Episode 055
From Friction to Fractured Truth: Danielle Blum's Unexpected Dive into Dissociative Identity Disorder
Danielle Blum sat down to write a thriller.
What she didn’t plan on? Interviewing over 100 people with dissociative identity disorder (DID), scrapping the story she thought she was telling, and becoming an advocate for mental health and misunderstood diagnoses in the process.
In this Curveball episode, Danie shares how a novel idea turned into something much deeper – a calling. We talk about her journey from curiosity to compassion, what it means to hold other people’s stories with care, and how her research changed her – not just as a writer, but as a human.
We also talk about: – How the brain protects us by splitting identity – Why integration isn't always the goal (even if therapy says it is) – What it’s like to hold secrets that aren’t yours – but feel like they could be – The “inner worlds” of people living with DID (think pirate ships, schools, and yes, Gollum) – Trusting your gut, even when it leads to a completely different life in Portugal
If you’re a writer, a feeler, or someone who’s been underestimated – this one’s for you.
“Some people build pirate ships or schoolhouses in their inner world. That’s not delusion – that’s protection.”
Connect witH Danielle:
- Website: https://www.danielleblum.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamdanielleblum/
Timestamps:
00:00 – Writing a thriller… then scrapping it completely
05:19 – From shy girl to brave storyteller
07:47 – A character becomes a mirror – and the plot twists
09:39 – Debunking the Hollywood myths about DID
13:07 – No two systems are the same
15:35 – The brain’s wild (and tender) survival instincts
20:25 – Why some people don’t want to “integrate”
23:25 – Protecting your energy while holding heavy stories
26:36 – Meet the alters (including one with a pirate ship)
30:09 – How trauma makes room for resilience
33:32 – Killing your darlings – and creating something better
37:56 – The diary pages that made it into the book
41:06 – Moving to Portugal during a pandemic? Why not
44:18 – Visibility, publishing, and the power of your people
47:08 – Nurturing relationships (and how her tribe made her a bestseller)