The Girl in the Green Dress

Jeni Haynes, a victim of severe abuse, developed Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) to protect herself. Her alters, including Symphony, Muscles, Linda, Judas, and Ricky, provided her with a sense of safety and helped her survive. With the support of her psychiatrist and a police officer's belief in her, Jeni fought to create a life for herself and bring her father to justice. Her memoir, "The Girl in the Green Dress," is an unforgettable account of her resilience and courage.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Hachette Australia

I didn't know that you're only supposed to have one personality. I didn't realize 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.

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.

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.

What saved her was the process of dissociation - Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) - a defense 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.

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.

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 are a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. This is a unique and profoundly moving story of one woman's incredible journey to healing and justice.

Weight: 346g
Dimension: 232 x 232 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780733644870