The riveting story of a transgender woman’s journey of self-discovery
by Judith Skillings, Psy.D.
The Stranger Within: Living with Multiple Personality Disorder is based on the true story of Dee Arianne Rockwood, a transgender woman who discovered herself locked away after being diagnosed with multiple personality disorder—now known as dissociative identity disorder—in the late 1980s.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“The Stranger Within is a spectacular and different type of psychological thriller—a narrative that illuminates the internal workings of a genius mind divided yet supportive to one another in an existential struggle for survival. I was completely drawn into a story of challenge and triumph that I could not stop wondering ‘what next?’
“With a career that includes being the last Clinical Fellow trained at the Masters & Johnson Institute and working extensively with both transgender and dissociative individuals, I was both fascinated and appreciative by the skillful methods Dr. Skillings employed to tell the ‘bigger than life’ story of Dee Arianne Rockwood. The story has conceptual complexity yet is written in such an organized style to make it very accessible to any reader—a literary hat-trick! I highly recommend The Stranger Within to my students, professional colleagues, and anyone interested in the human yearning for authenticity.”
— Dr. Frederick “Doc Pete” Peterson
Author, The Gender Revolution and New Sexual Health (2020) and Sex and Gender: Current Clinical Concepts and Practices (2023)
Clinical Associate Professor of the Schools of Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, and Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
The Stranger Within: Living with Multiple Personality Disorder
The Stranger Within: Living with Multiple Personality Disorder is a riveting story based on the life of Dee Arianne Rockwood, a transgender woman diagnosed with MPD—now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder—when she was almost 40 years old in the late 1980s. In this new novel by author Judith Skillings, Psy.D., “Stacey” discovers herself, and “Jack” learns to take a backseat to the little girl trapped inside for decades. Co-written with Dee Arianne Rockwood.
$21.00
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Judith Skillings, Psy.D.
Above: Judith Skillings (left), Psy.D., and Dee Arianne Rockwood enjoy conversation outside Dark Star Books in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Judith Skillings, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist specializing in psychological evaluations. Although she is currently retired from full-time work, she stays busy writing, teaching Spanish, exploring the nature of reality, and indulging in afternoon naps. Raised in Amherst, Massachusetts, Judith earned a Bachelor of Arts in social welfare from Antioch College (1973) and a doctorate in psychology from the Wright State University School of Professional Psychology (1986). Judith has lived in the same tiny eclectic town of Yellow Springs, Ohio, for most of her adult life.
After seven decades of people-watching, she still finds it fascinating how she and others make up stories about how life is supposed to be and then create great drama when reality doesn’t match our stories. Having cultural values from New England and living an hour north of Kentucky, Judith has had many opportunities to take people’s notions of what “should be” (including her own) with a grain of salt.
“What interested me about Dee’s story was both the multiple personality approach with the transgender challenges. I knew that both Rocky and Dee had had separate issues in grappling with the challenges from very different perspectives—and yet, ultimately, they had to find a way to work together to choose a life path.”
Judith Skillings, Psy.D., Author, The Stranger Within: Living with Multiple Personality Disorder
Judith can be reached at thestrangerwithinbook@gmail.com.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“I highly recommend Judith Skilling’s new book, The Stranger Within, a true story of multiple personality disorder. It reads like a thriller. It’s an engrossing and moving story you’ll have a hard time putting down. I cheered for Dee and Rocky as I watched their journey toward each other. I was incredibly touched by the honesty in this book. Not to be missed.”
— Kate Mooneyham, Owner, Dark Star Bookstore, Yellow Springs, Ohio
The Stranger Within: Living with Multiple Personality Disorder — Author Judith Skillings — Yellow Springs, Ohio
Yellow Springs, Ohio
Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
thestrangerwithinbook@gmail.com
The Stranger Within: Living with Multiple Personality Disorder — Author Judith Skillings — Yellow Springs, Ohio 
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