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We Are Annora: A True Story of Surviving Multiple Personality Disorder
"Marital and parental responsibilities can be enough of a challenge for two working adults. Add in one spouse who has intensifying bouts of amnesia and you have a recipe for disaster. But disaster is not an option for Annora. She grew up in an orphanage and so the preservation of her precious family was her number one commitment. But that commitment was threatened when, during marital counseling, Annora’s therapist began to recognize even more unusual and abnormal behaviors in her.
Annora was subsequently diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, also known as Multiple Personality Disorder. But that wouldn’t stop Annora from declaring her sanity to her husband and begging him to fi nd them a new therapist.
We Are Annora is a story about the human will to survive amidst the darkness which lies deep within despondency and a powerful mental disorder.
Marrow’s choice of first-person narrative successfully pulls the reader into this page-turning true story which so richly demonstrates the human will to survive amidst a crippling disorder that is still so misunderstood. Throughout the pages of this book, struggles of fear and hope, love and hate, confusion and utter clarity give the reader an “insider” perspective of the challenges faced by traumatized people with DID. Hence, the reader acquires a better understanding of the difficulties suffered by multiples and the potential for true healing."
Annora was subsequently diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, also known as Multiple Personality Disorder. But that wouldn’t stop Annora from declaring her sanity to her husband and begging him to fi nd them a new therapist.
We Are Annora is a story about the human will to survive amidst the darkness which lies deep within despondency and a powerful mental disorder.
Marrow’s choice of first-person narrative successfully pulls the reader into this page-turning true story which so richly demonstrates the human will to survive amidst a crippling disorder that is still so misunderstood. Throughout the pages of this book, struggles of fear and hope, love and hate, confusion and utter clarity give the reader an “insider” perspective of the challenges faced by traumatized people with DID. Hence, the reader acquires a better understanding of the difficulties suffered by multiples and the potential for true healing."
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2010
9 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
P.S. Marrow
11 books4 followersP.S. Marrow is an author, songwriter and vocalist. She has written We Are Annora: A True Story of Surviving Multiple Personality Disorder which begins when Annora's intensifying spells of amnesia begin to wreak havoc on her marriage and her life.
She has also written, Worthless and Other Teens Coping in a Crazy World. From a fishing village in Maine, to a military base in Alaska, these brilliantly written short stories demonstrate that in life's worst hardships, there is always hope. Some fiction, some non-fiction, it is Marrow's intention to help young people navigate through obstacles that threaten both mental health and physical safety.
Marrow has also written a light Sci-Fi trilogy that has been bundled into one volume titled PROJECT MERILLAT. This story is a thoughtful spirit journey loaded with joy, fear, love, risk and reward for Francie Moreau who’s journey begins as a professional remote viewer.
Project Merillat contains:
1. The Escape
2. The Threat
3. The Awakening
She has also written, Worthless and Other Teens Coping in a Crazy World. From a fishing village in Maine, to a military base in Alaska, these brilliantly written short stories demonstrate that in life's worst hardships, there is always hope. Some fiction, some non-fiction, it is Marrow's intention to help young people navigate through obstacles that threaten both mental health and physical safety.
Marrow has also written a light Sci-Fi trilogy that has been bundled into one volume titled PROJECT MERILLAT. This story is a thoughtful spirit journey loaded with joy, fear, love, risk and reward for Francie Moreau who’s journey begins as a professional remote viewer.
Project Merillat contains:
1. The Escape
2. The Threat
3. The Awakening
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 14, 2020
Reading the book was hard, but I was so glad I did. I understood better how it must be to live life shattered after trauma, and how the dissociated parts can find their way to healing, understanding they no longer need to be afraid. Annora was truly an inspirational woman, and sharing her story takes courage. It might finally reduce some sigma and explain the condition in a way people can understand.
March 24, 2025
I want to give a copy of this to every one of my family members. Nobody can see inside the mind and it is so difficult to explain to someone what takes place in the head space of an individual with DID (or any mental health condition). I think this author does a phenomenal job of taking the mysticism out of this misunderstood and confusing condition.
Annora's interactions with the doctor during sessions and the way he explains to Annora what is happening to her, helped even me who goes through this every day, understand myself better.
I could see it more physiologically and not just psychologically. The explanations and dialogue made it easier to wrap my head around how it all actually functions in the mind.
I did not find the book to be triggering for me (but it could be for some), but it gave plenty of details to be engaging and to help me connect with and understand what Annora went through as a child who became so traumatized.
