Reclaiming Life From the Shadow of Traumatic Memory with Author Lyn Barrett

The term “dissociative disorders affect about 2% of the US population. It describes a persistent mental state that is marked by feelings of being detached from reality, being outside one’s own body or experiencing memory loss (amnesia). Often misdiagnosed, DID is known predominantly to be caused by severe childhood trauma combined with a disorganized attachment style When long-term child abuse occurs before a child’s typical personality integration around age 9, the healthy state of a singular self may be disrupted. The experience of memory loss of time, people and events can result in two or more distinct and separate identities that serve as a coping mechanism to function within the abuse.

Today's special guest, Lyn Barrett, suffered from DID. This retired teacher, school principal, and pastor was diagnosed with it in 1992

In her memoir Crazy: Reclaiming Life From the Shadow of Traumatic Memory, Lyn takes us through her journey from happy wife and mother to internally living with more than ten distinctive personalities or “alters.” Lyn didn't only write her memoir to share her own journey, she's become an advocate for others to also share their experience and formed a writing group - Dissociative Writers, to provide a forum.

After much therapeutic work, Lyn lives a happily integrated life.nd now manages a fully functional life

Lyn currently facilitates writers workshops and teaches a memoir class for dissociative writers, writes weekly blogs and a newsletter, and speaks on public radio, podcasts, and in other settings.She holds advanced degrees from Lehigh University and Lancaster Theological Seminary. She can be reached through her websites at www.lynbarrett.com and www.dissociativewriters.com.