[yellowted]

Dear Doc John / moderators / designers or whoever makes this site,



please is it possible to have a forum on the dissociative disorders site for those of us who have dissociation of a different type than DID as the main site is full of stuff around alters which do not occur in other forms of dissociation. it makes one feel quite alien to the site when all that is on it is about something you do not have experience of. I am quite sure that people are put off going to the site if they have fugue, physical or sensory dissociation as these issues are never discussed there or if they are they are hidden amongst all the DID ones making it impossible to distinguish them. i understand that DID is the most prevelant form of dissociation so more people will post about it, but i feel there is a community of other dissociatives who are not either being heard or who feel to out numbered to post there. Thankyou in anticipation

[Omers]

I am not a mod or admin and am a DID so feel free to ignore me but... the dissociative disorders forum is a very low use forum. If you look when you go in there is, rarely, if ever anyone else in there. Any post rarely gets more than one or two replies and those can take several days even weeks. I am sorry you feel so uncomfortable there, I have to admit I do too. I am not as "split" as others and have a different take on things. I have been told by "experts" that those with dissociative disorders tend to isolate... it is sorta like we have an autism forum to but autistics are often not particularly social again leading to low use.

IDK, is there a way perhaps we could promote better, more diverse and more frequent use of the forum that exists?

Just my thoughts as another who feels like an outcast and alone over there.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by yellowted

Dear Doc John / moderators / designers or whoever makes this site,



please is it possible to have a forum on the dissociative disorders site for those of us who have dissociation of a different type than DID as the main site is full of stuff around alters which do not occur in other forms of dissociation. it makes one feel quite alien to the site when all that is on it is about something you do not have experience of. I am quite sure that people are put off going to the site if they have fugue, physical or sensory dissociation as these issues are never discussed there or if they are they are hidden amongst all the DID ones making it impossible to distinguish them. i understand that DID is the most prevelant form of dissociation so more people will post about it, but i feel there is a community of other dissociatives who are not either being heard or who feel to out numbered to post there. Thankyou in anticipation

what a great idea yellowted.

thanks omers. Ive often wondered why the general term personality disorders was broken down into separate boards for each of the personality disorders but the dissociative disorders where there are many different dissociative disorders being discussed on one generalized board. it makes sense.

I agree it really would help out on the dissociative boards if each of the dissociative disorders had their own discussion boards like what was done on the personality board.

[DocJohn]

While that may be the philosophy of other forums and support communities (just list out every possible disorder and make a group for it, and hope people find and use it), we do things a bit differently here. We only make groups for larger categories and then, when enough people use it for some sub-topic, we will consider splitting that sub-topic off into its own forum. As it is, we have a perfectly good forum for dissociative disorders, which is in no way exclusive to DID:

Dissociative Disorders - For support of people with depersonalization & dissociative disorders (such as DID, also known as multiple personality disorder).

While DID is mentioned as one possible dissociative disorder, the forum is clearly marked and named "Dissociative Disorders," which includes them all.

All you need do is start a new thread on the topics you want to talk about, and others will find it there.

Best,
DocJohn

[yellowted]

reply to Doc John
tried that, it does not work, i have stopped even looking on the dissociative disorders bit, because the only things mentioned there are DID things!
another idea , Doc John stated [We only make groups for larger categories and then, when enough people use it for some sub-topic, we will consider splitting that sub-topic off into its own forum.] well would it be possible to make a forum specifically for DID? this would free up the dissociative disorders one for the rest of us to use, afterall you have ones for teenage and child alters, why not one for adult alters too! Other dissociatives may only be a minority but they still should have a place to talk where they do not feel like the odd one out! Even if America does not recognise the differences in different dissociative conditions they do still exhist in the rest of the world and as this site is not just open to Americans it should cater for all. Like Amandalouise said it has been done for personality disorders so why not for dissociative ones, we do still exhist, even if it was just the main 4 (DID, Fugue, - and -) plus one for the rest, even if they only get a few hits a year, it will be a place where newly diagnoseds can find older posts from others who have experienced the same frustrations as they are. believe me there is nothing worse than having no one elses experience of your condition. just to look on a site regardless how old the post is and realise someone else has been in your situation is such a comfort especially when your condition is an unusual one.
If not it looks like i will have to go find a different site that does have other dissociative disorders on it as my dissociative motor disorder is a million miles apart from DID, i do not have alters, do not loose time etc, but have multiple motor difficulties from paralysis to being unable to sit unsupported, past pointing, double incontinence and many other things too which i do not feel most DID people will understand. (imagine a severe stroke victim lon Mars with only martians (who have never seen a stroke victim before)for support, no rehab and no means of getting to the bathroom) thats what its like.

