I got this from http://www.didmpdinfo.com

This are the things we tried to identify when making a list of those inside, You can add or take away from it as needed to fit what information you need.

Name:
How old they are:
How old the body was when they came:
Did they come in at moment of trauma (rape, being yelled at, stress etc):
What kind of alter/family member are they if any. (read Some of the different kinds of Inside Family members/Alters and their possible jobs for names an information)
Do they have a specific job in the family/system ( taking care of kids, eating, running etc)
Do they have any unhealthy coping skills (cutting, burning, drinking, overdosing, starving themselves etc):
Do they do any healthy coping skills (Writing, Drawing, Artwork, willingness to talk):
Tell about the things they like to do:
Tell about the things they don't like to do:
What kind of movies, games, hobbies do they have: misc:

[Crew]

Hey ((((Calista+)))))))

That is Great, thanks a bunch!

I hope your doing well and I just want you to know I CARE about you,

Crew

[blossommayflower27]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

I got this from http://www.didmpdinfo.com

This are the things we tried to identify when making a list of those inside, You can add or take away from it as needed to fit what information you need.

Name:
How old they are:
How old the body was when they came:
Did they come in at moment of trauma (rape, being yelled at, stress etc):
What kind of alter/family member are they if any. (read Some of the different kinds of Inside Family members/Alters and their possible jobs for names an information)
Do they have a specific job in the family/system ( taking care of kids, eating, running etc)
Do they have any unhealthy coping skills (cutting, burning, drinking, overdosing, starving themselves etc):
Do they do any healthy coping skills (Writing, Drawing, Artwork, willingness to talk):
Tell about the things they like to do:
Tell about the things they don't like to do:
What kind of movies, games, hobbies do they have: misc:

Oh my goodness!!!you have just made our day!!!we are actually working on this and my T wants me to be as descriptive about ourselves as possible!!!and this helps us out soo much because we are soo overwhelmed by all of this that we didnt know where to begin...now we have some type of start!!!Thank you soo much!!!

[Claritytoo]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

I got this from http://www.didmpdinfo.com

This are the things we tried to identify when making a list of those inside, You can add or take away from it as needed to fit what information you need.

Name:
How old they are:
How old the body was when they came:
Did they come in at moment of trauma (rape, being yelled at, stress etc):
What kind of alter/family member are they if any. (read Some of the different kinds of Inside Family members/Alters and their possible jobs for names an information)
Do they have a specific job in the family/system ( taking care of kids, eating, running etc)
Do they have any unhealthy coping skills (cutting, burning, drinking, overdosing, starving themselves etc):
Do they do any healthy coping skills (Writing, Drawing, Artwork, willingness to talk):
Tell about the things they like to do:
Tell about the things they don't like to do:
What kind of movies, games, hobbies do they have: misc:

Thank you for the information. I went on the site and found some of my "alters" described as I know them (mute, no names, emotions). That helped. I am still in the denial stage and am ready to jump ship anytime anything doesn't fit what I know to be DID. I will try to get to know my system and will accept what ever we know about each other and be satisfied with that. It has taken several days for us to start talking to each other again. I think part of that was because we were scared due to a recent episode and another part is my denial issues. I just have to take my time. I will hopefully be able to explain this to my therapist. I know she would understand, I'm just not sure I will bring it up once I get into session. Thanks again. It helps to not feel alone.

[LeafLace]

Thank you for this tool, Calista+12! I've figured out so much in just a few minutes from reading the descriptions of alter types.

[Hunny]

........

[Hunny]

Calista+12

This nails it for me. Thanks, a hundred million billion!

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Claritytoo

I am still in the denial stage and am ready to jump ship anytime anything doesn't fit what I know to be DID.

Then stop trying to fit yourself and your alters into a neat little box that contains what you know about DID. I dont mean to be rude but DID isnt this neat little box you need to fit your self into. its a disorder that can affect people in many different ways. no two people with DID are the same. no two people with DID have exactly the same system of alters, no two people have the same exact way they dissociate. no two people have the same way of what their triggers are, not all alters are set up textbook style of name rank serial number, what trauma caused them..

there is such a thing as an alter that has no name, no memory of trauma, no likes, no dislikes, no everything on the above listing, no everything on the listing with in the link.

each persons system of alters is set up their own way and have their own way of being. most do not follow some textbook questionnaire..

example many of my alters were not "map able" Some didnt have names, some didnt have the memories of trauma, some didnt have emotions,

some were ghost like, some were animalistic like, some were just there for times when I needed to feel nothing, know nothing, do nothing.

these "how to.... (whatever) ....your alters" stuff you find on line can be helpful for some but should not be used as the "bible" or "manual" for your own systems.

the easiest way to get to know your system isnt by trying to stick them into a neat little box of what you find in books and online.

its by getting to know you and your own system and letting your system guide you. DID got you through the worst of your life it can and will get you through this bumpy road called healing.

you wrote you are still in the denial stage.... that may be why the alters are not sharing anything with you right now. alters will only share what you are ready for.

my suggestion stop trying to ram your way through everything there is to being DID, trying to get things done. you have been DID for all your life its going to take years to tip toe, walk your way out of it.

take the time you need to get used to the idea that you may have DID.

if you havent been diagnosed (I can never remember who has and who hasnt on here) take the time to seek professional help and go through the diagnostic testing.

if you have been diagnosed work with your treatment providers. they can help you through this denial hurdle and show you what the best way to get to know your system of alters are by what is best for you.

some peoples systems can be "mapped" and some peoples systems cant be "mapped".

so just take it one step at a time. DID and systems of alters, maps, symptoms.. they are not a neat little box that you have to fit yourself into.

