Dr. Jackie Friedrikson—The Journey of a Lifelong Learner: From Grief to Growth and Healing

Dr. Jackie Friedrikson has a clear vision of her life’s purpose—helping others understand and navigate the complexities of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) based on her experiences with the disorder. Her doctoral dissertation was focused on “What education health care professionals received in working with Dissociative Identity Disorder patients?” DID was previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder. Despite the immense loss of losing her husband in May 2022, Dr. Friedrikson completed her Doctorate in Health Administration in October 2022 to ensure others could overcome DID just as she did.

Dr. Friedrikson has authored two books on DID. Her first book, Multiple Personality: One Woman’s Journey from Discovery to Recovery—There is Light at the End of the Tunnel, tells her personal story of discovering and recovering from DID. At the time of her diagnosis, there was little information to guide her. This led her to write a self-help book offering others support and insight from her journey.

Her second book, Daily Journal of a Multiple, is a collection of journal entries highlighting her experiences with DID. Both of these books are in print. She is working on a third book, A Light Within: A Journey Through Multiplicity, a collection of poems that reflect her thoughts from childhood and during her time grappling with DID. Having found purpose in sharing her knowledge and making a meaningful impact on others, she launched her YouTube channel in February 2025 to educate and raise awareness about DID.

Though life’s responsibilities often took precedence, Dr. Friedrikson always wanted to pursue higher education. She raised her five children, remarried, and raised her husband’s seven-year-old son. One morning, she decided to return to school. While working full-time, she enrolled with the University of Phoenix taking advantage of their flexible schedules. In 2009, she earned her Associate’s degree in Business, followed by a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Psychology.

When it came to pursuing her Doctorate, she was initially uncertain about committing another three to five years of intense study. Deep down, she felt inspired and knew this was part of her life’s path, just as returning to school had been. She truly believes the Lord has guided her through all her decisions, and this one was no exception.

For Dr. Friedrikson, lifelong learning is essential. She believes we can truly live fully only when we are continually seeking to educate ourselves and grow. Learning isn’t confined to formal education. It’s about being open to new experiences, gaining knowledge, and always being curious about the world around us. There is always more to discover—whether it’s through books, experiences, or simply trying new things.

In the last five years, Dr. Friedrikson has endured profound losses: her mother, her first husband (the father of her children), her oldest grandson, and, most painfully, her second husband. Grief can be overwhelming, and at times, it feels like you’re carrying an insurmountable weight. After her husband passed, she struggled with motivation as grief drained her. She remembers attending a grief class where they discussed how tiredness is a common symptom of grief. She realized that her physical exhaustion was tied to her emotional pain. She permitted herself to grieve fully, reflect, process her emotions, rest, and simply feel.

Over time, she began to find light again. It wasn’t easy, but she learned that grief is a non-linear journey. It’s okay to have days where you don’t feel “better.” It’s okay to be angry, feel sad, and experience every emotion that comes with it. It’s important to always remember: there is light at the end of the tunnel. Grief may never fully leave, but with time, healing begins. She could never have gotten through this process without her faith in Jesus Christ. She knows she wasn’t ever truly alone, even in her darkest moments.

Ultimately, learning, healing, and growing are all part of the same journey.

She urges everyone not to let life’s trials and challenges define who you are, but to let them refine who you are. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t give up in the darkness of the tunnel but walk through it. Keep pushing towards the light. It will be worth it.

The Future of Connection for Women

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Lakshmi Iyer

I am creative and I thrive on the energy I get from making words and images speak a cohesive message. I love building new and meaningful relationships while going the extra mile to maintain old and precious ones. Every new person I meet, I look for something to learn and imbibe into my life. A postgraduate in Public Relations (PR), I have worked in PR agencies, in a marketing communications role with a mid-sized Indian company, and as an internal communications and change management consultant in a multinational organization. A mother to a caring and amiable girl, I love baking, alone time during the day, writing, and admiring nature’s beauty.