Words from the Journey contains poetry, prose and artwork.  The author of this courageous journey is someone who has walked through the mountains and valleys of depression, post traumatic stress disorder and dissociative identity disorder, through the process of recovering from incest. She has found writing and drawing a way of surviving and coping with the valleys, as well as a way of celebrating the peaks of insight that come with diligent introspection and increased self-awareness.  Throughout the struggle of facing the trauma of incest, she has grown in many ways. This work is her way of sharing her growth in the hopes of inspiring those who struggle with their own pain of recovery.

As you read, you will notice that some of these writings and drawings were done by “Tina”, others by “Jordan” and still others with different names.  These names represent the different personalities that were created when she was a child to deal with repeated traumas inflicted by those people who abused her.  What psychiatry calls “dissociative identity disorder” is simply a coping mechanism used to protect oneself when experiencing great psychic pain.

It is her hope and mine that reading this will be a step in your own recovery from whatever parts of the past that continue to haunt you.
May it provide light in the darkness, words of hope and inspiration, and words of understanding.
May it communicate that, whatever your struggles may be:
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

                                                                                                        © Jean Doss, LCSW