The Girls Within
A true story of triumph over trauma and abuse
Written by Gill Frost
Published by and available from Phoenix Publishing House www.firingthemind.com and major booksellers
For purchase in USA contact www.isdistribution.com
Click image for a ‘look inside’ sample of the book at Amazon.
A compelling true story of one woman’s battle with the aftermath of childhood trauma, which gives a gripping account of the often controversial and misunderstood condition of dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder (MPD). This emotional but ultimately uplifting journey details the unforeseen twists and turns of the effects of therapy and how it can help in coming to terms with the past and its unsettling echoes in the present. Heartwarming and lucid, it’s an inspiring tale for all to read.
Through its clinical rigour, professional therapists will also gain insight into the various treatment options for DID, including the innovative use of energy therapy. The book contains 32 colour illustrations, including 24 drawings by The Girls.
The star of this book is an extraordinary, bright-spirited, and entertaining six-year-old girl, called Little Vivvi, who experienced shocking abuse from members of her family. Yet Little Vivvi lives within Vivian, a middle-aged woman who has struggled with DID for many years. The challenging process of psychotherapy is laid bare, as Little Vivvi wrestles with overwhelming memories of childhood abuse. Alongside talking therapy, energy treatment, which she calls Wooshing, is utilised to astonishing effect, becoming the enigmatic ingredient that finally enables Little Vivvi to find relief from the distress and fear that had dominated her existence.
As therapy seems to draw to a close, Izzy appears. A very sensitive, thoughtful and mature eight-year-old, Izzy too needs love, support and treatment to speak about her trauma. After overcoming her understandable distrust, Izzy enables an exceptional ending to the therapeutic journey, far beyond anything Vivian and her therapist, Gill, could have dreamed.
Little Vivvi and Izzy will make you want to laugh out loud as well as cry. Their story teaches so much about suffering, dissociation and survival. Their aim is to enlighten, inspire and offer hope to others through reading their incredible tales, which reveal the astonishing power of The Girls within.
Three Stages of Little Vivvi’s Therapeutic Journey
All pictures drawn by Little Vivvi, aged 6 years
Stage 1. The Early Years: A Zillion Tears in My Heart
This picture encapsulates the deep fear and sorrow that Little Vivvi felt in response to the horrifying abuse inflicted upon her by family members. All the grief and fear-based tears, that she was too frightened to let out, percolated down into her heart. They had been stored there for decades. Little Vivvi drew this picture for me (Jill) because she wanted me to see her tears.
Stage 2. Finding My Inner Family: Russian Dolls
When Little Vivvi discovered she shared a body with Big Vivian, it was a tremendous shock to her. Then later, when Izzy turned up, she realised she wasn’t the only young one inside. Little Vivvi was very disturbed and angry about this.
‘I don’t like to think there’s another kid inside!’ was her response.
Little Vivvi wanted to be unique, to be the star of the show. However, she gradually came to understand the benefits of having a big ‘sister’ alongside her, as well as other supportive parts. This is when Little Vivvi started to be grateful for her Internal Family, and she drew this picture of Russian Dolls.
Stage 3. Life Beyond Therapy: Happy, Smiley Girl
This drawing depicts how Little Vivvi felt by the end of her long journey of therapy. The tears of fear and sadness had been replaced by smiles of genuine happiness. For so long, this had seemed like an unattainable dream. But after many years of hard and brave work Little Vivvi, Izzy and all the others inside, realised their dreams had come true.
Book Club with the Author
Q. Are you a member of a book club?
Q. Is your group interested in true stories where good triumphs over evil?
Q. Does mental health interest your members?
A. If you have answered ‘Yes’ to these questions, I’d like to make an offer. I would be happy to join your group, via Zoom, to talk about any issues related to The Girls Within.
To discuss this offer further please contact me at, gillfrostTGW@gmail.com