[miss_rainy]

Hi, I have a question. I'm am going to a doctor to possibly get help for a problem and I'm very nervous because it involves revealing my alters? I never been to a doctor any mental problems and I'm scared. How do you talk about and in a way that will take you seriously?

Me, the first time is soooo hard, because whose going to believe you? I blurted it out (or I didn't but it happened) and also told to the DBT therapist.

We've been hidden for 45 years, but it's so like obvious, to me at least.

Since we outed ourselves, I really don't care anymore.

Of course one has to go through the testing and all that, but I'm a good short cut taker...because I don't care because it's not going to kll me, I hope!

Please just be confident. I let an other take over because I'm not much of a people person. Good luck

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by miss_rainy

Hi, I have a question. I'm am going to a doctor to possibly get help for a problem and I'm very nervous because it involves revealing my alters? I never been to a doctor any mental problems and I'm scared. How do you talk about and in a way that will take you seriously?

Your profile says you are in the same state I am in (NY) all treatment providers (medical, dental and mental) here in NY have you fill in paperwork when you first see them. the paperwork is the basics....name address, phone number, medical history (list your medical diagnosis's) mental history (list your mental diagnosis's) medications (list your medications and dosages) then theres usually a check the boxes area for have you or anyone in your family have\had... then theres a list of mental and medical issues.

before all my alters were integrated all I needed to do was write the words ....Dissociative Identity Disorder in the space for listing my medical and mental health diagnosis's. that said it all my treatment providers needed to know. treatment providers have been dealing with DID since way back even before it was called DID in the 1990's.

usually what happens when you first see a treatment provider they read your paperwork then ask you questions....

I see here you have high blood pressure does that run in the family? and you have Dissociative Identity Disorder is there anything you would like me to know about this for instance how many alters you have or any precautions we may need to take .... then you just tell them what ever you are comfortable disclosing to them.

I have found that when dealing with any mental disorders treatment providers here in NY usually follow the client, if the client jokes around/uses humor then the treatment provider follows suit, if the client deals with their mental problems matter of fact \seriously then the treatment provider does so also.

one thing i have found though is that if there isnt any documentation on file to testing/diagnosis then some treatment providers require the client to be tested before they (the treatment provider) can legally enter into the files that the client has DID. the diagnostics say one of them is the clients can self report some things but for other diagnostics other health issues have to be ruled out here in NY in order to be diagnosed DID.) just a heads up that its just a formality if the treatment provider wants you to go through formal testing if not done already, its not that they arent taking someone seriously, just how things are done here.

[miss_rainy]

Okay, so that makes me feel better. Maybe I should the same thing just to get over it but it's that first initial part that makes so stone-cold paralyzed. Thanks for this, this helps a lot. I guess if it doesn't kill you then we'll be okay

[Kiya]

can you say what kind of dr?
I often will just say "I'm working with DID/MPD". These days I actually don't tell them because they freak out too badly :/ So I've not told the 2 physical therapists or the neurologist. But one pt can totally tell when I've "gone away" and helps me to stay in body.
Best!