Artist Angie Shares Journey Living with Complex PTSD and Dissociative Identity Disorder
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Angie, a 31-year-old Israeli artist, shares their experience living with complex PTSD and dissociative identity disorder. After years of masking symptoms, the COVID-19 lockdowns prompted Angie to seek professional help and begin recovery. Using therapy, medical cannabis, and creative outlets, Angie manages their condition while advocating for awareness and support.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Angie lives with complex PTSD and symptoms of dissociative identity disorder (DID).
- COVID-19 lockdowns forced Angie to confront mental health issues and seek rehabilitation.
- A guided altered state experience helped Angie process deep trauma, with caution advised.
- Angie uses medical cannabis, yoga, grounding, and writing to maintain mental balance.
- Support from friends and professionals is vital amid challenges explaining DID to others.
- Angie shares their story publicly to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental illness.
Angie, a 31-year-old creative individual from Israel, opens up about living with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and symptoms of dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder. Engaged in various artistic pursuits such as natural cosmetics, jewelry making, and writing, Angie aims to eventually make a living from art, which serves as a therapeutic outlet.
Angie’s mental health challenges include sensory overload, sleep disturbances, and hypersensitivity to light, sounds, and textures. The COVID-19 lockdowns forced Angie to confront these issues directly after years of masking symptoms with psychiatric medication, alcohol, and other addictions. This period led to severe weight loss and insomnia but also provided the opportunity to seek professional rehabilitation.
A turning point came through a guided altered state experience that helped Angie access and process deep-rooted trauma, although Angie cautions against unsupervised use of such methods. Currently, Angie is on a waiting list for a multidisciplinary trauma treatment center in northern Israel, where therapy includes education on DID and coping strategies. Medical cannabis, yoga, grounding techniques, and writing are key tools Angie uses to maintain balance.
Support from friends in Haifa and mental health professionals has been crucial, especially during times of suicidal ideation and depression. Angie highlights the difficulty of explaining DID to others and the lack of workplace accommodations, which often results in unstable employment and financial insecurity. Spiritually, Angie has moved away from organized religion toward a connection with nature and universal energies.
By sharing personal experiences on social media, Angie aims to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health. The message to others facing similar struggles is that while support is important, true healing requires personal effort and engagement with a supportive community.