[SongBirdandDaisy]

Thank you all so much for your input. I saw my family doc today, ruling all the bad stuff out and decided they were from my DID.

Next question: What do people do to help themselves when these headaches/migraines come on? I don't want to have to take any more medication, plus I'm trying to stay at work. Any thoughts?

[(JD)]

I'm glad to hear that the causes aren't physical problems. They are still headaches, right? grrrr

As communication improves within your own DID system, so too might the actual "switching" ease. It isn't required for another aspect of you to have to cause a headache to be allowed time "out." Letting yourselves know this, might be enough to limit the headaches.

On the other side, try not to fight allowing a different aspect of you to take charge. Of course, if you are say, driving, and you sense a child part wishing to take over, that would require an argument, imo. Maybe by asking to be able to "stay" for that time at work, and offering time to do something else later, will help?

Again, better communication (through journaling, allowing/ scheduling time for you to do all the things you want to, time with T) will help you transistion easier, imo. TC

[kimmydawn]

very brave. nice job!

i know what keeps my headaches at bay, but not everyone can do what i do. if you'll notice most OTC headache/migraine meds, as well as prescription ones, have caffiene in them. i started drinking two cups in a.m. and two in afternoon. my headaches have diminished greatly.

i still get the ones when fighting dissociation, but i usually have to take two ibuprophen and lie down or take a hot bath...it helps.

gl!

kd

posted to part one. oops. so using cut and paste and here we are -

I have tried headache meds and it don't work. what helps me the most is locating what triggered me into dissocating which is the reason behind the headache. by taking care of the trigger I am also taking care of the headache because if I take care of that trigger it no longer causes me to dissociate and I no longer get the headache. Since I know my headache is just from my body switching from present levels of function (heart rate breathing, chemicals and so on) to the stored memories of the levels contained in the memories for me its just a matter of taking the time for my body to regulate itself . doing a relaxation exercise gives me something to do while my body regulates itself. Those that I do takes anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour to do depending on which tape or exercise I do. By the time Im done with that my body has regulated itself back to the present and the headache is gone.

Those that don't have DID or those that do but don't recognize the difference think about something that you did just a few moments ago that made you happy sad, mad whatever it doesn't matter. pay attention to how you are feeling after just a few seconds of thinking about that situation. You will find you are no longer feeling like you were before thinking about the situation but are feeling like you did when you were previously in the situation. Your breathing, heart rate and so on are those of when you really experienced the situation even though you are just thinking about it. Then it takes you a few minutes to return back to how you felt before thinking about the situation. This is what happens with DID only on a more extreme level instead of the body remembering an experience a few moments ago its jumping to years ago. The more extreme change the more painful headache.

[heartspace]

I'm sorry I don't have experience in what you're going through to give you any advice, but I hope you won't mind my popping in and giving you my best wishes. You're being very brave. Safe hugs if ok {{{myself}}}
I hope the headaches ease.

[SongBirdandDaisy]

Sky,
You make so much sense. How did you get so smart?

I'm working in therapy with the whole system, parts, coming out, allowing time to come out for each part - the whole thing is confusing grrrr but you guys have been very informative and helpful and supportive

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

[Malady156]

Where on earth do you even find a therapist that does that stuff? Therapists around here are so ... I dunno ... stoic, detached, so "beltway mentality" (it's a DC term, hard to explain) ...