The Mind of Billy Milligan Of all the courses I have taken here at Westfield State College, I can honestly say that Abnormal Psychology was by far the most interesting. Since this course has had a great influence on me this semester, I am seriously considering continuing my education in this field of psychology. Over the course of the semester we studied a number of interesting disorders. The disorder that really seemed to catch my attention was Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). I took it upon myself to use this opportunity to learn more about the disorder that seemed to be the most fascinating. This is the main reason I chose to read The Minds of Billy Milligan, by Daniel Keyes. This true story shows us how a young man (Billy Milligan), who suffers from DID, is accused of crimes for which one of his alternate personalities is responsible. Daniel Keyes is the writer who offered to reveal Billy's story to the world. After Billy was fused, he was able to explore the depths of his mind and the minds of his 24 other personalities for Keyes. Keyes published The Minds of Billy Milligan in 1981, but most of the story is set before then. The book begins in 1977, where Billy is wanted for rape crimes. Billy Milligan, a 22-year-old white man, was not a very educated person. He held numerous odd jobs, such as a florist at a local shop and a bodyguard for drug lords on expeditions, but struggled to maintain steady work. Because of the 10 different personalities that ruled his life, it was difficult for Billy to maintain a stable job. One personality specialized in flower arranging, but another preferred to paint. One personality was stronger than the average man, but another was that of a scared 8-year-old. These personalities are the result of horrific sexual and physical abuse administered by his stepfather, Chalmer Milligan. Billy's biological father committed suicide when Billy was about 4 years old, and Billy's mother, Dorothy, has been in and out of relationships ever since. When Billy was 8 years old, Dorothy married Chalmer. The abuse began soon after the wedding. Chalmer physically abused Dorothy constantly, while Billy suffered both sexual and physical abuse. Jim (Billy's older brother) was fortunate to escape the abuse along with Kathy (Billy's sister) and Challa (Chalmer's daughter)).