Questions for all???

I was just wondering, is it necessary to uncover all of your parts in order to heal? Do you have to dig deep into the memories of all your parts in order to heal, example...can some memories be so far pushed away that they dont surface? When an alter is out in a therapy session and shares a memory, does that memory now get stored away somewhere safe, and no longer need to be dealt with? Thanks all for your help with these questions!!!

Hi Misfit,
For me, I don't think that that is necessary. At least I'm hoping I guess. I had heard someone say once in here that the brain can process like memories so if that is true, then you would not have to.

When I am dissociating and T is talking to another part of my brain, I don't ever know what is said so I don't know what happens after that. I would think that I would need to have that memory while not dissociating in order to process it though.

I would definitely not try to uncover memories at this point in my life. I think if it's buried, there's a reason and when this part of my brain can handle it, then it will come forward. I went through some time where some things happened that majorly triggered some memories and I couldn't handle it at all. Those memories disappeared soon after and I am only left with the knowledge that I had some memories come and then disappear but even now, it terrifies me. I think for me pushing to find memories might get the same reaction.

Have you asked your T about it?

i think eventually u get there and discover it all but as wanttoheal says its usually when u are ready for it when u can take it
its tough and i think its needed to get through it all in order to come out on top
the memory my T says will still be there its just that next time it comes up i will be able to handle it alot better and my alters may not need to make their appearences as much as they do now...
stick with it misfitamongstmisfits!

From my ten year experience of going from 15-20 alters down to just 1 single alters, with some fragments here and there - I would say that it is not necessary to uncover every single alter and what they hold, for some of your alters are connected to each other, therefore they will leave or integrate when their counter part does.

Just as one does not have to healing every single little wound in their past in order to move from the trauma.

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

just a couple more ?'s...if its ok....-sorry-.....what are some ways people use to stay grounded...or connected i guess....like present....so you dont loose time?.....and if not....is thier a way to force yourself to not go away.....many times still i find for me, its really hard....its like someone taking a board and placing it between one set of thoughts and another...and it just happens..make sense?....and it doesnt always have to be from a trigger.....that i dont understand....sometimes its just more comfortable to go away....i dont know...im so confused....and this is all sounding crazy i know...sorry for the babble....thanks for listening....

I think parts of anything that don't work anymore or get in the way have to be refurbished or replaced/fixed but if you have a benign, helpful self, why "do" anything about that?

I don't think memories "move" I think the associated links change so they're easier or harder to access.

I love the "idea" of snyapses: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ult...ls.html#action "action potential" :-)

I have often felt mine have been rerouted suddenly when I've been triggered at a time I was moving "too slowly" on a problem, being too careful and literally triggered myself to have such a reaction :-)

I don't know. I had one counselor that said its not necessary that I remember EVERYTHING and I had a counselor that said for complete integration where I never again have to worry about switching, forgetting things all that junk that comes with having MPD or is it DID? anyway Ive been told both ways so Im just going to throw out worrying about it and just let things happen as they will letting the memories come when ever my head thinks its time to give me another one.

Hello MissFitsAmongMissFits,

I also struggle with many of the same questions - having been diagnosed for 3 years, I don't have much experience but can say that from what I hear, it can change with every individual.

I agree with what someone said: try not to worry about it. The process will happen naturally as you work through therapy. The alters were created for a specific purpose and they will know what to do with themselves when the time comes, IMO. That has been my experience. I think we all have too much to handle without having to worry about the details as well.

My own situation has left me quite dissociative over the last 6-8months and therefore, I haven't been around. So, welcome to PC.

Songbird

ways my T has suggested to me to stay grounded are repeating a mantra of your age the year and that im safe over and over out loud if needed or in my head to get me back into the present when im reliving in an alter the traumatic past and it does help takes time though
another way is to have something to hold onto that you have from a happy time or the present that u can use to bring u to when u got that and associate with the memories of that object which can be anything
-i dont really use this second one cos i never really could find anything to help but thats just me...

thanks for the grounding technique......I will try to keep that in mind, and see if it helps......