Healing My Parts: Real Talk on Dissociative Identity Disorder and Complex Trauma

<p>What happens when trauma doesn’t just shape memories — but reshapes the body itself?</p><p>In this episode, we sit down with <strong>Dr. Frank Putnam</strong>, one of the most influential researchers in the field of childhood trauma and dissociation. For more than four decades, Dr. Putnam has studied how early maltreatment affects development, health, and survival across the lifespan.</p><p>His groundbreaking <strong>Female Growth and Development Study</strong> has followed survivors of childhood abuse for more than 35 years, revealing something profound: trauma doesn’t only affect the mind. It changes biology, aging, health, and even the next generation.</p><p>Together we explore how dissociation develops in childhood, why trauma survivors often experience earlier physical illness, and what the science actually tells us about healing.</p><p>This conversation bridges <strong>research, clinical care, and lived experience</strong> — offering a rare look at the long arc of trauma and the resilience of those who survive it.</p><p>Key Moments</p><p><strong>03:20</strong> — How childhood trauma can accelerate biological aging<strong>09:45</strong> — Dissociation as a survival strategy, not a disorder<strong>18:10</strong> — The origins of the Female Growth and Development Study<strong>32:40</strong> — The “tentacles” of trauma across physical health and development<strong>46:15</strong> — What clinicians often misunderstand about dissociation<strong>58:30</strong> — Why stabilizing daily life must come before trauma processing</p><p>About Our Guest</p><p><strong>Frank W. Putnam, MD</strong> is a professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and one of the leading researchers on childhood trauma and dissociation.</p><p>His newest book, <strong><em>Old Before Their Time: A Scientific Life Investigating How Maltreatment Harms Children and the Adults They Become</em></strong>, brings together decades of research on the lifelong impact of childhood abuse.</p><p>Who This Episode Is For</p><p>• Survivors navigating dissociation, DID, or complex trauma• Clinicians working with trauma and dissociative systems• Anyone interested in the intersection of science, trauma, and healing</p><p>Resources</p><p>📘 <a target="_blank" href="https://frankputnam.com/"><em>Old Before Their Time</em></a><a target="_blank" href="https://frankputnam.com/"> — Dr. Frank Putnam</a> 📩<a target="_blank" href="https://frankputnam.com/contact/">Contact Dr. Frank Putnam</a> 🌀<a target="_blank" href="https://frankputnam.com/about/">About Dr. Putnam</a> 🌐 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.healingmyparts.org/">healingmyparts.org</a></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Healing My Parts at <a href="https://healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>What if dissociative identity disorder is a brilliant, life-saving strategy?</p><p>In this moving and grounded conversation, therapist and author Sally Maslansky shares her lived experience of DID and the therapeutic relationship that changed everything.</p><p>Diagnosed in the 1990s (when it was still called MPD), Sally entered treatment during a cultural moment steeped in fear and shame. But her therapist, Dr. Dan Siegel, offered something radically different:</p><p>Not <em>“What’s wrong with you?”</em>But <em>“What did your mind do to survive?”</em></p><p>From disorganized attachment to learned secure attachment.From fragmentation to fluidity.From terror without context to memory with meaning.</p><p>⏱ Timestamps</p><p><strong>00:04</strong> – Romania, terror, and the shock of not remembering childhoodAdoption awakens something she can’t ignore.</p><p><strong>08:58</strong> – The diagnosis in the 90sFrom “Am I crazy?” to “This is a brilliant adaptation.”</p><p><strong>11:33</strong> – Disorganized attachment: fear without solutionHow the brain fragments to survive.</p><p><strong>14:37</strong> – Parts as verbs, not nounsWhy dissociated states are processes — not separate people.</p><p><strong>21:46</strong> – What healing actually feels likeMemory intact. Suffering over.</p><p><strong>33:55</strong> – Implicit vs. explicit memory“If I’m hysterical, it’s historical.”</p><p>If you’ve ever feared that healing means losing your parts, this episode offers another picture.</p><p>Memory intact.Suffering over.Safety carried securely from the inside.</p><p>Links & Resources</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://sallymaslansky.com/">Sally’s Website</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://sallymaslansky.com/book/">Sally’s Book A Brilliant Adaptation </a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://i.snoball.it/p/3tBOM0C/e">Sally at the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium March 20th</a> </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.friendsofsemelinstitute.org/events-reservations/a-brilliant-adaptation">Sally & Dr Dan Siegel Speaking March 11th</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://drdansiegel.com/wheel-of-awareness/">The Wheel of Awareness</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://drdansiegel.com/">Dr Dan Siegel’s Website</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ruthlanius.com/">Dr Ruth Lanius Website</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.bethanybrand.com/">Dr. Bethany Brand’s Website</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.healingmyparts.org/">HealingMyParts.org</a></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Healing My Parts at <a href="https://healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>In this deeply nuanced conversation, we’re joined by author and survivor <strong>Cheryl Rainfield</strong> to explore the realities of cult torture, dissociative identity, and the layered impact of organized abuse.