In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Understanding trauma, healing, and dissociative identity disorder through the lens of a mental health practitioner living with DID.

How and why dissociative identities develop in individuals.

Debunking common misconceptions and myths tied to mental health.

Why we need to listen to the stories of survivors and educate ourselves about mental health.

Resources + Links:

Connect with Dr. Adrian on Instagram | @drafletcher

 

Subscribe to Dr. Adrian’s Youtube channel!

 

Learn more at https://www.drfletch.com/

 

Follow Lily on Instagram | @howshereigns

And @lilygks

 

Meet Adrian:

Hello and welcome! I am your host Lily Gyamfi-Kumanini and you are listening to HSR.  This is the place to be for affirmation that you are worthy of living the dreams that were designed only for you…the podcast that honours your story and the queen within you. 

And my guest today has bravely affirmed just that. Dr. Adrian Fletcher is here to share her story and give us some very personal insight to help dispel myths around mental health.

 

Adrian Fletcher, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist, EMDR certified therapist, approved EMDR consultant, mental health advocate, writer, and speaker. She is the owner of her private psychotherapy and consultation practice. She has served in many capacities within the mental health field and is deeply enthusiastic about inspiring others to find their voice and overcome symptoms associated with having experienced trauma. She believes a combination of self-care, self-compassion, and a solid support system are the necessary components to any healing journey. She often incorporates the research of Brené Brown in her work and concurs with Brené on the following… “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.” 

 

Dr. Fletcher recently came forward with her own story of recovery from complex trauma and dissociative identities. She continues to brave the way in using her own voice to deconstruct the stigma surrounding dissociative identity disorder.

Show Notes:

Are you ready to forget what you think you know about dissociative identities? Today, we will be hearing the powerful story of Dr. Adrian Fletcher, a mental health practitioner, and advocate who has been in the field for nearly two decades. She’ll share her experience of living through trauma and dissociative identity disorder (DID) before she found her path to healing. As we gain an understanding of this complex topic, we’ll learn more about DID, including how it develops and how it helps individuals survive. Along the way, we’ll dispel myths about mental health in order to create a space for education, knowledge, and awareness. Join us in raising up the voice of a survivor to learn more about a commonly misunderstood diagnosis!

Disclaimer: The information shared in this post and on this podcast is not a substitute for therapy or any other form of professional mental health or medical care. It also does not constitute a doctor/patient relationship with Dr. Fletcher. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. If you are looking to obtain mental health resources in your area, please call 1-800-950-NAMI. If you are experiencing a crisis or need help, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

 

0:01:00 Meet the psychologist and mental health advocate working to break down the stigma surrounding mental health, Dr. Adrian Fletcher!

0:04:15 How and why did you become a psychologist?

0:06:40 What is the difference between psychologists and psychotherapists?

0:08:50 How long have you been in the mental health field for?

0:10:10 Why did you choose to make a shift in your career recently?

0:12:20 Living with dissociative identity disorder (DID).

0:16:25 What causes DID to happen?

0:19:00 How did you develop DID and when did you realize you had it?

0:21:50 What is the struggle of speaking your story?

0:23:20 How has your support system received your story?

0:28:15 What is the misconception surrounding people with DID having careers?

0:31:20 Do you know what age you developed DID?

0:32:25 What does “fragmenting” mean? How did it help you survive?

0:34:35 Why do some people not come forward about trauma?

0:37:10 What changed for those who knew you before they became aware of your story?

0:39:30 How has living with DID affected your marriage?

0:41:55 How did your spouse navigate your DID before you two had a name for it?

0:44:45 What was the most difficult part about living with your diagnosis?

0:46:40 What was the hardest part about healing?

0:49:20 How do your different parts help you function and survive?

0:50:30 Debunking the biggest misconception surrounding DID.

0:52:40 What should individuals do if they think they are experiencing DID?

0:54:50 How can people get involved with dispelling mental health myths?

0:57:00 Defining your worth by raising your voice and sharing your story.

1:00:35 What would you want a particular queen to realize about herself?

1:02:05 What is one thing people don't know about you that makes you feel like a queen?

1:03:35 What is something a woman can do to help another woman shine?

1:04:50 Adrian Fletcher is worthy because ____.

1:05:35 What is Adrian’s question for Lily?

1:06:20 What makes Lily feel like an amazing queen?