[yellowted]

Originally Posted by Omers

I am not a mod or admin and am a DID so feel free to ignore me but... the dissociative disorders forum is a very low use forum. If you look when you go in there is, rarely, if ever anyone else in there. Any post rarely gets more than one or two replies and those can take several days even weeks. I am sorry you feel so uncomfortable there, I have to admit I do too. I am not as "split" as others and have a different take on things. I have been told by "experts" that those with dissociative disorders tend to isolate... it is sorta like we have an autism forum to but autistics are often not particularly social again leading to low use.

IDK, is there a way perhaps we could promote better, more diverse and more frequent use of the forum that exists?

Just my thoughts as another who feels like an outcast and alone over there.

I am not supprised there is little use as you say, that is probably because DIDs have the option of the garden, teen thing and the regular forum to post on depending on which alter is out at the time, and because there is so much DID stuff on the regular forum people with other forms of dissociation are put off from posting about their difficulties as they feel no one will understand about their difficulties. and when they do venture to the forum they are always told i have never heard of that or asked to explain it again each time! We want understanding and people who are experiencing the same things as us just like DID teens want to talk with other DID teens! I agree some dissociatives may tend to isolate themselves, but not all, I for one would love to talk to others with the same disorder as I. every disorder, disability, condition etc will have a percentage of sufferers who isolate themselves but that does not mean those who don't should not be given the opportunity to meet and chat without others chipping in about things they know little about.

[SophiaG]

Why not make a subforum for DID within the dissociative disorders forum? I wonder if that might work?

[Crew]

I have seen the need for sub-forms similair to the Personality Disorders.

I have seen where it is really hard for people to get the answers they need b/c mainly I have seen people not being able to get there questions answered. I 100% back this even though I have D.I.D. Many people have asked me and not a lot I can tell them.

I think it's greatly needed!

Just my opinion, Crew

Originally Posted by yellowted

Dear Doc John / moderators / designers or whoever makes this site,



please is it possible to have a forum on the dissociative disorders site for those of us who have dissociation of a different type than DID as the main site is full of stuff around alters which do not occur in other forms of dissociation. it makes one feel quite alien to the site when all that is on it is about something you do not have experience of. I am quite sure that people are put off going to the site if they have fugue, physical or sensory dissociation as these issues are never discussed there or if they are they are hidden amongst all the DID ones making it impossible to distinguish them. i understand that DID is the most prevelant form of dissociation so more people will post about it, but i feel there is a community of other dissociatives who are not either being heard or who feel to out numbered to post there. Thankyou in anticipation

Hi
Eventhough I have DID, I think it's a dis service to all who dissociate to lump them all together and assume they have DID.or to have you feel that you don't have a place to speak in that thread. You DO. Yes there are many types of dissociation and many people who suffer from them. They all deserve attention. I noticed that the DD thread doesn not get much traffic, maybe because it (any dissociation) is such a foreign idea to people who do not dissociate.
Please try not to feel excluded. We want to hear what you have to say.

[yellowted]

Please try not to feel excluded. We want to hear what you have to say.
[/quote]

but what i have to say is so different to things DIDs experience and although i know they will be supportive it would be nice to have others who actually understand my difficulties or who can say 'I get that too' and 'have you tried X as that helped me' It is not helped with the whole care system here in the UK being so different to the one in the US and my type of dissociation being one of the rarer ones.
i try to help/support others by pulling on my knowledge and experience, but feel so alone when dealing with my own stuff, it's no good me moaning about bladder/bowel incontinence or the 6 hours it took me to to get back in the house when i fell off my scooter in my garden (no i was not drunk, i have poor core stability so fell off and due to poor muscle control in my arms could not pull myself up to get back on , legs do not weight bare either!) both of these are due to my dissociative condition, but nothing like what others on the dissociative forum would have experience of.