</p><p>We unpack what it means to reclaim the word <em>torture</em>, how cult-created programming functions inside dissociative systems, and how healing unfolds when compassion replaces fear.</p><p>We explore:</p><p>• Why some survivors reclaim the term <em>cult torture</em>• How programming operates — and how it can be gently dismantled• The distinction between cult-created parts and other trauma-based or persecutory parts• Subtle indicators that may suggest a history of organized abuse• Why relational repair, attachment, and emotional responsiveness matter profoundly in treatment• What therapists often misunderstand about working with survivors of organized abuse• How systems can begin building trust with cult created parts</p><p>This conversation does not sensationalize. It names. It clarifies. And it holds hope.</p><p>Cheryl speaks candidly about what survivors need most: to be believed, to be heard, and to be met with steady compassion.</p><p>Whether you are a survivor, clinician, or someone seeking to better understand complex dissociation, we hope this episode offers clarity, validation, and thoughtful guidance.</p><p>Time Stamps</p><p>00:00 – Introduction + reclaiming the term “cult torture”08:40 – What programming is and how it functions21:15 – Cult-created parts vs. persecutory/trauma parts36:20 – Subtle signs of organized abuse histories52:10 – What therapists need to understand1:06:30 – Modifying modalities (EMDR, grounding, attachment needs)1:20:45 – Community, writing, and reclaiming voice1:32:00 – Hope for survivors + practical next steps</p><p>Content Note</p><p>This episode discusses organized abuse, dissociation, and suicidality. Please listen at your own pace and care for yourself as needed.</p><p>Connect with Cheryl</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.cherylrainfield.com/">CherylRainfield.com</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.cherylrainfield.com/books/">Cheryl’s Books</a></p><p>Cheryl’s Social Media</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@cherylrainfield">TikTok @Cherylrainfield</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/cherylrainfield">Instagram @Cherylrainfield</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.rainfield/">Facebook Cheryl Rainfield</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@Cheryl.Rainfield">YouTube Cheryl.Rainfield</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/@cherylrainfield">Substack Cheryl Rainfield</a></p><p>Cheryl’s Articles</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.cherylrainfield.com/some-signs-and-symptoms-of-cult-torture-and-how-to-help/">Some Signs and Symptoms of Cult Torture and How To Help:</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.cherylrainfield.com/articles-cult-abuse/">Article on cult torture and programming</a>:</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.cherylrainfield.com/links-healing/">Cheryl’s Links to Resources on Cult torture and DID </a></p><p>Cheryl’s Recommended Books on cult torture/RAMCOA:</p><p>Becoming Yourself by Alison Miller </p><p>Healing The Unimaginable by Alison Miller </p><p>Demystifying Mind Control & Ritual Abuse </p><p>Safe Passage to Healing by Chrystine Oksana. </p><p>Cheryl’s Recommended Websites:</p><p>Survivorship.org</p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://ra-info.org">ra-info.org</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://ritualabuse.us">ritualabuse.us</a> </p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://endritualabuse.org">endritualabuse.org</a> </p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://grassroots-ra-mc-collective.org/">grassroots-ra-mc-collective.org</a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Healing My Parts at <a href="https://healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p></p><p>In this episode, our guest, Cyndi Bennett, speaks publicly about their system for the first time and shares parts of their personal journey before turning toward their work supporting trauma survivors in professional spaces. We talk about business boundaries, nervous system capacity, internal consent, and what it means to navigate careers and leadership as a plural system. This conversation is for systems thinking about work, sustainability, and how to make decisions that honor more than one internal voice.