The Girl in the Green Dress

<p>''<i>I didn''t know that you''re only supposed to have one personality. I didn''t realise that having lots of voices in your head was abnormal. But you are protecting yourself. You are protecting your soul, and that''s what I did.''</i><br><br>An intelligent, poised woman, Jeni Haynes sat in court and listened as the man who had abused her from birth, a man who should have been her protector, a man who tortured and terrified her, was jailed for a non-parole period of 33 years. The man was her father.<br><br>The abuse that began when Jeni was only a baby is unimaginable to most. It was physically, psychologically and emotionally sadistic and never-ending. The fact she survived may be called a miracle by some - but the reality is, it is testament to the extraordinary strength of Jeni''s mind.<br><br>What saved her was the process of dissociation - Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) - a defence mechanism that saw Jeni create over 2500 separate personalities, or alters, who protected her as best they could from the trauma. This army of alters included four-year-old Symphony, teenage motorcycle-loving Muscles, elegant Linda, forthright Judas and eight-year-old Ricky.<br><br>With her army, the support of her psychiatrist Dr George Blair-West, and a police officer''s belief in her, Jeni fought to create a life for herself and bring her father to justice. In a history-making ruling, Jeni''s alters were empowered to give evidence in court. In speaking out, Jeni''s courage would see many understand MPD for the first time.<br><br><b>THE GIRL IN THE GREEN DRESS is an unforgettable memoir from a woman who refused to be silenced. Jeni Haynes is an inspiration and her bravery and determination to live is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. This is a unique and profoundly important book as it is not only a story of </b><b>survival</b><b>, it also includes </b><b>incredible</b><b> insight from </b><b>Dr George Blair-West, </b><b>Jeni''s</b> <b>psychiatrist</b><b> and an expert in DID. </b></p>