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by George Blair-West (Author), Jeni Haynes (With)
AS SEEN IN THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SBS AND HBO MAX DOCUMENTARY WE ARE JENI - this is the unforgettable memoir from a woman who refused to be silenced. Jeni Haynes is an inspiration and her bravery and determination to live shows how MPD or DID saved her life. It is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.
Don't be fooled. The girl on the front cover of this book is not me, Jennifer Haynes. She is, in fact, Symphony . . . Symphony knows silence protects abusers. That's why we have to speak up, we have to tell our story, we have to scream and shout for all the children who don't yet have the words. Jeni Haynes is an inspiration. That she survived the unimaginably sadistic physical, psychological and emotional abuse and sexual crimes detailed in this book is testament to the extraordinary strength of Jeni's mind. What saved Jeni was the process of dissociation - Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), also known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) - a defence mechanism that created over 2500 separate personalities, or alters, who protected her as best they could. This army of alters included four-year-old Symphony, teenage motorcycle-loving Muscles, elegant Linda, forthright Judas and eight-year-old Ricky. It would take years, but with her army and the support of her psychiatrist, Dr George Blair-West, Jeni fought to create a happy life for herself and bring her father to justice for the crimes he committed against her. The Girl in the Green Dress is a harrowing, unforgettable and ultimately inspiring memoir from a woman who refused to be silenced. Including powerful and fascinating insights from Dr George Blair-West, Jeni's psychiatrist and an expert in DID who worked with her for over twenty years, this is a unique and profoundly important book for victims of abuse, their families, clinicians, police and anyone interested in the complexity of the human mind. It is proof that survival is possible and joy can be found after the darkest of times.Author Biography
Jennifer Haynes (Author)
Dr Jennifer Haynes grew up in Greenacre in Sydney's western suburbs. After enduring horrific abuse, Jeni fought for years to bring her father before the courts to face justice for what he had done. In doing so, she created legal history. Jeni spent 18 years at university, graduating with a degree in psychology, masters in legal studies and criminal justice as well as a PhD focusing on victims of crime. Jeni Haynes lives in Australia.
Dr George Blair-West is a medical doctor specialising in psychiatry who gave up general psychiatry to sub-specialise in relationship therapy and dissociative trauma work twenty years ago. George's writing career began 25 years ago with a series of scientific publications on suicide and depression while a Senior Lecturer with the University of Queensland. This work resulted in his admission to the New York Academy of Sciences in 1998. A variety of magazine, newspaper articles and books followed on a range of subjects including a bestseller in Australia on the psychology and sabotage of weight loss. The award-winning The Way of the Quest, an historical novel that explores how to find meaning and purpose in life, holds a special place for him as it underpins his therapy. His last book, How to Make the Biggest Decision of Your Life - Unlocking the Secrets to a Healthy Lasting Relationship, builds on his TED.com talk that has had 4 million views. He and his psychologist wife of 33 years, Penny, have two adult children and live in Brisbane, Australia.