</p><p>⏱️ <strong>Timestamps </strong></p><p>* <strong>00:02:15</strong> – Cyndi introduces themselves and their plural system</p><p>* <strong>00:06:45</strong> – Building a coaching practice as a system</p><p>* <strong>00:14:20</strong> – On boundaries, burnout, and protecting your bandwidth</p><p>* <strong>00:21:00</strong> – Why coaching isn’t therapy (and why that matters)</p><p>* <strong>00:33:40</strong> – Internal communication tips from Cyndi’s own parts</p><p>* <strong>00:42:55</strong> – Reflections on authenticity, professionalism, and trust</p><p>* <strong>00:55:30</strong> – Final thoughts: honoring all parts, including the messy ones</p><p><strong>Connect with Cyndi</strong>: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Healing My Parts at <a href="https://healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p><strong><em>Ryder Fox beckons us to step into deeply nuanced spaces with bravery and heart—to ensure that lives are not only saved, but poised to thrive.</em></strong></p><p>Today’s episode features a moving and deeply human conversation with <strong>Ryder Fox, founder of Stronger U and co-founder of Thrive Lifeline</strong>—a community-rooted, non-carceral crisis support organization prioritizing safety, consent, and agency for multiply-marginalized communities including DID/OSDD systems.</p><p>Ryder invites us to rethink everything we’ve been taught about “safety,” crisis intervention, and care. They speak from a place few are willing—or able—to go: lived experience that includes extreme trauma, forced intervention, chronic illness, and surviving without language, housing, or community.</p><p>Now, as a peer support trainer and advocate for plural systems, Ryder offers a path toward crisis response rooted in dignity, dimensionality, and real respect for autonomy.</p><p>Together, we explore:</p><p>* Why traditional crisis response often retraumatizes plural systems</p><p>* The difference between “managing risk” and actually offering support</p><p>* What it means to hold space for complexity instead of controlling it</p><p>* How to train helpers to recognize plurality and internal experience</p><p>* Why forced care often perpetuates the very harm it claims to prevent</p><p>* What dimensionalized, relational care actually looks like</p><p><strong>This conversation isn’t easy—but it’s necessary. Ryder leads us there with clarity, fierce compassion, and an unwavering belief that we can—and must—do better.</strong></p><p>💬 Whether you’re a DID/OSDD System, clinician, or supporter, —this episode is for anyone ready to reimagine what real crisis <strong>care</strong> can be.</p><p>⏱️ TIMESTAMPS</p><p>00:00 — Welcome & intro to Ryder Fox (Thrive Lifeline + Stronger U)</p><p>01:00 — Growing up marginalized & surviving extreme trauma</p><p>06:00 — Why crisis support systems continue to harm plural people</p><p>10:00 — How traditional responders misread DID/OSDD crises causing escalation</p><p>14:00 — Forced hospitalization: retraumatizing instead of protecting</p><p>18:00 — Carceral vs non-carceral crisis care: what the terms really mean</p><p>20:00 — What actually happens when a plural system contacts Thrive Lifeline</p><p>26:00 — Dimensionalizing care vs flattening a person to the crisis</p><p>33:00 — Systems as experts of their own survival</p><p>41:00 — Forced care and the mandate of silence</p><p>43:00 — “Keep the body breathing” vs honoring the actual human</p><p>44:00 — Stronger U Wellness: pathways for plural healing + clinician education</p><p>47:00 — How to connect with Stronger U (even when your brave window is tiny)</p><p>50:00 — From survival to thriving: relational pathways for plural systems</p><p>Resources:</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://thrivelifeline.org/"><strong>Thrive Lifeline</strong></a> Non-carceral<strong> crisis, warmline, and group support</strong>, centering multiply marginalized communities. Fully grassroots. Built by and for community.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://strongeruwellness.com/"><strong>Stronger U</strong></a><strong> a liberatory wellness and education collective</strong> providing immersive, trauma-informed, and non-carceral services to organizations, private practices, individual practitioners, and survivors. Our mission is to co-create sustainable systems of care that uplift those who are most often excluded by traditional models—through strategic consulting, certification programs, coaching, and community-based programming. <a target="_blank" href="https://calendly.com/strongeruwellness-info/discovery-call"><strong>Book a Discovery Call</strong></a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://discord.com/invite/hc9zxacM8G"><strong>Stronger Together Discord</strong></a> non-carceral discord server centering complex trauma survivors and multiply marginalized people</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://discord.com/invite/ZxDfVseD7m"><strong>TRANS Discord server</strong></a><strong> </strong>non-carceral discord server for anyone of trans experience.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://thrivelifeline.org/resources/"><strong>Thrive Lifeline's Resources</strong></a><strong> </strong></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://strongeruwellness.com/free-resources/"><strong>Stronger U Free Resources</strong></a></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Healing My Parts at <a href="https://healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">healingmyparts.substack.com/subscribe</a>