[SongBirdandDaisy]

How does anyone cope with the over flow of feelings and thoughts from their others?

Please help.

Songbird

[pegasus]

It's difficult because they are all different.

The best I can suggest is to try to 'regroup', comfort the youngsters, let the older ones express them selves in a safe way. Try to stay aware of how they feel but soothe and comfort as much as possible. Quite often it's not what you say but the tone you use to calm things down.

Hope this makes sense.

Gentle hugs ((((((( SongBirdandDaisy ))))))

[Crystal88]

this may sound weird so first let me tell you how my therapist and I work together - she tells me that my alters are my memories of things that I could not handle as a child so my brian separated those memories and took them out of my awareness. she says my alters are just parts of me - my feelings, emotions ectera...

So now to the problem at hand - how do I and my therapist handle it when those separated fellings, emotions, memories are finally breaking through to my conscious awareness...

first my therapist tells me that this happening is a good thing because it means that I am no longer shutting myself off from remembering and shutting myself off from letting myself feel the things that I am starting to remember.

then second we do things that enable me to express what I am feeling of the content of those separated memories, feelings ect... like drawing, writing in a journal, my calling my therapist voicemail, answering machine and talking on it, sit with a cardboard box, garbage can ect.. across the room and scrunch up old newspaper pages and throwing them across the room into the box, can ...

I do all kinds of things to express and facilitate the memory process depending on what the feelings, memories ecetera is that is trying to come to the surface

[SongBirdandDaisy]

Thank you Pegasus. Some of them don't know about the others and one is just learning so I'm trying to juggle it all. T has everything all stirred up.

Letting the older ones express themselves is hard cause they are working through the anger stage right now and htat is very scary and will take a lot of bravery.

But I will try.

Hugs, Anne

[SongBirdandDaisy]

Thanks Crystal, lots of good ideas here. My problem really lies with trying to manage them all because right now they seem to be over lapping. I feel totally over whelmed. Sorry, just a few bad days.

Thanks again, Anne

[Crystal88]

no sorry needed. I have those days when it seems like Im going through the revolving door of switching so much and so fast that everything is overlapping and pell mell too.

(((((Anne)))))
One thing for me is that I wrote on an index card and keep it where I can see it
"I am a survivor--I have been through the worst of it and I made it. I will survive this too because I am strong." I put it so others inside can see it too.

I have written other affirmations and keep them around so that slowly the old messages will be re-written.

I am going thru alot of the same thing right now---along with similar ideas to Crystal's and the affirmations I am hoping for myself to get survive.

"I am working to heal and go from survivor to thriver."
W_I

[SerenitysWave]

I thank you for asking these questions, b/c I too am trying to sort them out especially in finding which ones are mine in there as well b/c many contradict each other and I become such an emotional mess.... I have been testing limits with them too, kinda trying to affirm my role and control... but scares me at times b/c I am afraid of getting in lost in them.... I have learned three of their names and distinguished their roles fairly well along with slowly gaining their memories.... This part of my mental health I am not very open about with other pple and this is the most I believe I have written here about it.... my youngest is surfacing a lot and working on nurturing her...

[MissCharlotte]

((Songbird))

When my inner child is crying or screaming, I try to take her to my "safe" place and comfort her or let her play.

I like the idea of writing affirmations and then reading them. You can also purchase recordings from web page . This is an invaluable website with a wealth of resources for recovery. I use the PTSD healing from trauma recording by Bellaruth Naparstek with affirmations and one of the guided imagery for stress relief also by Bellaruth. Her work is awesome and after a lot of use over time, her voice instantly soothes me and my inner child now. I even listened to the tape during a recent surgery.

Anyway, just some ideas for all of you..

Take gentle care.

Songbird,

I don't have any answers but wanted you to know that I was thinking of you

[SongBirdandDaisy]

(((((((((white iris)))))))))

This sounds like a good idea. I do have a special little journal that I write all the positive things that I discover in. I guess I could also write the things I am working toward.

Some of my others don't know about the DID so T is working on that. The bad stuff was bad enough but dealing with all the emotions that surround it, that have been surpressed - that's really really icky.

Anne

[SongBirdandDaisy]

(((((((Melinda)))))

It does take a lot of TLC to get all of them through this. Sometimes I wonder who is left to take care of us. I guess that's what we all here on this site have each other for.

Give yourself a big gold star for being so brave as to post here. Your story helps me through mine and I hope I can do the same for you.

Hugs, Anne

[SongBirdandDaisy]

((((((((Sister)))))))))

Great ideas. My T made recordings for me of my safe place using a hypnotic script. I forget to use them sometimes. Sometimes it's all so over-whelming that I can't think straight. I know what you mean about not knowing who's thoughts are who's - it confuses my spelling and words. does that happen to you too?

Thank you for your kinship. Anne

[SongBirdandDaisy]

(((((((((Rainbowzz))))))))))))

Your thoughts are the best medicine! I've missed you.

Hugs, Anne

[Rick61701]

I agree with SongBirdandDaisy,

Your thoughts are the best medicine !!!!

Rick

[onebody]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
SongBirdandDaisy said:
How does anyone cope with the over flow of feelings and thoughts from their others?

Please help.

Songbird

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I dunno either. I don't 'switch'. I consider that I have split ego states. So what i experience lotsa the time is just what you are writing about.
Sometimes its more clear, sometimes its just a mishmash of mismatching thots and feelings.
Conflict.
It can be hard to take, and can be very immobilizing and frustrating.
It is very hard. I'm glad you wrote this cuz there's some good ideas written here.
I hope things can settle down some soon for you.

[SongBirdandDaisy]

I find it very difficult to be working on becoming healthier when the others feelings are so strong. I know working in therapy brings about all these repressed emotions, which bring them to the surface, which is what is supposed to happen, but it sure makes it difficult to work on things in the present.

I had so much hate for my husband that it's difficult to look at him sometimes and I know this was one of the others who is dealing with the affair but it makes it difficult for me. I know, they are me but this all is what it is.

I guess T is right and "acceptance" is a key to healing. Just way tougher than I expected. After not having feelings for so long, having them all flood back at you at one time is so way over-whelming. My T is very good, this is just the process, I guess.

I think I'm rambling. I just don't know what to do with the flood of thoghts and emotions sometimes. I feel like I'm being thrown around in a cyclone, out of control.

**sigh**

[onebody]

Sorry its so hard for you right now. Its craziness I know. Its hard.
I kinda hate it when people suggest meds, but the one thing that I have found really helps when the 'noise' is out of control is seroquel. I take the lowest dose and it definately zonks me, but its quieter when I'm on it. I usu just take it for a few days or so, for a break, and it works for me.
I also take xanax for anxiety.
Try and take good care of yourself and do all the calming type stuff.
It really does suck, I feel for you.
Take care,
One