A psychologist presents a memoir of his personal struggle with Dissociative Identity Disorder, describing the sudden onset of symptoms when he was in his thirties and the emergence of twenty-four separate personalities

From the Author

Dear Readers,
Earlier tonight Rikki, my wife of seventeen years, made vegetable tamales with Dusty, one of my 24 alter personalities. A little later, at dinner, Rikki told me that there was a place on Amazon.com for authors to write something about their books and that I should consider doing so. "Rik," I replied, "these are great tamales." After a thought-filled silence she said, "Cam, people don't know you. Just tell them why you wrote the book."

Well, I was diagnosed five and a half years ago with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), the condition that used to be known as Multiple Personality Disorder. DID is a coping mechanism for dealing with extreme and repeated childhood sexual, physical, or emotional abuse (in my case, incest). Since my diagnosis, it's been a tortuous ride--for me personally, for the 24 alters who have lived in my mind since I was very young, and for Rikki and our now eleven-year-old son Kyle. Somehow Rikki and I have held our family together, continually seeking higher ground, even when the path was muddy and slick, and angry clouds were raining misery and doubt.

There was a little boy to shelter, a friendship and marriage to protect, and a shattered mind to accept and repair. Rikki and I locked arms and hearts and kept trudging, and then something happened: the muck started to dry and our feet found solid ground. We'd made it--not to the top, but to a ridge. And that felt like something worth writing about.

I also wanted to speak to others whose experiences resonate with mine. I know how lonely it is to feel different and damaged. In some strange way, through telling my story, I wanted to offer myself as a witness to those people who share the experience of having had their souls scraped at an early age.

Finally, I wrote the book so you would know what DID feels like, with the hope that you might think of others you perceive as mentally ill with greater understanding. I wish you the courage to seek the peace that exists in every moment.

Cam West

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

ThriftBooks is a fully independent seller of used books, having sold more than 160 million used and new books since we started in 2003. Each quality used book is sorted, graded, shelved and shipped by hand by our team of dedicated employees in our seven warehouses across the US. We have the best selection of books, in the right condition and format, at everyday low prices. We also have a dedicated, US-based Customer Service team, ranked in the top three by Newsweek for Best Customer Service in 2018 and 2019, so you can shop with confidence. We support and invest in our employees, appreciate and value our customers, and truly believe in the power of the written word to educate, energize, and engage readers of all ages and interests.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Thrift Books Global LLC
18300 Cascade Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98188, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We guarantee each book that we send you. If you have any problems, please contact
our dedicated customer service department. They will do everything possible to
ensure you are happy with your order.

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, Books Squared, Books Squared, 3702 La Reunion Pkwy, 75212, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A., +1 253-275-2251, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Books Squared, Books Squared ATTN: Returns, 2337 Centerline Industrial Dr, 63146, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A., +1 253-275-2251, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content (including ebooks) which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (Books Squared, Books Squared, 3702 La Reunion Pkwy, 75212, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A., +1 253-275-2251)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

All domestic Standard and Expedited shipments are distributed from our warehouses by OSM, then handed off to the USPS for final delivery.

2-Day Shipping is delivered by FedEx, which does not deliver to PO boxes.

International shipments are tendered to the local postal service in the destination country for final delivery – we do not use courier services for international deliveries.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	4 to 8 business days	4 to 8 business days
First item	� 0.00	� 0.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.