Becoming One: A Story of Triumph Over Dissociative Identity Disorder

This is the updated 2014 edition of the 1997 paperback Becoming One: A Story of Triumph Over Multiple Personality Disorder, ISBN 978-0962387982, by Sarah E. Olson. It includes a 2014 Addendum, a new Foreword by Howard Asher, Psy.D, a new resources page, and a complete index.

Two little girls, the author and her sister, were routinely terrorized and assaulted over a period of years by a family friend. One grew up closed and withdrawn, the other angry, self-destructive, and dissociated. Most painful of all, their common suffering resulted in estrangement from each other. Becoming One began as Sarah Olson’s attempt to provide a written account of her memories for her sister as a means of reconciliation and healing.

Becoming One documents Sarah’s four-year process of discovery and recovery from Dissociative Identity Disorder. Utilizing letters she wrote to her therapist, Howard Asher, Psy.D, and transcripts from key audiotaped therapy sessions, Sarah created a book which offers a model of healing and hope to survivors of childhood sexual abuse, whether or not they personally experience dissociation.

The author’s courage and generosity in candidly sharing her remarkable experiences provides important insights into the world of dissociation. This book is a highly personal look into an individual life, the dynamics of a troubled family, and the healing power of the therapeutic process.

Praise for Becoming One (from the 1997 edition, ISBN 978-0962387982, format: paperback):

＂Sarah Olson has written a fascinating account of her amazing healing journey and the mind’s creative capacity to surmount unimaginable horror. Everyone can benefit from this inspiring book.＂ - Lynne D. Finney, J.D., M.S.W., Author of Reach for the Rainbow: Advanced Healing for Survivors of Sexual Abuse

＂Becoming One is a hopeful book which both dignifies people with Dissociative Identity Disorder, and sensitizes the rest of us to what that means and what can be done. Highly recommended.＂ - Midwest Book Review

＂Piecing Sarah back together is like piecing a puzzle or mosaic together. Once all the pieces are in place, you are left with a beautiful image. Sterling work.＂ - BeatleBangs1964 VINE VOICE

＂This book gives incredible insight into the work required by both the therapist and the patient with DID. ... I recommend Becoming One for both therapists and for those who continue to suffer from Dissociative Identity Disorder.＂ - Meowzer

＂Wonderful book for a reference for my classes.＂ - Wild Blue

＂In process myself and working through much of what Sarah describes, I could only say that I feel validated and believed, and perhaps for the first time, understood, by someone else.＂ - raysemma

Sarah E. Olson was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID) in 1992. Using session transcripts and letters she faxed to her therapist, Howard Asher, Psy.D, she fully documented four years of intense therapy process in ’Becoming One: A Story of Triumph Over Multiple Personality Disorder’, first published in 1997, and translated into Japanese in 1999. Sarah began leading online support groups for survivors of childhood sexual abuse in 1992, and has spoken with thousands of survivors, including many formally diagnosed with DID. To further that end, she created The Survivors Forum on CompuServe in 1997. She now curates PTSD resources for trauma survivors with a focus on child abuse survivors and war veterans on her blog ’Third of a Lifetime’. Her next book, ’Don’t Forget About You: Self-Care Essentials for Every Trauma Survivor, ’ is expected in early 2016.