[Miracle1986]

Everything I have read/heard says that dissociation normally appears in childhood.
So... does that mean I am not really dissociating
I ask because I didn't begin to dissociate until like 3 months ago.
That is when the first of my alters showed up and that's when I started "floating", losing time and everything.
I just... don't know anymore... help?
Am I the only ADULT on the planet that developed dissociation?
Am I some kind of freak? Cause I am really staring to feel like one.

[Eriksplus]

Our Host is 17.
It's more commen for adults to have DID than teenagers so....
We classify for being freaks more than you do!
(Webber)Christine

Well, it hit the fan for me about 2 years ago. But looking back I've always had weird things about the inner workings of my mind that I used to think was normal. Maybe things weren't like they were earlier in life because things were going on back then but you didn't notice because it was secretive. it's hard to explain.

I mean, from what I've read online people who go get help and have DID don't really go there for dissociation issues but for other things... like OCD symptoms, anxiety, depression, PTSD, stuff like that.

[confused43]

Hi
I think the DID parts are mostly to be noticed and come out when they feel safe.... also i think alot of epeople may not notice it because they are not looking for a personality alter to appear... some people dont know what to look for and think that the person has a mood/ personality disorder... Just my thought....

Everything that the scientists know about DID show that the majority of people who have dissociation so severe that they have DID, began in childhood among people who were severely abused. There are a *few* cases among people who experienced other trauma like watching someone get killed.

Adults do not develop DID. It is created in childhood as a coping mechanism.

People with DID have been dissociating their entire lives and have lost time, etc their entire lives.
The alters have always come out, because they have functions; for example: one alter may have been created to do well in school, one alter may have been created to deal with all the anger, etc. The host has no or little conscious awareness of what is happening until alot of work is done to develop communication among the alters. Most true cases of DID do not control their alters nor do they have awareness of everything that goes on because the job of the alter was to protect the host from awareness of abuse or things painful.

People don't just "become DID" in adulthood --- they have always been DID since the initial split.

Am I the only ADULT on the planet that developed dissociation?

Are you talking about developing DID or a Dissociative Disorder? There is a difference.

People develop dissociation as adults, but Tollhouse is right. There is, according to the experts, no adult onset of DID.

And the majority of those experts believe DID usually happens to children around the (average) age of six years old and under.

There are also other disorders that include dissociation if DID doesn't fit. What does your T say about it?

[Hunny]

Manda,

Learning about the condition takes some time. Whoever is asking these questions does seem to be a little confused but another alter may have more clarity. Are you able to check internally for more clarification?

You are NOT a freak. There is a purpose for your life and for being here and you will know more as time goes by. The thing is, it does take time, usually lots of time. So, thanks for asking for answers and we look forward to hearing more from you, as time goes along.

In the meantime, here is a tissue and some and hugs

Hunny

Originally Posted by Manda86

Everything I have read/heard says that dissociation normally appears in childhood.
So... does that mean I am not really dissociating
I ask because I didn't begin to dissociate until like 3 months ago.
That is when the first of my alters showed up and that's when I started "floating", losing time and everything.
I just... don't know anymore... help?
Am I the only ADULT on the planet that developed dissociation?
Am I some kind of freak? Cause I am really staring to feel like one.

[multipixie9]

People who become DID do that in early childhood. The thing is that when they discover dissociating as a way to cope with unbearable situations and experiences then they continue to do that. We do not question what we have lived with since the beginning. I basically had two different histories in my mind the real one which I hid and the better one which is what I made myself believe. This worked ok until I grew up and then my coping mechanism of dissociating began to fail out under all the pressures and responsibilities of adulthood.

I understand feeling confused. My T had to keep telling me for years before I believed her about the DID and began to try and work with my alts. DID is great for coping as a helpless kid, but it sucks as an adult. It gets me in trouble with the mono-mind world - those who think all things are singular. PHOOEY!!!!

Leah

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Manda86

Everything I have read/heard says that dissociation normally appears in childhood.
So... does that mean I am not really dissociating
I ask because I didn't begin to dissociate until like 3 months ago.
That is when the first of my alters showed up and that's when I started "floating", losing time and everything.
I just... don't know anymore... help?
Am I the only ADULT on the planet that developed dissociation?
Am I some kind of freak? Cause I am really staring to feel like one.

People can dissociate at any age. dissociation is a naturally occuring thing.

Its the disorder DID that happens in childhood because of severe trauma before the age of 5. you probably had all your alters before 3 months ago you just werent aware that they were there because your dissociating into the alters was automatic. now you are aware you do it so you probably notice it more now than you did before.

[wanttoheal]

I'm so sorry you are struggling. You are not a freak. There are reasons for everything. Whether you have a dissociative disorder or something else, there are reasons for it.

I forgot whether or not you have a T, but if you do, can you ask her/him about it? There are tests that can be administered to give a clearer picture of what is going on so you can get the right kind of help you need. If you don't have one, perhaps you can call your local mental health center and ask for testing for everything. Then they could maybe help you find a T that specializes in whatever is going on for you.

Like I said, no matter what is going on, there are reasons for it and you can get help. Take gentle care.

[turquoisesea]

EVERYONE is unique, NOT a FREAK - UNIQUE. Dissociation can happen at any time to anyone, with varying levels. I wouldn't worry so much about what to call what's happening, etc. Labels aren't as important as what you're experiencing. If it makes you feel better, I started dissociating not long ago and I was 20... which is adult, not teens, and not your age necessarily, but it can happen any time I think.

I think people are confusing "simple" dissociation with the type of dissociation that occurs in people with DID.

"Simple" dissociation can happen at any time to anyone, but this is more like highway hypnosis or daydreaming or in situations where a person begins to get very anxious, they may feeling like they are floating or get dizzy.

"Severe" dissociation where alters are created only occurs in childhood. And the symptoms of DID exist since childhood because the purpose of the alters is to protect, so when another alter appears, time is usually "lost."
Alters have been present since they were created and they behave and do their "job" all the time. They don't get created in childhood and only appear later in life. They are created to serve a purpose and when needed, they "switch" into their job, usually unknown to the host. They can be out for seconds or for weeks. When needed, they responded completely unconsciously.

It can take many years of hard work to develop communication among alters so that a person can gain some control.

The alters/parts of a person with DID vary but there are usually very similar patterns in what exist. And if you read the research, most T's will not diagnose DID unless those characteristic alters are present (that is debated)

There are no cases of DID developing in adulthood.

In fact there have been numerous studies on people severely traumatized in adulthood in a variety of situations such as abuse or hostages to understand if DID develops. It does not.

There are many reasons why children have the ability to dissociate to the extreme to develop DID that differ from adults, including things such as the developing mind, the perception of the world, the brain chemicals, and the psychological stages of development.

But, people's experiences are different and only a qualified T can diagnose a complex disorder such as DID.

======
*"simple" is not used as an insult, but just a way to characterize differences

[Miracle1986]

Originally Posted by Orange_Blossom

Are you talking about developing DID or a Dissociative Disorder?

I am... not sure... I am talking about having alters, losing time, and "floating"