Funded Agencies : Success Stories

Understanding her past: Marie’s Story

Marie came to the Centre looking for answers. She was struggling with flashbacks
related to childhood sexual abuse and was feeling overwhelmed with her feelings.
She complained of feeling like she “lost time” during the day, and often had trouble
remembering how she had passed the time.

Over the course of therapy, it became clear that Marie had learned to cope with her
abuse as a child by developing “alters” or other personalities. Today Marie has
learned a great deal about Dissociative Identity Disorder and how to appreciate all
aspects of her self. She is completing assignments designed to give each alter a
voice, even young aspects of herself who complete artwork. It is a long process, but
Marie feels more aware of her selves, and more able to cope with the memories.

Thanks to the Family Services York Region, a United Way funded agency, she is no
longer afraid that she is “losing her mind” and recognizes how strong she was as a
child to cope with such trauma.

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