Hi,
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This Self in Exile disorder, is it something you personally have named

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Well this question inspired me to do some writing, this is what I came up with........ </font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Why the name ‘Self in Exile’?
The name ‘self in Exile’ describes more closely our experience, than does the word 'schizoid'. This term was used as the title for the section on the Schizoid disorder, by Dr Klein in the book: ‘Disorders of the Self - New Therapeutic Horizons’, ( Klien + Masterson),

Who Does 'Self in Exile' Include?
It can be used as a collective term covering the spectrum of tendencies which have been named in various ways, ‘schizotypal’, ‘avoidant’, ‘schizoaffective’ etc. This can be helpful because although the behaviour may vary on the outside, it arises from the underlying 'internal structure' which we find, on deepening our awareness, is surprisingly similar. In this way we identify with eachother on a deeper level.
Each disorder of the self has its own different type of internal structure, (termed by professionals: 'intrapsychic structure').
The same principles can be applied here as in other recovery fellowships: if you identify with the experiences and have a desire for recovery, you have a place. Some may have identified these issues for themselves, and some may have been diagnosed by a professional. It becomes possible, step by step to take responsibility for our own healing. Some choose to get professional help also.
We are not professionals, from our own experiences in the disorder as well as in recovery, we become able to help each other. Our shared purpose is to strengthen and free our real self.


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Thats now on the website. You may wonder what Im doing with this website thing too?
I think maybe I'll do a thread about that - if and when I can get it into more of a finished state, I might ask some people from here to go and see it.

I could really do with some help with it too. I guess I'd need to explain why I'm doing it, which would be quite long. In brief, tho, - its my attempt to 'turn suffering into meaning'. I've so damaged my life by the disorder and with out understanding it I couldnt begin to address my underlying problems. Then a few years ago I found and read about personality disorder, luckily for me, I self diagnosed which is much less pathologising than being 'diagnosed', as you imply.
I wanted to create something people could benefit from, and an opportunity for healing by helping eachother, as people do in such places as AA, for example, my expereinces of being 'helped' by professionals have been pretty appauling up to now, so much to say about all this, yeah, I had quite a lot of the same feelings as you have been having. Its a job to them, ITS MY SOUL TO ME!.

So, this website has been my best attempt so far, I'm still working on it. If I can get something up that can help others, and share the understanding that I now have, then my years of the disorder, all the damage I've done to myself and others wont be totally a waste, that is my hope.

river.

ps, I also did run away from school, but i didnt get all tht far, went straight into a more oppressive situation than I had left, thats another other story, .... the caravan sounds lovely, at least for a while, I've fantasised about that, wood fire, etc