are and inviting them in your life is really important.
                       - Sally Field

Top 11 Sally Field movies:
Note from Nancy - I've seen them all and love each one!
1-Forrest Gump
2-Sybil
3-Norma Rae
4- Places in the Sun
5-Steel Magnolias
6-Mrs. Doubtfire
7-Lincoln
8-Murphy's Romance
9-Not Without My Daughter
10-Absence of Malice
11-Smokey and the Bandit

June 2, 2017

Chronic trauma (according to the meaning I propose) that occurs early in life has profound effects on personality development and can lead to the development of dissociative identity disorder (DID), other dissociative disorders, personality disorders, psychotic thinking, and a host of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse. In my view, DID is simply an extreme version of the dissociative structure of the psyche that characterizes us all. - from The Dissociative Mind by Elizabeth F. Howell

May 20, 2017

Here are a few books to check out.
To share your thoughts, email me: [email protected]

May 6, 2017

Yesterday was my dad's birthday. He's been gone a long time but he and my mom still live in my dreams and in my heart. That makes me think of Shirley's dad. She loved him dearly and never blamed him for the abuse she suffered. They shared a love of stamp collecting and before she died, Shirley amassed quite a collection. I wonder what happened to it.

Shirley, around Age 5

Most fathers don't see the war within the daughter, her struggles with conflicting images of the idealized and flawed father, her temptation both to retreat to Daddy's lap and protection and to push out of his embrace to that of the world beyond home. - Victoria Secunda

April 4, 2017

I try to be an advocate for those with DID, but realize that I am sadly lacking in so many areas I am of little real use. I wish I could do more to spread the word of this very real condition. It makes me sad that fewer and fewer know Shirley's story and know even less about living with DID. The Sybil book and movie started a wave of diagnoses followed by allegations of fraud, validity, and collusion. Today it is very difficult to find therapists who are willing to deal with DID patients or even listen to their life stories. When they contact me, I listen. It's all I can do because I am not a therapist, but it's not enough. May God bless them all.

March 3, 2017

So March is here already. Winter is leaving and spring is arriving. Time changes soon and I hate that. My body clock will be in disarray. It does serve as a reminder though that a lot of those with DID have time lapses where they may not recall their actions. My friend, Shirley, certainly did. During those times her alters sometimes painted and did other art work. Some of the art was signed; some wasn't. Shirley was mystified as to the origin of this art that she found lying around her apartment and never claimed any of it as her own. Each piece of art has a unique story behind it. Those of you who are interested can see more of this art of Shirley and her alters at www.hiddenpaintings.com.

February 12, 2017

Robert and I just returned from the Infinite Mind Conference in Orlando. It was a wonderful experience and I'm so glad we had the chance to attend. There were over 250 attendees for various workshops and seminars along with vendors. I had the opportunity to talk with many who are DID as well as therapists, counselors, and other professionals. A documentary is in the making about the reality of DID and the crew was there filming during the conference. Reminded me of when Warner Brothers came to our home and filmed an interview with me about my friendship with Shirley. That interview is in the 30th anniversary CD edition of the movie Sybil.

January 1, 2017

Happy 2017, and wishes for health, wealth, love, and all positive vibes for the coming year. Kraut and sausage is on the menu for today, our family tradition, to ensure all good things abound in our household in the future. January 25th is Shirley's birthday. I'm thinking of her and all the others who are living daily with DID.
Happy birthday, Shirley, my forever friend....

December 14, 2016

Oops. I missed November entirely. My bad. The tree is up and the presents are not all wrapped, but slowly getting there. I love this season, but for some multiples, Christmas and a lot of other holidays trigger trauma, depression, and dissociation. One DID friend who is a victim of ritual abuse is always in great pain this time of year due to her memories of past events. She has my emotional support as do all those whose lives have been affected by the trauma of abuse in their past. May their lives be blessed with healing and peace.

October 26, 2016

I wish I could do what these two quotes advocate, but it's not that easy. Family drama surrounds me and I am sad. Life is difficult and the path is never clear. No matter how hard we try, sometimes it's not enough.