My least favorite part was the opening. It did not pull me in, and I REALLY wanted to read this book. I read the first chapter or so, and it sat on my nightstand for weeks. But I KNEW I wanted to read it because I reviewed it and actually spent more money on it than I normally would for any used book. I just couldn't get into it. It was too scattered and disjointed. It opened in the middle of a scene and personally that is difficult for me to follow. But it may not be for others. But once I got going and the author engaged me, I was hoping for a sequel and dreading the book's end!
The ending did not need a sequel, however. Loose ends were tied up. The doctor did his job. Annora rubber-banded her pick-up sticks and began her healing. Maybe it happened a little faster than for most people with DID, but the mind is different for everyone.
And I'm kind of glad the book didn't drag on where it didn't need to. She could have been in therapy for 20 years.
We Are Annora is well written and its DID concepts are easy to follow. In my opinion the storyline is engaging and enjoyable without a lot of rabbit trailing.
I recommend this book to anyone hoping to understand themselves or others who have DID, in hopes that they can have more knowledge and be treated with more empathy.
Annora's interactions with the doctor during sessions and the way he explains to Annora what is happening to her, helped even me who goes through this every day, understand myself better.
I could see it more physiologically and not just psychologically. The explanations and dialogue made it easier to wrap my head around how it all actually functions in the mind.
I did not find the book to be triggering for me (but it could be for some), but it gave plenty of details to be engaging and to help me connect with and understand what Annora went through as a child who became so traumatized.
My least favorite part was the opening. It did not pull me in, and I REALLY wanted to read this book. I read the first chapter or so, and it sat on my nightstand for weeks. But I KNEW I wanted to read it because I reviewed it and actually spent more money on it than I normally would for any used book. I just couldn't get into it. It was too scattered and disjointed. It opened in the middle of a scene and personally that is difficult for me to follow. But it may not be for others. But once I got going and the author engaged me, I was hoping for a sequel and dreading the book's end!
The ending did not need a sequel, however. Loose ends were tied up. The doctor did his job. Annora rubber-banded her pick-up sticks and began her healing. Maybe it happened a little faster than for most people with DID, but the mind is different for everyone.
And I'm kind of glad the book didn't drag on where it didn't need to. She could have been in therapy for 20 years.
We Are Annora is well written and its DID concepts are easy to follow. In my opinion the storyline is engaging and enjoyable without a lot of rabbit trailing.
I recommend this book to anyone hoping to understand themselves or others who have DID, in hopes that they can have more knowledge and be treated with more empathy.
March 19, 2023
Timely
I too am dealing with DID and for the firsttime in twenty plus years I found some who is helping Us to heal.
I too am dealing with DID and for the firsttime in twenty plus years I found some who is helping Us to heal.
January 1, 2015
Personally I have always found 'DID' totally fascinating! In my opinion it has to be the most complex, yet genius, defense mechanism known to man.
I myself am a humanistic counsellor and aim to specialise in trauma within the next couple of years. Although very unlikely, due to its rarity; I would be honoured to work with those afflicted.
This review primarily concerns Annora's therapist, I genuinely thought that overall he was exemplary. I found him to be educative and his integrity and resilience were seemingly unwavering and irrefutable. However, I was slightly irked by the fact that Wade asked her to participate in a live session during a class he was conducting regarding 'DID'. I understand that he wanted to educate other professionals on the matter but was Annora truly ready for such an experience? Personally I think not. At the time she was struggling to come to terms with the condition herself. She had only just begun to accept it. I wholeheartedly agree that educating others about this disorder and spreading awareness is important, I just felt as though the timing was wrong and that it could be deemed as a touch unethical.
That aside I loved Wade's analogy regarding emotion and integration, I quote: "....think of it like the ingredients of a cake. Would you rather eat flour, sugar, oil and eggs? Or would you rather have a baked and frosted cake? I would rather have a cake."
I marvelled at the way in which he treated each alter with dignity and respect. He successfully validated and managed their experiences and emotions with remarkable insight and compassion.
I was very impressed with how he reminded some alters that they now resided in the present (I.e. Worthless/Worthy) and how he individually brought about their awareness of being an active part of a host. He was also very attentive in making sure that his sessions ended ethically and safely. He would check back with an alter before the session closed if it had been particularally gruelling for them.
He frequently challenged Annora which in turn increased her self-awareness, this then aided in her healing as she could no longer live in denial. Their relational depth was very evident throughout.
