The Sum of My Parts

Friends

The Bumpy Path of Healing

Olga Trujillo J.D. on August 15, 2014

The past several months have been incredibly difficult and very humbling. With the work I have done around the country, in writing my book and writing this blog, I thought I was past the pain. I thought I could always take the broad view. I became complacent, thinking I'd never do anything to hurt myself.

The past several months have been incredibly difficult and very humbling. With the work I have done around the country, in writing my book and writing this blog, I thought I was past the pain. I thought I could always take the broad view. I became complacent, thinking I'd never do anything to hurt myself.

Psychiatry

A Girl's Best Friend: Dogs and DID

Olga Trujillo J.D. on April 12, 2013

A psychiatric service dog can help interrupt dissociation, help a person remember to take medication, retrieve objects, guide her from stressful situations such as crowded areas, even physically brace her if she becomes dizzy, lightheaded or dissociative.

A psychiatric service dog can help interrupt dissociation, help a person remember to take medication, retrieve objects, guide her from stressful situations such as crowded areas, even physically brace her if she becomes dizzy, lightheaded or dissociative.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

The Power of Culture

Olga Trujillo J.D. on April 4, 2013

Without knowing, Popi created for me a hierarchy of values that helped me to survive the terror he inflicted on his family in the name of culture and in the name of respect.

Without knowing, Popi created for me a hierarchy of values that helped me to survive the terror he inflicted on his family in the name of culture and in the name of respect.

Trauma

An Infinite Mind

Olga Trujillo J.D. on March 21, 2013

It was a magical experience to be around people who understood the pain and the power of living with DID.

It was a magical experience to be around people who understood the pain and the power of living with DID.

Relationships

My Dog Griffin: The Antidote

Olga Trujillo J.D. on June 15, 2012

He is the first dog that I have allowed myself to love since I was a little girl.

He is the first dog that I have allowed myself to love since I was a little girl.

Trauma

Good Reads on Healing, Trauma & Dissociation

Olga Trujillo J.D. on March 27, 2012

The novel tells the story of Little Miss So-and-So. The prose poetry's rhythmic quality felt intimately familiar. I found myself captivated by the main character, surprised to find such a perfect illustration of dissociative identity disorder (DID) from the inside out. Chris' words clearly captured what it felt like in my head to be divided.

The novel tells the story of Little Miss So-and-So. The prose poetry's rhythmic quality felt intimately familiar. I found myself captivated by the main character, surprised to find such a perfect illustration of dissociative identity disorder (DID) from the inside out. Chris' words clearly captured what it felt like in my head to be divided.

Diet

Dieting and DID

Olga Trujillo J.D. on February 15, 2012

I've talked with other survivors of child sexual assault about how hard it is to eat well. Since many of us were "rewarded" with food after we were abused, we were conditioned to crave a "treat" after getting through something very difficult.

I've talked with other survivors of child sexual assault about how hard it is to eat well. Since many of us were "rewarded" with food after we were abused, we were conditioned to crave a "treat" after getting through something very difficult.

Sexual Abuse

It Gets Better

Olga Trujillo J.D. on January 8, 2012

Each time I come out of the darkness I revel once again in the light and my newfound strength. I have overcome it and when it comes again, I will ride that out, too. In the meantime, I enjoy the peace of feeling happy, sane and stable.

Each time I come out of the darkness I revel once again in the light and my newfound strength. I have overcome it and when it comes again, I will ride that out, too. In the meantime, I enjoy the peace of feeling happy, sane and stable.

Depression

Getting Through Sexual Abuse Scandals and Depression

Olga Trujillo J.D. on December 8, 2011

The child sexual abuse scandals at Penn State and Syracuse University can be hard to hear for anyone. For those, like me, who have been sexually abused by people we trusted it can have a profound impact. It may remind us of our own abuse, bring up flashbacks, nightmares, grief and mourning. Depression is usually where I end up.

The child sexual abuse scandals at Penn State and Syracuse University can be hard to hear for anyone. For those, like me, who have been sexually abused by people we trusted it can have a profound impact. It may remind us of our own abuse, bring up flashbacks, nightmares, grief and mourning. Depression is usually where I end up.

Career

The Bumpy Path of Healing

Olga Trujillo J.D. on November 10, 2011

The past several months have been incredibly difficult and very humbling. With the work I have done around the country, in writing my book and writing this blog, I thought I was past the pain. I thought I could always take the broad view. I became complacent, thinking I'd never do anything to hurt myself.

The past several months have been incredibly difficult and very humbling. With the work I have done around the country, in writing my book and writing this blog, I thought I was past the pain. I thought I could always take the broad view. I became complacent, thinking I'd never do anything to hurt myself.