[pegasus]

Yellowted, you have a somatoform disorder or what is otherwise known as 'conversion' disorder. It is a dissociative disorder that affects you in a very physical way. I'm sorry that you feel alone with this. The DD forum is not just for people with DID. You are welcome to post in that forum or anywhere else on Psych Central forums, the 'Health Support' and 'Disabilities and Chronic diseases' forums may also be useful to you.

[Vibe]

I also think this would be an excellent idea. Creating a subforum for DID within the dissociative disorder forum would leave it more free for those who experience other forms of dissociation. Although I do tend to isolate, I would post more if I felt the forum was more 'for me.' I also have a lot of trouble sifting through all the DID posts to find a thread I can relate to, so I don't respond much to others. My lack of participation in the forums is -not- just from 'lack of wanting to.' I just feel more comfortable sharing my experiences at other sites that are more friendly to those with other dissociative disorders. The one here just isn't very easy for me to use.

[yellowted]

Originally Posted by pegasus

Yellowted, you have a somatoform disorder or what is otherwise known as 'conversion' disorder. It is a dissociative disorder that affects you in a very physical way. I'm sorry that you feel alone with this. The DD forum is not just for people with DID. You are welcome to post in that forum or anywhere else on Psych Central forums, the 'Health Support' and 'Disabilities and Chronic diseases' forums may also be useful to you.

according to my care team I have dissociative motor disorder, whenever i call it conversion disorder i am told that is not what i have, though i do agree it is more like that than it is to DID! but that aside there is no forum for conversion or somatoform disorders either on PC anyway, so we are back to the same old ... there is nowhere to post about it where others will understand what it is like.

[yellowted]

Originally Posted by Vibe

I also think this would be an excellent idea. Creating a subforum for DID within the dissociative disorder forum would leave it more free for those who experience other forms of dissociation. Although I do tend to isolate, I would post more if I felt the forum was more 'for me.' I also have a lot of trouble sifting through all the DID posts to find a thread I can relate to, so I don't respond much to others. My lack of participation in the forums is -not- just from 'lack of wanting to.' I just feel more comfortable sharing my experiences at other sites that are more friendly to those with other dissociative disorders. The one here just isn't very easy for me to use.

sorry you feel the same as me, I thought this was supposed to be an inclusive site for everyone to feel welcome, unfortunately i can see by the replies on this thread i am not alone in thinking it is not so .

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by yellowted

according to my care team I have dissociative motor disorder, whenever i call it conversion disorder i am told that is not what i have, though i do agree it is more like that than it is to DID! but that aside there is no forum for conversion or somatoform disorders either on PC anyway, so we are back to the same old ... there is nowhere to post about it where others will understand what it is like.

thats a great idea yellowted there is no board for conversion disorder and other disorders where mental issues are converted into physical problems like aches, pains, debilitated muscle / motor skills.

Or is that covered by the health board?

I see the health board for medical problems not mental disorders that show their self in physical ways. but I may be wrong.

[pegasus]

Originally Posted by yellowted

I thought this was supposed to be an inclusive site for everyone to feel welcome.

... rather than loads of replies saying they have not heard of it or people trying to pretend to understand.

This is a very inclusive site that makes everyone feel welcome by not constantly labelling people. If you got your wish of a 'dissocative motor disorder' forum, I think you would feel even more isolated and get even less replies. I am sorry that you feel the replies you get are people saying they have not heard of your condition and I'm sorry that you feel people only try to pretend to understand. That is your feeling but there are infact a great deal of very understanding people here. You don't have to have the exact same condition to feel empathy and be supportive. I wish you well.

[DocJohn]

I just reviewed the first page of threads in the Dissociative Forum and saw many, many threads talking about dissociative issues that were not DID.

I'm happy to reconsider a DID sub-forum at some point, but the current Dissociative forum has 2-week old posts on the first page. This suggests the forum is far from being over-utilized.

Best,
DocJohn

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

I understand where doc john is coming from. There are tons of forums already on here. I've always asked my DID questions as well as any other dissasociative issues I am facing whether it be depersonalization DID and even DDNOS when I was curious. I've gotten a wide variety of responses, some threads with only one or two replies and some with tons. It's a hit or miss in any of these forums. I think getting a response mostly comes from how you deliver the message, the title you give it and if the people reading can relate. Even if both writer and reader have lets say dissociative amnesia, you can write a topic about it but not every one with dissociative amnesia will respond as some don't know what to say,, some don't have the energy to help or they just don't know how to answer the question. There are many reasons behind why you may not be getting a response.

