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The Writings of Shirley J. Davis
Honest, compassionate writing about childhood trauma and dissociative identity disorder, shared with the Ivory Garden community.
About Shirley
Shirley J. Davis is a writer, speaker, and survivor living with dissociative identity disorder. A writer for more than 40 years, and with three decades of her own healing work behind her, Shirley has devoted herself to sharing honest, compassionate information about the effects of childhood trauma and DID. She has published eight books about dissociative identity disorder and one about complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and her articles have appeared with the CPTSD Foundation and Recovery Diaries. Her blog has been named one of the top 25 blogs about dissociative identity disorder. For many years, Shirley — known to our members as Morgan — has generously shared her writing with the Ivory Garden community.
Articles
Each article opens on its own page. Articles marked TW have a content warning at the top.
Understanding DID and trauma
Understanding Trauma Mentions suicide
Acute, chronic, and complex trauma, and how they connect to DID.
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study Mentions abuse
Why so many survivors live with physical pain and illness, explained through the landmark ACEs study.
Trauma and the Developing Brain
How toxic stress changes a child’s brain chemistry and wiring.
Four Reasons DID Is Controversial Among Mental Health Professionals
The DSM criteria, disbelief, misinformation, and fear — from someone living with DID.
Communicating with Your Alters
Creating a safe place, getting to know your system, and setting kind but firm boundaries.
Body Memories TW
Why the body remembers, and grounding tools for body flashbacks.
Mood Disorders and DID Mentions suicide
What mood disorders are, how they show up alongside DID, and how they are treated.
Healing and moving forward
Hope for Healing from Dissociative Identity Disorder
What healing can mean, why it is hard work, and why it is worth it.
Growing Older with Dissociative Identity Disorder
Shirley looks back on thirty years of healing and the peace of final fusion.
Grieving Over the Childhood That Never Was TW
Making room to grieve what was taken, learning to love yourself, and letting the pain go.
Moving On from a Traumatic Childhood Mentions suicide
Getting unstuck and choosing to see yourself as a survivor.
The Life-Limiting Process of Ruminating Thoughts
Five steps to stop going over and over the past.
When Your Locus Is Out of Control
Why our happiness can’t depend on other people, and how to pull control back inward.
Coping with the Uncertainties of the New Year
Facing change with courage, and the coping skills that help.
How To Make Your First Therapy Session Go Well
What to expect, how to set boundaries, and how to tell if a therapist is a good fit.
Are You Afraid of Doctors?
Medical gaslighting, white coat syndrome, and how to feel more in control at appointments.
Self-worth and self-compassion
You Are Good Enough
Quieting the inner critic, and why you are already enough.
10 Negative Conversations Survivors of Childhood Trauma Have with Themselves
The old voices survivors hear, and how to talk back to them.
Showing Yourself Acceptance and Compassion
Self-compassion, its myths, and simple exercises to grow it.
Imposter Syndrome
That nagging fear of being “found out,” and how to take the sting out of it.
Childhood Abuse and Self-Blame TW
Why survivors blame themselves, and why the blame belongs to the abuser.
Feeling the Anger You Were Denied in Childhood
Repressed anger, what it does to body and mind, and safe ways to let it out.
Neglect and abandonment
The Trauma of Neglect TW
The hidden abuse of the parent who knew and did nothing, and how to heal from it.
Healing from Abandonment Mentions suicide
Abandonment issues, self-abandonment, and remembering that you are enough.
The Long-Term Effects of Abandonment
How childhood abandonment shows up in adult relationships, and how loved ones can help.
Body and health
Hiding in Plain Sight: Obesity and Childhood Trauma TW
How the body can become a shield after abuse, and why it is not your fault.
The Danger of Opioids Addiction
Shirley’s warning, from 40 years of experience, about how opioid addiction begins.
Poetry
I’m a Survivor, That’s What I Do
Battle-worn, full of fury, and still here.
Three Decades
Thirty years of fighting, discovery, and learning — and knowing it’s time to move on.
Eye Contact
Two strangers, one diner, and a moment that never happened.
More of Shirley’s work
- Dissociative Identity Disorder in a Nutshell (Shirley’s website)
- Shirley’s YouTube channel
- Integration: My Final Stage of Healing from Dissociative Identity Disorder (Recovery Diaries)
- The Danger of Getting Stuck in the Identity and Drama of Childhood Trauma (Recovery Diaries)
- Shirley’s articles at the CPTSD Foundation
- Shirley on Medium
Books by Shirley J. Davis
Shirley’s books are available on Amazon. Ivory Garden members: ask Morgan on the forum about discounted copies.
Dissociative Identity Disorder In A Nutshell: A First-Hand Account
“This is full of information from my own life as related to what I have learned about DID. It is a much more personal work.”
A Compilation of the Research on the Topic of Dissociative Identity Disorder
“I wrote this book because I realized that more doctors and other providers of mental health services needed to be able to find research papers on DID quicker and more efficiently. It contains many topics on DID, including the neuroscience behind it, with the name of each research paper, the author’s citation, and the abstract.” Research only, no personal experience.
The Last Comprehensive Resource Book About Dissociative Identity Disorder You Will Ever Need
“This book is full of information about DID. It is formatted to cover all the topics I could think of that relate to dissociative identity disorder.” Information only, no personal stories.
Surviving the Treatment and Realities of Dissociative Identity Disorder: Website Entries from 2018
“The best of my pieces published on both my website and other sites where I write.”
Also by Shirley
- The Tears Will Cease: Recovery From Dissociative Identity Disorder (with Jessica J. Baker)
- Becoming: The Wonder of Integration
- The Only Way Out Is Through
- Living Beyond “What If?”: Release the Limits and Realize Your Dreams
- The Storm in Your Brain Called Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
“Knowledge of what DID is and how to combat it is paramount to healing.” — Shirley J. Davis
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