About

Scientist  –  Writer  –  Founder of Making Good For All Org.  & passionate advocate for mental health and wellness!

YAY!    I’m so glad you’re here!    I’m so grateful I am too!

I have spent most of my 50 years either in denial or trying to figure out what on earth (!!) is going on with me, and I never thought I’d be able to tell anyone abou my experiences, but that is what I’m doing and its amazing! I love being able to share all I discover with you.

Long story short (as short as I can make it), I was diagnosed with PTSD following the birth of my son at 30 years of age; 3 years later I was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, then Depression. The real problem?  This was all news to me! Sure, I was aware of some weird, at times, disturbing images in my head and I had many, frequent and very strange sensations that I could not understand or explain.  Why?  What role did they have in my life? I had gotten so good at hiding, that I wasn’t even aware of what was going on for myself. Of course as the years went by, life happened and my “hiding” became a really BIG problem!  Ten years go by and I keep trying to make a life but keep making a mess of it all: I create spectacular failures and leave people feeling betayed; I realize that I dissociate- even have multiple personalities (none of which I want anything to do with). Over the next 10 years, I start figuring it out: I was sexually abused on a regular basis from 4 to 8 years of age and that accounted, not only for the violent images but for the many unintended and negative consequences on myself and those around me.

Now, and for the past few years, I have been wanting to share my story but until very recently, I was terrified to even say it out loud!  (I can’t believe I am actually typing this!)

What changed? I discovered and started working with a very highly skilled therapist who has vast experience with treating PTSD and DID.  Shortly after, I lost my job, business and career. At fault were my actions due to episodes triggered by the trauma. That did it! Enough is enough! Right then and there my need to end this suffering and assist others in doing so, became so much larger than any fear in me.  There HAS got to be a better way of living so let’s figure it out together. I’m on a mission to integrate and “survive”, but also to make it up to people around me.  Join me as I will share all I can from scientific research to practical everyday solutions and most important my own personal experiences.

Currently, I am 100 pounds overweight, unemployed, broke and struggling to find the energy to get to the point where I can call myself a “survivor”. In the midst of it all, I do have a son, husband, sister and parents who now know everything I know, and still support me.  My goal is to become a healthier person in every way possible and to share this with all of you!

Making Good is a blog devoted to making and living a good, strong life as an integrated, whole person by working to repair ourselves and our relationships with those around us.

MY PROMISE TO YOU:

• Explore all forms of scientific knowledge and all possible solutions for treatment and prevention
• Broaden our understanding of DID as I believe it is simply part of a spectrum of mental health issues, much more common in the population and more treatable than is typically acknowledged.
• Be super genuine and forthcoming with my own experiences as I continue to ‘make good’ and proceed through recovery.
• Present all the scientific research available along with analysis from my background in statistics, epidemiology and clinical psychology.
• Promote bloggers, therapists and other experts working to support mental health concerns.
• Provide useful, practical tips that are proving effective for me and others.
• Become an advocate and be your biggest cheerleader!

I am a scientist at heart and by training, so I believe nourishing food, family support, active living, therapy for all the split parts in us, the landscape around us, and scientific inquiry are essential to recovery from trauma. I also love artisan and craft work, hiking, photography, travelling, films and walking my dog. I am also a former psychologist (yes, this is the job I lost) so I also enjoy studying the mind. I can’t wait to share all of this with you all!

Oh… and I’d love to hear from you too.

Send me an email at makinggoodforall (at) gmail (dot) com.