June 1, 2016

It s a beautiful sunny day and God is good. I am blessed with the love of family and friends. For all of them and for those unknown souls who are suffering or alone, I offer this prayer for healing and peace.
Lord, I give you my family and my friends; and also those souls
I've never met in person but who I know are suffering and alone.
I thank you for them and for placing them in my life.
I thank you for everything that they are
And for all their gifts and talents.
I thank you for the many things that they have given to others
And for all the kindness that they have shown me.
Lord, at the beginning of time You breathed Your life into creation.
May you breathe Your life into them now so that each step they take is filled with Your faith;
Each thought they think is filled with Your hope;
and each moment they live is filled with Your love.
May they fully know Your life and fully live in Your love this day and every day.
Praise be to Thy holy name.

April 27, 2016

I found this quote and really liked it. How to survive and thrive? That is the issue DIDs face every day. Some manage to find a path, others sadly do not.

April 14, 2016

    Knowing I was different with my OCD, anorexia and the voices that no one else seemed to hear made me feel isolated, disconnected. I took everything too seriously. I analysed things to death. I turned every word, and the intonation of every word over in my mind trying to decide exactly what it meant, whether there was a subtext or an implied criticism. I tried to recall the expressions on people’s faces, how those expressions changed, what they meant, whether what they said and the look on their faces matched and were therefore genuine or whether it was a sham, the kind word touched by irony or sarcasm, the smile that means pity.
   When people looked at me closely could they see the little girl in my head, being abused in those pornographic clips projected behind my eyes? That is what I would often be thinking and such thoughts ate away at the façade of self-confidence I was constantly raising and repairing.
                         Alice Jamieson, Today I'm Alice: Nine Personalities, One Tortured Mind
                         Description of Dissociative Identity / Disorder/mpd symptoms

March 15, 2016

James Ballard and his wife Carol were dear friends to Robert and me. He was a true Kentucky gentleman who never met a stranger. He bought a batch of Shirley's art after her death at the estate sale. At the time he didn't have a clue who Sybil was. After he found out and over the years, he became one of her biggest fans. I met him in 2004 and he encouraged me to pursue my book about her. He passed from this realm on March 6th. I will miss our chats on the phone. I will miss the gracious hospitality of him and his wife, Carol, when we managed to meet up. Right now I can picture Shirley and he catching up; with her answering his many questions about her life and art. Rest in peace, Jim. Say hello to Shirley for me till we meet again.

James Ballard May 15, 1930 – March 6, 2016
Published in Lexington Herald-Leader on Mar. 10, 2016

BALLARD James (Jim) A., 85, of Indianapolis, IN, passed away on March 6, 2016 after a short illness. The memorial service will be held at 2pm on March 12 at his church home, Christ Centered Church, in Lexington. His son in law, Rev. Steve Severs, will officiate. Jim was born in White Station in Madison County on May 15, 1930. He graduated from Henry Clay High School and received Bachelors in Business and Engineering from the University of Kentucky. He served in the Air Force and Naval Reserve. Jim was married to Carol Angel on Nov 2, 1996. He was an entrepreneur and local business man. He was an active member of the the Shrine and Masons. He is survived by his spouse, Carol; children, Jim Ballard (Rosemarie), Mary Elizabeth Severs (Rev. Steve), John Ballard, Joe Ballard, Paul Angel (Kelly), Chris Clagett (Linda), Jay Clagett; grandchildren, Rachel Ballard, Rebecca Hilario (Michael), Madeleine Severs, Laura Phillips, Cody Clagett, Brent Angel, Grant Angel, Madison Angel, Dylan Alting, and Derik Alting. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Shriners Hospital for Children, Lexington.

January 25, 2016

Happy birthday, Shirley. I'm thinking of you. You are forever in my heart. I hope you are soaring through the air and teaching angels to paint the sky. You will always be loved for so many reasons

January 9, 2016

Egads, I've haven't posted in over a month. Forgive me, but the holiday busy-ness overwhelmed me. Christmas cards were later than usual; present wrapping was later than usual; everything was finished one step ahead of deadlines. I added another year in December so maybe my age is slowing me down. Shirley's art auction went well as far as I know. I haven't talked to Jim Ballard lately. I bid on 8 pieces and wasn't even close to getting any of them. I hope they will be loved as much as I loved Shirley. Her birthday is January 25th. When she was alive, I always tried to send her a little gift as she was denied this pleasure as a kid. Her mother took her gifts from her and gave them to others. When I think about my childhood which was full of love and caring, my sadness for Shirley's childhood returns.

