I came to Mayo Clinic almost two years ago thinking I had Parkinson's Disease, had been previously diagnosed as Essential Tremors. I was 64 at the time. I was delighted to know that I did not have Parkinson's Disease or even Essential Tremors after four days of testing. I was diagnosed with Complex Trauma/PTSD and required a Psychologist who specializes in these areas. My Neurologist back home had the perfect Psychologist in mind. He met with me and agreed to accept my case if I agreed to come weekly with the understanding that this could take years. I liked him and agreed to the terms. I'm into my second year of therapy with him now. I have discovered that I wasn't only clinically depressed as I'd been treated for that for a good twenty years. Complex Trauma/PTSD causes depression. I also realized through therapy that I did indeed have DID as I'd lived the first 18 years of my life in hell. I am grateful that Mayo was able to help me find out what was going on with my body and mind. What a wonderful facility and group of doctors! I'm almost 66 now and each day is a new beginning for me. I have a Service Dog who alerts me when I'm going to have an episode or a flashback, I go sit down, he gets up on my lap and applies 60# of compression therapy while he winds his long neck around mine and licks the back of my neck to help me stay present. I have a wonderfully supportive husband. DID when diagnosed by a good Psychologist who specializes in trauma is very treatable, which has been an amazing journey for me. I still have a long way to go, I feel fortunate to be well equipped to handle the challenges.

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