[Gus1234U]

it can be so hard for people to understand, and surely it is hard to explain repeatedly. here is what seemed like a good beginner explanation of a 'multiple identity' system. i hope it is useful in some way~

Alter - Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dissociation and Trauma Disorders

best wishes~
Gus

[Claritytoo]

Originally Posted by Gus1234U

it can be so hard for people to understand, and surely it is hard to explain repeatedly. here is what seemed like a good beginner explanation of a 'multiple identity' system. i hope it is useful in some way~

Alter - Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dissociation and Trauma Disorders

best wishes~
Gus

Thank you this was very helpful.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Gus1234U

it can be so hard for people to understand, and surely it is hard to explain repeatedly. here is what seemed like a good beginner explanation of a 'multiple identity' system. i hope it is useful in some way~

Alter - Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dissociation and Trauma Disorders

best wishes~
Gus

thanks for the link...I tend to question the validity of wiki because they have admitted to having their own employees place false information, misleading information on their site for ratings, publicity and to show people how gullible the reader is in believing everything you read on the internet is true.

that said i looked at the link and discovered that many of the alters on this link are not associated with DID....

example the Inner Self Helper is actually part of a therapy technique of identifying normal parts/selves of a person that everyone has with in their self and the natural "roles" a person can slip into depending upon what normal situations they are in...its also a part of the Ego State therapy approach which is similar but different than having DID.

another misleading example in this link....the OEP (observing Emotional Part) again is a therapy approach of identifying normal parts of self that everyone mental disordered or not has where they slip into the frame of mind where they are sitting back watching whats going on around them rather than participating....shy people do this all the time, people with PTSD do this, schizophrenics do it, some locations call this frame of mind being hyper vigelent because they are in an heightened state of anxiety/fear that results in their needing to watch to see whats going to happen next.

another misleading example is ......depending upon ones location .....a core is the person in which the alters reside, and not an alter.

another point I wanted to make based on having DID, is that most treatment providers dont go according to these alters when diagnosing and trying to understand a DID persons system....

they basically ask you what your own system is like in your own words, not language you find online..... maybe your alters are self abusers, maybe your alters make sure you dont tell things that are secret, maybe your alters are sexually active, maybe your alters are babysitters, secretaries, writers, tourist guides, indians, eagles, bears, ......

my point is what works best for me is using the words/terms/ descriptions of my alters based on what made me and my alters comfortable, based on my own system rather then trying to fit myself into a mold of what I found online. Online is not always going to be accurate, most times what was online did not fit me.

[Claritytoo]

I am glade for the clarification thank you amandalouise.
The reason I found this list helpful is that it gives me a frame work to identify aspects of my system. In the beginning it was extremely difficult to explain to my t how my others functioned. I have fragmented alters who only hold an emotion without the memory, I used to refer to them as one dimensional, I have alters that only do a one thing, I have alters who act out related to trauma but are not verbal, I have others who function in the world but present very differently, and on and on. It is difficult for me to understand what is "normal" brain functioning and what is dissociative functioning. It helps me to see that all the stuff in my brain can exist wither it be due to ptsd, ddnos or did. I think it helps us to see ourselves and each other.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Claritytoo

I am glade for the clarification thank you amandalouise.
The reason I found this list helpful is that it gives me a frame work to identify aspects of my system. In the beginning it was extremely difficult to explain to my t how my others functioned. I have fragmented alters who only hold an emotion without the memory, I used to refer to them as one dimensional, I have alters that only do a one thing, I have alters who act out related to trauma but are not verbal, I have others who function in the world but present very differently, and on and on. It is difficult for me to understand what is "normal" brain functioning and what is dissociative functioning. It helps me to see that all the stuff in my brain can exist wither it be due to ptsd, ddnos or did. I think it helps us to see ourselves and each other.

Yea when my treatment provider would ask me about my internal system of alters I would tell them......how about you tell me then we both will know. I had very little co consciousness so about all I could really say was I hear this voice saying this or I hear the voice saying that. I found this picture under a chair, it kind of reminds me of the voice that is always saying this. I found this slinky dress I dont remember buying in my closet it reminds me of this voice in my head....every time I see this person I get this voice in my head and then dont know what happens, just wake up the next day....

thats how my treatment providers developed a mapping of what my internal system of alters were.

[innocentjoy]

It frustrates me when people take something helpful and decide it's not a good source based on their own interpretation. This article never says that the alters are only found in did. Most alters are often thought to be extreme and/or separated aspects of a non-dissociated mind anyway. Thus any information on here CAN be included in alters in a multiple mind. If someone wishes to educate themselves about this then all the power to them. It looked like it had a lot of information to it and would be extremely helpful to some people. I would hate a person to take for granted that one other person's opinion is the gospel simply because they sound sure of themselves. That's what is so nice about forums, everyone can share their own opinions.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

[Claritytoo]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

Yea when my treatment provider would ask me about my internal system of alters I would tell them......how about you tell me then we both will know. I had very little co consciousness so about all I could really say was I hear this voice saying this or I hear the voice saying that. I found this picture under a chair, it kind of reminds me of the voice that is always saying this. I found this slinky dress I dont remember buying in my closet it reminds me of this voice in my head....every time I see this person I get this voice in my head and then dont know what happens, just wake up the next day....

thats how my treatment providers developed a mapping of what my internal system of alters were.

I don't know when you started therapy but my guess it was at least 20 years ago. 20 years ago DID was still MPD. A lot has changed since then including therapeutic approaches. It took me 40 years to find myself in a definition of disassociation. I think anything that helps someone find themselves is a good thing. And what worked for you may not work for everyone else. I do think it is important to hear about others peoples experiences but ultimately the individual has to decide if they need help working through their stuff or not. I think the information posted can help with that decision.

[Rzay4]

I love this, thank you so much.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Claritytoo

I don't know when you started therapy but my guess it was at least 20 years ago. 20 years ago DID was still MPD. A lot has changed since then including therapeutic approaches. It took me 40 years to find myself in a definition of disassociation. I think anything that helps someone find themselves is a good thing. And what worked for you may not work for everyone else. I do think it is important to hear about others peoples experiences but ultimately the individual has to decide if they need help working through their stuff or not. I think the information posted can help with that decision.

actually I have only been in therapy for DID for about 10 years. my DID was not diagnosed until I was in a college psych course that required students to go through diagnostic testing for all known mental disorders and enter treatment for the semester, that was in 2000. DID was called DID then and treatment providers were using the DSM IV TR which was the standards at which I was diagnosed with. I do realize what works for some does not always work for others, which is why I keep up on new incoming treatments, definitions and such as part of my job and own interest in the field of psychotherapy.

that said....

if you reread my post you will see that I wasnt saying the information wont help some people.

i was stating .....for me....I found the link to be questionable due to the sites own admission of placing fraudulent information on their site and what is what here where I live and work in NY.

if it helps other people great but I found the information questionable.just my own opinion of the link posted.