well its kinda hard to explain. they had been there forever but they were so much a part of me i had never thought to tell anybody about them. i was so frustrated one day that nobody understood just how crazy and out of control i felt that i wrote down exactly what went on in my mind. you are right in defining them as being aware of the others and no blackout. as i said, the T's ive worked with said not DID. But I think they are there similar to DID, just not fully manifested, developed as a way to cope through difficult times.

Do yours have names/motivations/desires of their own?

Yes, many of my voices have names. I have grandfather who i go to for wisdom, love and support. we often just sat together and laughed. there was Elthia who was loving and nurturing. she would come out in my writings. there were the twins, they mostly just watched. there was faye, a scared 4 year old who always wanted me to nurture her, and lucia a very angry 6 year old that wanted me to be hurt. then there were the bad ones. i didnt give them names. they were constantly telling me how much i needed to die, how worthless i was, chanting it over and over.

so yes, i would say they did have theyre own motivations and desires. they were playing out all the feelings i could not cope with. as i said, my writings are filled with what these voices would say to me. writing allowed them to opportunity to come out. but so if the voices are strong enough to overwhelm you, you may act on the feelings that they are causing you, and that is where they would have power in your life.