[Claritytoo]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

Then stop trying to fit yourself and your alters into a neat little box that contains what you know about DID. I dont mean to be rude but DID isnt this neat little box you need to fit your self into. its a disorder that can affect people in many different ways. no two people with DID are the same. no two people with DID have exactly the same system of alters, no two people have the same exact way they dissociate. no two people have the same way of what their triggers are, not all alters are set up textbook style of name rank serial number, what trauma caused them..

there is such a thing as an alter that has no name, no memory of trauma, no likes, no dislikes, no everything on the above listing, no everything on the listing with in the link.

each persons system of alters is set up their own way and have their own way of being. most do not follow some textbook questionnaire..

example many of my alters were not "map able" Some didnt have names, some didnt have the memories of trauma, some didnt have emotions,

some were ghost like, some were animalistic like, some were just there for times when I needed to feel nothing, know nothing, do nothing.

these "how to.... (whatever) ....your alters" stuff you find on line can be helpful for some but should not be used as the "bible" or "manual" for your own systems.

the easiest way to get to know your system isnt by trying to stick them into a neat little box of what you find in books and online.

its by getting to know you and your own system and letting your system guide you. DID got you through the worst of your life it can and will get you through this bumpy road called healing.

you wrote you are still in the denial stage.... that may be why the alters are not sharing anything with you right now. alters will only share what you are ready for.

my suggestion stop trying to ram your way through everything there is to being DID, trying to get things done. you have been DID for all your life its going to take years to tip toe, walk your way out of it.

take the time you need to get used to the idea that you may have DID.

if you havent been diagnosed (I can never remember who has and who hasnt on here) take the time to seek professional help and go through the diagnostic testing.

if you have been diagnosed work with your treatment providers. they can help you through this denial hurdle and show you what the best way to get to know your system of alters are by what is best for you.

some peoples systems can be "mapped" and some peoples systems cant be "mapped".

so just take it one step at a time. DID and systems of alters, maps, symptoms.. they are not a neat little box that you have to fit yourself into.

I understand what your are saying. I am not the only one who make entries here. I have read some of the things "I" have written and am surprised by the content. All my life I have prided myself on being logical. And now I find myself trying to make logic out of something that does not surrender it's self to logic. So sometimes I will be trying to fit us into neat boxes. And sometimes my mind will be open to what ever comes. It just depends who's out. I have been working with my therapist for a little over two years. She did her PHD on DID. I am lucky I found her. She is allowing me to move through the process at my own pace. Not everyone of us wants to share what they know. And I accept that. But there will be times when I will question what is obvious to most on this site. But I am just trying to understand who I really am. And I can only to that by asking questions.

[LeafLace]

A lot of professionals, highly educated people in the psych community, either don't believe DID even exists or maintain an absurdly narrow view. Most of those people have either never known or worked with someone who had it or base all their knowledge on the handful of cases they've witnessed first hand or research they can bring themselves to agree with.

I went in to treatment over a year ago with a depressive episode and CPSTD symptoms, was apparently screened for DID and didn't 'pass the test'. I talked about it with my T later on and she said she was the one who screened me.

I've since looked up the DSM online and have no recollection of ever being asked those questions and can only guess that whoever was 'out' during that appointment (I was beyond freaking out, I realize now I was switching all over the place at the time) either wasn't aware of it or didn't want to talk about it.

It seems as if in order for DID to be obvious or diagnosed quickly, one has to be drastically triggered and switching constantly in dramatic ways, which isn't how it is in a lot of us. It takes time for other people to see it and if someone doesn't want to, they probably won't.

[Claritytoo]

Originally Posted by LeafLace

A lot of professionals, highly educated people in the psych community, either don't believe DID even exists or maintain an absurdly narrow view. Most of those people have either never known or worked with someone who had it or base all their knowledge on the handful of cases they've witnessed first hand or research they can bring themselves to agree with.

I went in to treatment over a year ago with a depressive episode and CPSTD symptoms, was apparently screened for DID and didn't 'pass the test'. I talked about it with my T later on and she said she was the one who screened me.

I've since looked up the DSM online and have no recollection of ever being asked those questions and can only guess that whoever was 'out' during that appointment (I was beyond freaking out, I realize now I was switching all over the place at the time) either wasn't aware of it or didn't want to talk about it.

It seems as if in order for DID to be obvious or diagnosed quickly, one has to be drastically triggered and switching constantly in dramatic ways, which isn't how it is in a lot of us. It takes time for other people to see it and if someone doesn't want to, they probably won't.

