[noelle56]

Do we outgrow or outlive our alters and the need to dissociate on such a grand scale as time goes on? A lot of mine are long gone, so it seems, but I still feel not quite myself. I notice I'm having to deal with stress, more and more, and am trying, but am so used to having one of the others deal with it for me. I have two guides, guardians, I really don't know what they are that are with me all the time. They tell me that they aren't alters, they seem to know everything about me, even stuff not yet happening. One says he's my past self. Has anyone else ever heard of anything like this? Curious .

[Kiya]

Yes, it is possible... various life changes (taking Ritalin for me made everyone go away and impossible to dissociate), and healing. When/if we ever truly learn safety then we won't need the tool of dissociation, and our alters can leave or become adults or merge their talents and skills with ours.... the human mind is so wondrous, we have no idea of its power, so the possibilities are endless. And all people dissociate to some degree... highway hypnosos, losing time reading a great book or lost in an art project, or we see some horror our brain cannot compute. Going to the dentist is a great time to still have that skill...
One day at time.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by noelle56

Do we outgrow or outlive our alters and the need to dissociate on such a grand scale as time goes on? A lot of mine are long gone, so it seems, but I still feel not quite myself. I notice I'm having to deal with stress, more and more, and am trying, but am so used to having one of the others deal with it for me. I have two guides, guardians, I really don't know what they are that are with me all the time. They tell me that they aren't alters, they seem to know everything about me, even stuff not yet happening. One says he's my past self. Has anyone else ever heard of anything like this? Curious .

yes it is possible, the psychological /mental health term for this is called ......integration.......each of my DID type alters integrated when their job, purpose, reason for being was no longer there.....example when I was able to handle situations where I would become sad and cry, that alters who's job, purpose, reason for being was to hold those memories and emotions for being sad and crying integrated with me meaning everything they were became what I am today...I now have those memories, emotions, everything that made that alter who and what she was is now me....I now am able to remember traumatic events that lead to my crying, I can now express the emotions of sadness and crying and I am now able to handle present/future events that may result in my needing to cry/express sadness..

here in NY a past self with DID is any alter that holds any emotions, trauma, events, ..from yesterday and before, so by NY standards every alter is a past self alter....the reason for this standard is when a person talks and does things it is done in the past (I had to work yesterday) present (Right now I am enjoying a cup of coffee and internet time during my break) and future (tomorrow I have a very busy schedule)

now if you are talking about a past self as in the religious practices of reincarnation, well here in the USA the DID diagnostics are that this kind of thing has to be ruled out. the problem cant be because of things like living and acting out a past life (common religious beliefs and practices). So to take care of this type of alter you will most likely need the help of your treatment providers who can help unravel why your past life is for lack of better terms "haunting" or "possessing" you.