I do see it a topic of interest making a sub thread up there with the garden for people who are experiencing non DID symptoms. I felt a little excluded when that forum was made since I don't know of any littles and they don't seem to come out if there are any. But this site is not intended to exclude anyone, it is intended to include everyone in discussion. And please do not push yourself from this forum just because you do not have DID, your thoughts and words can help all, even if they do or do not have DID. I may have DID but I have some symptoms of the other DDs as well and with knowledge of others with those symptoms it could really benefit others. And it goes likewise for those with DDs and not DID. For instance, you may have a DD but not DID and you need help finding out how to keep from slipping so much. DID patients and DD patients have this in common thus being good sources for support.

Just because some have alters and some don't, we do not intend to isolate anyone. We are all here to give or get support and labeling it as just one disorder in the thread is a bit more isolating than the system going on now.

If we made new categories for everything... Relationships and communication would be split to Divorce, married, dating, engaged, family, friends, co workers... And this just splitting one thread. Then you would need to split the bipolar thread into bipolor one and bipolar 2. Then you would need to split schizophrenia and psychosis into their sub categories. Eating disorders into their categories.. This site would be more searching for the topic then actually searching for answers.

I wish you the best!

[pgrundy]

I understand why the moderators would not want to create a new forum or a sub-forum under Dissociative Disorders. But I just wanted to say I understand where YellowTed is coming from. I never get uptake in that part of the site because I don't see DID the way some of the more active posters do, and some of the DID posts make me uncomfortable.

I'll make an effort to start threads there that are not in that vein and that address other forms of dissociation.

I guess people who dissociate don't always understand that they do it or understand it, so maybe that's part of the reason that forum is slow.

[pgrundy]

BTW I received a DID diagnosis back when it was called MPD and I believe I worked through that as well as I can--that is, I successfully finished therapy for that disorder. So I no longer dissociate to that degree and I would never refer to these separate-feeling roles or traits as 'alters'. All of this is me, period.

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

Pgrundy, I am sorry you feel this way but to have DID you MUST show signs of two or more different personalities. And by this they mean talking acting dressing and all differently from the other alter. I am also sorry that things make you uncomfortable but if they do, try to look the other way and not read it. We are here for support, we should not be made to feel as if we are freaks from some side show because it makes others feel uncomfortable in a DD forum.

Has anyone considered the reason for so many DID posts as opposed to DD posts is because with DID there is more than one person to reply per screen name? I can get on and post something on DID then my alter comes out and posts something then another alter comes out. Those without DID do not have the seperate alters to post as frequently. We may be outnumbered in how many people have DID as opposed to DDNOS and such, but not if you include alters, which I do.

I'm sorry you feel uncomfortable. I too feel uncomfortable reading many posts that I read. But we all have to remember. We are all here for support we are all here because we need someone to listen and understand and support us. Ignoring posts and such because they make you uncomfortable and trying to banish people into their own sub topic isn't very productive if it's because it makes you feel "uncomfortable" it's like forcing us to become isolated because y'all don't like what you hear. We don't always like what we hear but here at PC, we are kind and courteous and willing to help in any way even if it's just a "I hope you feel better" to something that makes us uncomfortable.

[pgrundy]

It makes me uncomfortable because I feel like it feeds the disease not the cure. I'm not judging you or saying you aren't entitled to your opinions and to post freely, I'm saying I feel like I can't freely say what troubles me in such threads. I'm talking about feeling shoved out myself if I don't talk about alters as if they are real people. I merely mentioned it here and already you've 'corrected' me. That's what I'm referring to.

When I went into therapy for DID, these identities did feel like real people and there was significant dissociation such that one was not aware of the other. The point of therapy was to change that though, not reinforce it.

I know DID is tough, and you make a good point--maybe there are more posts because of more separate identities posting.

[pgrundy]

I should add that I did say in my post here that I understand BOTH why the moderators don't want to change the forum structure, AND why yellowted feels uncomfortable. So I never asked that you be shoved off to a separate forum, I just said I understand why this is coming up.