Confidence

My Divided Mind

Olga Trujillo J.D. on October 28, 2011

When my mind was divided it was organized like a house with many rooms. Some rooms were created to hold unbearable memories, to keep them away from my consciousness. It wasn't until I started healing and integrating that I understood how different it felt to be a person with a divided consciousness rather than a person with a whole sense of consciousness.

When my mind was divided it was organized like a house with many rooms. Some rooms were created to hold unbearable memories, to keep them away from my consciousness. It wasn't until I started healing and integrating that I understood how different it felt to be a person with a divided consciousness rather than a person with a whole sense of consciousness.

Wisdom

A Matter of Faith

Olga Trujillo J.D. on October 13, 2011

I stared up at the painting of God on the ceiling searched his eyes. "Was he a kind God?" I needed to believe he was. I had been told He had a plan for each person and only bad people had bad things happen to them. I followed all the rules. I was good. "How could there be a god if this all happened to me?"

I stared up at the painting of God on the ceiling searched his eyes. "Was he a kind God?" I needed to believe he was. I had been told He had a plan for each person and only bad people had bad things happen to them. I followed all the rules. I was good. "How could there be a god if this all happened to me?"

Friends

The Sum Of My Parts - A Memoir

Olga Trujillo J.D. on September 21, 2011

I felt lost and scared without Doña Graciela and thought about her all the time. I knew her schedule very well and imagined myself in her house, just through the wall, holding her hand as we went down the steep basement stairs. I worried that, without me, she would fall and no one would be home for hours to help her. I worried that she would burn herself while ironing.

I felt lost and scared without Doña Graciela and thought about her all the time. I knew her schedule very well and imagined myself in her house, just through the wall, holding her hand as we went down the steep basement stairs. I worried that, without me, she would fall and no one would be home for hours to help her. I worried that she would burn herself while ironing.

Forgiveness

The Sum Of My Parts - A Memoir

Olga Trujillo J.D. on September 15, 2011

I heard Doña Graciela tell my father "I can hear you through the walls," she scolded. "You know better. Your role as the man of the house is to protect and provide for your family, not to beat and scare them." She appealed to his faith: "God will forgive you, Alejandro, if you stop and repent for your sins."

I heard Doña Graciela tell my father "I can hear you through the walls," she scolded. "You know better. Your role as the man of the house is to protect and provide for your family, not to beat and scare them." She appealed to his faith: "God will forgive you, Alejandro, if you stop and repent for your sins."

Memory

The Sum Of My Parts - A Memoir

Olga Trujillo J.D. on September 8, 2011

My divided mind was starting to look like a house with rooms that had enclosed the memory of my father's attack so I could get up, get out of bed, and spend the day with Doña Graciela.

My divided mind was starting to look like a house with rooms that had enclosed the memory of my father's attack so I could get up, get out of bed, and spend the day with Doña Graciela.

Anxiety

The Sum Of My Parts - A Memoir

Olga Trujillo J.D. on August 31, 2011

My mind was like a house with different rooms to hold different aspects of what I experienced. It kept the attack away from my consciousness so that the next day I could function. One room held the knowledge that my father raped me. Another, the physical pain. Others held the look on my mother's face and the panic I felt.

My mind was like a house with different rooms to hold different aspects of what I experienced. It kept the attack away from my consciousness so that the next day I could function. One room held the knowledge that my father raped me. Another, the physical pain. Others held the look on my mother's face and the panic I felt.

Relationships

The Sum Of My Parts - A Memoir

Olga Trujillo J.D. on August 24, 2011

Doña Graciela lived next door and took care of me while my mom worked. I loved my days with her. She hugged me all the time. She made me feel good and capable. She helped me become who I am today. Read about how she helped build resilience in me.

Doña Graciela lived next door and took care of me while my mom worked. I loved my days with her. She hugged me all the time. She made me feel good and capable. She helped me become who I am today. Read about how she helped build resilience in me.

Anxiety

The Sum of My Parts, A Memoir

Olga Trujillo J.D. on August 15, 2011

"My mom spoke to me in Spanish, the only language I knew at that age. 'Olguita, I found a job and I won't be home to care for you during the week.' A surge of fear and panic rushed through my body because I knew my father had forbidden her from working."

"My mom spoke to me in Spanish, the only language I knew at that age. 'Olguita, I found a job and I won't be home to care for you during the week.' A surge of fear and panic rushed through my body because I knew my father had forbidden her from working."

How people helped me talk about what had happened to me as a child and by talking about it, begin the healing process.

We often encourage survivors to speak about their experiences, but we might not think as much about how to be on the receiving end of the story.