I agree that there are a lot of Dr's that only have an educational understanding of the disorder. But my therapist has had someone very close to her with DID. I think that may be one of the reasons she went into that area of therapy. I have had other psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and was unable to make any progress much less get a diagnosis that fit my symptoms. I finally think I have a chance of living a life with feelings. And that is maybe the only reason I am still in therapy.

[LeafLace]

Originally Posted by Claritytoo

I agree that there are a lot of Dr's that only have an educational understanding of the disorder. But my therapist has had someone very close to her with DID. I think that may be one of the reasons she went into that area of therapy. I have had other psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and was unable to make any progress much less get a diagnosis that fit my symptoms. I finally think I have a chance of living a life with feelings. And that is maybe the only reason I am still in therapy.

Hi, Claritytoo. I hope my post before didn't seem discouraging. My know-it-all was spouting off and she means to be supportive but can't always focus and phrase things so well. I'm really excited for you that you found a therapist that really knows and understands DID and that we're not all dealing with the same situation. It's so rare. I think any of us would be happy to find someone to help us who actually gets it.

[Claritytoo]

Originally Posted by LeafLace

Hi, Claritytoo. I hope my post before didn't seem discouraging. My know-it-all was spouting off and she means to be supportive but can't always focus and phrase things so well. I'm really excited for you that you found a therapist that really knows and understands DID and that we're not all dealing with the same situation. It's so rare. I think any of us would be happy to find someone to help us who actually gets it.

Thanks for the concern. I just wanted you to know that I am in therapy and working on understanding my system. Sometimes I am open and wanting to learn more and other times I fall back into doubt and denial. It is good for me to be able to come here and express myself and get feed back. I appreciate what everyone has to say

Originally Posted by amandalouise

Then stop trying to fit yourself and your alters into a neat little box that contains what you know about DID. I dont mean to be rude but DID isnt this neat little box you need to fit your self into. its a disorder that can affect people in many different ways. no two people with DID are the same. no two people with DID have exactly the same system of alters, no two people have the same exact way they dissociate. no two people have the same way of what their triggers are, not all alters are set up textbook style of name rank serial number, what trauma caused them..

there is such a thing as an alter that has no name, no memory of trauma, no likes, no dislikes, no everything on the above listing, no everything on the listing with in the link.

each persons system of alters is set up their own way and have their own way of being. most do not follow some textbook questionnaire..

example many of my alters were not "map able" Some didnt have names, some didnt have the memories of trauma, some didnt have emotions,

some were ghost like, some were animalistic like, some were just there for times when I needed to feel nothing, know nothing, do nothing.

these "how to.... (whatever) ....your alters" stuff you find on line can be helpful for some but should not be used as the "bible" or "manual" for your own systems.

the easiest way to get to know your system isnt by trying to stick them into a neat little box of what you find in books and online.

its by getting to know you and your own system and letting your system guide you. DID got you through the worst of your life it can and will get you through this bumpy road called healing.

you wrote you are still in the denial stage.... that may be why the alters are not sharing anything with you right now. alters will only share what you are ready for.

my suggestion stop trying to ram your way through everything there is to being DID, trying to get things done. you have been DID for all your life its going to take years to tip toe, walk your way out of it.

take the time you need to get used to the idea that you may have DID.

if you havent been diagnosed (I can never remember who has and who hasnt on here) take the time to seek professional help and go through the diagnostic testing.

if you have been diagnosed work with your treatment providers. they can help you through this denial hurdle and show you what the best way to get to know your system of alters are by what is best for you.

some peoples systems can be "mapped" and some peoples systems cant be "mapped".

so just take it one step at a time. DID and systems of alters, maps, symptoms.. they are not a neat little box that you have to fit yourself into.

Amandalouise
No one can fit into a neat little box of dissociation, which is why I posted this link, to attempt to help some who had little idea how to proceed in getting to know their system. If this doesn't apply to you, then ignore it. I was trying to do something positive.

[Claritytoo]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

Amandalouise
No one can fit into a neat little box of dissociation, which is why I posted this link, to attempt to help some who had little idea how to proceed in getting to know their system. If this doesn't apply to you, then ignore it. I was trying to do something positive.

I thought it was directed at me so sorry if I got defensive. You have been a great help to me in understanding the different aspect of DID from someone with personal knowledge. And I know the information you provide is with the intent to help. And it has.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Claritytoo

I thought it was directed at me so sorry if I got defensive. You have been a great help to me in understanding the different aspect of DID from someone with personal knowledge. And I know the information you provide is with the intent to help. And it has.

yes Claritytoo, my post was directed to you and others that are still trying to find their way. I wanted you to know you dont have to be like everyone else, take it slow and not to worry if you find you cant map your alters, there is such a thing as not being able to map your alters, (which was what I had for a system.)

Calista .. Im sorry if I upset you by posting the other side of the coin with "mapping".

Originally Posted by Claritytoo

I thought it was directed at me so sorry if I got defensive. You have been a great help to me in understanding the different aspect of DID from someone with personal knowledge. And I know the information you provide is with the intent to help. And it has.

No worries. I'm so glad it helped. Everyone is different so use what applies to you and try tolearn what you can from inside. Good luck!