[yellowted]

Originally Posted by pgrundy

I should add that I did say in my post here that I understand BOTH why the moderators don't want to change the forum structure, AND why yellowted feels uncomfortable. So I never asked that you be shoved off to a separate forum, I just said I understand why this is coming up.

well said, i have said too that i understand alters need their space. like you say I too feel talking to alters feeds the condition rather than helping it. I also feel getting responses from alters about my difficulties uncomfortable because although the person with the alters sees them as real i (having difficulty trusting people at the best of times ) am unable to distinguish the 'real' person behind the alters so do not trust them or their replies as being sincere. it isI never asked for each specific form of Dissociation to have its own forum, all i asked for is a forum for those without alters because it is extremely difficult to form bonds with those who are constantly changing personalities and alters and even more difficult to fathom out wether you are talking to an alter or whole person. ok to DIDs alters are whole people but to the rest of the population they are a part of a person because there are more than just them in the body! kind of like trying to find the real gold coin, if you are only given the one to choose from it is easy, you know you have chosen the right one, but if you are given the choice of 6 fakes and one real one then you are never certain whether you have chosen the right one!

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

"I also feel getting responses from alters about my difficulties uncomfortable because although the person with the alters sees them as real i (having difficulty trusting people at the best of times ) am unable to distinguish the 'real' person behind the alters so do not trust them or their replies as being sincere."

I am not an alter. I am the core. I have been here since day one and stay out for the most part. I have not officially met or communicated with any of my alters. But still this comment above is rather harsh and even I could take it personally. Whether they be alters or the core, they occupy this body and when they do they have a mind. That mind being like any others where they think, they act, they see, they smell, they solve problems, they laugh and they cry. These alters understand issues far better than myself, the core, could because they have kept the secrets over time. They know more than anyone else the pain that one goes through so to think them insencere and have an issue because someone is responding, with a mind, is rather unfair. Because they are an "alter" does not mean that they do not think the same as you and I, that they have no way to love or show compassion or true empathy or anything of the sort. Their whole existance is to keep as much pain from the core as they can when it gets to be too much, so how could anyone possibly think alters to be insensere? My suggestion would be, if you don't want alters to post to your thread, tell them not to. And while we're at it, when I post, I will ask not to have others who do not have alters to post in my thread. And those who do not also suffer with bipolar. And those who do not eat mushrooms. You are asking for a response from someones mind and heart, and whether they be shared hearts and minds or just one, it's what you get. If you don't like it ask not to get certain responses but then you will be left in the dark because that seems a lot to be stereotyping and that in itself is not healthy and unfair and not right.

" it isI never asked for each specific form of Dissociation to have its own forum, all i asked for is a forum for those without alters because it is extremely difficult to form bonds with those who are constantly changing personalities and alters and even more difficult to fathom out wether you are talking to an alter or whole person."

And while we are at it, I would like a forum to exclude schizophrenia because those who hear voices on the outside, I never know if they think I'm a dilusion so I don't think their responses are very accurate because they hallucinate. Spin it any way you want it is stereotyping. I get you do not think you should "encourage" the alters but this thread is to help ALL with DDs which INCLUDE DID. Alters are a part of that person and each alter has their own experience and life and it's a known fact that in therapy it DOES help when alters can come out comfortable and talk about their troubles to HELP the patient to further their recovery. Forcing them to hide or exclude them would just make them think they were unsafe and thus cause a delay in recovery.

" ok to DIDs alters are whole people but to the rest of the population they are a part of a person because there are more than just them in the body! "

Whether I be one or be fifty whomever is out when my body is mobile controls me, therefor they are me. I am a human being with rights and they should as well. No matter what alter is out, when my body is mobile it feels, it acts, it's human no matter who is out. We are human, it's just a change in the mind when it switched. Some people change their mind in a small way, we change it in a much bigger way.

I am sorry if my reply is intense and upsetting in any way I can assure you it was not my intention. I am also sorry that some things make you uncomfortable but that's the same with everyone. Constantly I am reading about SI's on this website, as someone who IS recovered from it and has been 10 years, I do get uncomfortable hearing about it but I know that they hurt. I know that they need someone or that they are trying to help. I feel uncomfortable, I'm the one feeling this way, no one can make me feel a way I do not want to feel merely by speaking, I chose to let the comfort level drop and get the best of me or I chose not to and I'm the one who chooses not to. People will make you uncomfortable for the rest of your life, it's how we are. No two people think the same which does cause conflict and such over time. It's a matter of getting bast the uncomfortable to understand that the mind that you are speaking to, feels just like you and is human just like you no matter what mind set they are in.