November 22, 2015

An on line auction for Shirley's art, 103 pieces, is being held this week. Mr. Ballard who bought the art at her estate sale is letting it go with regret. I did a book signing Friday night at the Lexington, Ky, gallery (the Luxe) where the art is on display for the duration of the auction. If you'd like to bid or browse, you can check out www.ebth.com (Everything But the House, estate auctions, Lexington, Ky). It is sad to think that the art couldn't be kept together, but I understand why Jim placed it for auction. It is also sad to think that I won't ever again be able to view Shirley's art as a whole. On the other hand, I have three of her watercolors and they are mine forever. I just hope that each of her pieces goes to a good home and that the owner will love and treasure it as much as I do mine.

October 3, 2015

I now have Two Doves hanging alongside Footbridge in Georgia in my dining room. Two Doves, the original watercolor by Shirley, arrived last Thursday and Robert hung it for me yesterday. Now everyone who enters my living room has it in full view. I absolutely love it and always have since the first time I saw it.

September 27, 2015

Switches among identities occur in response to changes in emotional state or to environmental demands, resulting in another identity emerging to assume control. Because different identities have different roles, experiences, emotions, memories, and beliefs, the therapist is constantly contending with their competing points of view. Helping the identities to be aware of one another as legitimate parts of the self and to negotiate and resolve their conflicts is at the very core of the therapeutic process. It is counter therapeutic for the therapist to treat any alternate identity as if it were more real or more important than any other.
Guidelines for Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder in Adults, Third Revision - James A. Chui
Shirley was introduced to her alters over a period of time by Dr. Wilbur. The eventual integration of her personalities was a choice made and agreed to by all of them. It was not an easy choice for some of them, but it was the right choice for Shirley in the long run.

August 10, 2015

I came across this book, The Dissociative Identity Disorder Sourcebook by Deborah Bray Haddock, and thought it a valuable resource for those who want to learn more about DID and its implications for self, family, and friends. This is a quote by the author:
“DID is about survival! As more people begin to appreciate this concept, individuals with DID will start to feel less as though they have to hide in shame. DID develops as a response to extreme trauma that occurs at an early age and usually over an extended period of time.”

God is good to me. I've been thinking a lot about Shirley. I think I mentioned that I acquired the original of her watercolor Doves that is on the cover of my book. It reminds me of the relationship between Shirley and Dr. Wilbur and between Shirley and me.

July 9, 2015

What the heck? It's July and still having rainy, cool, gloomy days. What will the winter be like? In the middle of June, we ambled south toward Florida, visited family and friends along the way. The three days we spent in New Orleans were fantastic. If you get a chance to visit there, be sure and visit the World War II Museum. Plan on spending a day there because it's fascinating.
Along the way we stopped at an exhibit of Shirley's art in Lexington, Kentucky, at the Chandler Hospital, University of Kentucky. The art stretched along a hallway and in the stillness one could not help being amazed by what Shirley had portrayed. There were examples from her therapy all the way to her final watercolors. One of my friends who is multiple, and also an artist, got a chance to visit and she took photos with some interesting angles. She said she was there until 3a.m. and as a multiple herself could relate to what Shirley was expressing in ways that most of us will never comprehend. The photos at the left are from my cell phone and not the best but give you an idea of the extent of the exhibit. It ended the last of June.

May 17, 2015

   Below is a link to a great article by Tori Telfer... Are Multiple Personalities always a disorder? This has an interesting take on DID and a wealth of information for those of us who want to know more, understand more, and lend a helping hand. Thank you, Ms. Telfer for allowing me to post your link. Also, thanks to the Astraea group for sharing their info with me and for all their support over the past several years. I love you all.

                    http://www.vice.com/read/when-multiple-personalities-are-not-a-disorder-400

                                                  The individual does actually carry on a double existence:
                          one designed to serve his own purposes and another as a link in a chain, in which he serves against,
                                               or at any rate without, any volition of his own. - Sigmund Freud

The Local Author Fair was fun and I had a chance to network with other authors and visitors to the fair. Some knew Shirley's story, some did not. As time passes, fewer and fewer remember the book and movies about her. Almost everyone knows what multiple personality disorder is although I inform them that it's now called DID. One man who stopped by my table said Shirley was possessed by demons. My mouth dropped open and I tried to explain what DID is, but he was not listening to anything I had to say. My mother always told me that you can't argue with ignorance, so I shut up and let him ramble. He soon moved on with his ignorance intact. If God blesses him with an opened mind some day, I'll try again to talk with him if he crosses my path.

My book signing pictures are below. It's always fun speaking with those who are interested in what I have to say about DID and my friend, Shirley, aka Sybil.