I respect the fact that Wade never harried Annora or attempted to influence what she had to divulge concerning the sexual abuse that she and her alters endured. Instead he opted to coax and encourage utilising reflective skills and appropriate questioning. Annora herself stated the importance of being empathically understood, I quote: "I needed to have another human being echo back to me the things I said and assure me they truely were very bad people. I was learning now to see the W's as the criminals and brutal child abusers they were."
Wade constantly encourages and reassures her throughout her therapy sessions and frequently provides her with positive reinforcements i.e. I quote: "Thank you Annora, for staying and telling me what you remembered and for taking back Emily's feelings and memories. I know it's hard work, but it's work that must be done if you want to heal and you're doing it. You're doing it. You're making progress." Or "It must have been scary to see him again after having time to let your guard down in life....but you were finally able to make decisions for yourself and you were free to walk out of the church on your own. That must have felt good."
As any good therapist should he provided her with a safe place to be, I quote: "I've never felt safe until now to even let myself think that way, let alone speak it out of my mouth."
He assisted Annora in building upon her confidence and helped induce her independence.
Most notably of all he never once accepted sole credit for the work they did together and rightly so! Instead he bestowed it back upon her.
Wade, your part in this journey was phenomenal! Good job!
Blaine, although at times my heart broke for you and I truly tried to empathise with your situation; your attitude and behaviour eventually became insufferable!
And you sweet Annora are truly a phenomenon!
I myself am a humanistic counsellor and aim to specialise in trauma within the next couple of years. Although very unlikely, due to its rarity; I would be honoured to work with those afflicted.
This review primarily concerns Annora's therapist, I genuinely thought that overall he was exemplary. I found him to be educative and his integrity and resilience were seemingly unwavering and irrefutable. However, I was slightly irked by the fact that Wade asked her to participate in a live session during a class he was conducting regarding 'DID'. I understand that he wanted to educate other professionals on the matter but was Annora truly ready for such an experience? Personally I think not. At the time she was struggling to come to terms with the condition herself. She had only just begun to accept it. I wholeheartedly agree that educating others about this disorder and spreading awareness is important, I just felt as though the timing was wrong and that it could be deemed as a touch unethical.
That aside I loved Wade's analogy regarding emotion and integration, I quote: "....think of it like the ingredients of a cake. Would you rather eat flour, sugar, oil and eggs? Or would you rather have a baked and frosted cake? I would rather have a cake."
I marvelled at the way in which he treated each alter with dignity and respect. He successfully validated and managed their experiences and emotions with remarkable insight and compassion.
I was very impressed with how he reminded some alters that they now resided in the present (I.e. Worthless/Worthy) and how he individually brought about their awareness of being an active part of a host. He was also very attentive in making sure that his sessions ended ethically and safely. He would check back with an alter before the session closed if it had been particularally gruelling for them.
He frequently challenged Annora which in turn increased her self-awareness, this then aided in her healing as she could no longer live in denial. Their relational depth was very evident throughout.
I respect the fact that Wade never harried Annora or attempted to influence what she had to divulge concerning the sexual abuse that she and her alters endured. Instead he opted to coax and encourage utilising reflective skills and appropriate questioning. Annora herself stated the importance of being empathically understood, I quote: "I needed to have another human being echo back to me the things I said and assure me they truely were very bad people. I was learning now to see the W's as the criminals and brutal child abusers they were."
Wade constantly encourages and reassures her throughout her therapy sessions and frequently provides her with positive reinforcements i.e. I quote: "Thank you Annora, for staying and telling me what you remembered and for taking back Emily's feelings and memories. I know it's hard work, but it's work that must be done if you want to heal and you're doing it. You're doing it. You're making progress." Or "It must have been scary to see him again after having time to let your guard down in life....but you were finally able to make decisions for yourself and you were free to walk out of the church on your own. That must have felt good."
As any good therapist should he provided her with a safe place to be, I quote: "I've never felt safe until now to even let myself think that way, let alone speak it out of my mouth."
He assisted Annora in building upon her confidence and helped induce her independence.
Most notably of all he never once accepted sole credit for the work they did together and rightly so! Instead he bestowed it back upon her.
Wade, your part in this journey was phenomenal! Good job!
Blaine, although at times my heart broke for you and I truly tried to empathise with your situation; your attitude and behaviour eventually became insufferable!
And you sweet Annora are truly a phenomenon!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews