Emerson’s Story

Emerson Frost is a painter, poet, photographer, and an international public speaker on both mental wellness and mental illness. Emerson does all of that with a gypsy soul and a bold freedom of expression.

As early as middle school Emerson was writing chapter books, and is today a published author with her inaugural children’s book: Little Crow’s Big Secret.

Emerson officially joined the art world in her early 40’s when she was dealing with a mental health crisis and was in need of some positive coping skills and outlets for her pain. She began oil painting and oil pasteling, finding a deep and reverent love for COLOR. Emerson also took her photography into overdrive, with a strong emphasis on anthropomorphic macrophotography.

Today Emerson is a strong advocate for mental wellness, especially for children who have experienced sexual or domestic violence. She has spoken to audiences in the USA, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Ghana on how to get back up after a devastating loss or trauma.

Emerson currently resides in Connecticut USA with her two dogs, two children, and one husband.

Emerson was born to a pedophile father, and a narcissistic, abusive mother. There was so much damage to Emerson, that her brain failed to develop properly and she developed D.I.D. (dissociative identity disorder), which is the current terminology for multiple personality disorder.

Because the abuse was so dehumanizing, at the tender age of 11 Emerson tried to take her own life. Thankfully, Emerson survived this attempt, but unfortunately, the adults in her life were so dysregulated and abusive that she had no hope for herself. Emerson felt like an object that was taken out of a closet to be used sexually by her father, and to be used to gain public validation by her mother.

Emerson left home for college at 18, where she again attempted to take her own life at the age of 19. This time, someone cared and brought her to the hospital for medical attention. Thus began Emerson’s medication management journey with antidepressants.

Emerson had Stockholm Syndrome until the age of 41 when she began experiencing horrific flashbacks of her father sexually abusing her. She ended up being hospitalized three times before a successful treatment path was established. At age 42, Emerson again attempted to take her own life, but she was stopped and admitted to the hospital for the third time in three months. She now had her diagnosis of D.I.D. and began taking therapy with a D.I.D.-experienced therapist who helped Emerson to merge most of her personalities.

After her “helpful” hospitalization, Emerson participated in an Intensive Outpatient therapy Program three hours per day, three days per week. After IOP, Emerson continued her medication management for: anxiety, depression, nightmares/flashbacks, etc. Emerson also continued weekly therapy with her D.I.D.-informed therapist.

Emerson is now a thriving human, with stability in all important ways in life: mentally, financially, and socially. Emerson has the experience to say “YES. it is hard. And YES you can get back up. Hold on to Hope.” Emerson is a force to be reckoned with and willingly shares her story to help those who are still suffering.

Prior to 2025, Emerson was known as Jamie Wilson.