[ACrystalGem]

I was wondering if anyone had experience of living with an alter who is deaf or mute. I'm newly diagnosed as having DID, but I also have PTSD, depression, anxiety and Borderline personality disorder (I guess that border's been breached now). I used to dream in sign language all the time, but never thought too much about it. Now it's clear this is how an alter communicates, it has thrown me. I was never taught sign language apart from how to sign my name in BSL. I've only been able to work out 2 of her signs, for milk and for pee.

Any comments/advice would be appreciated.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by ACrystalGem

I was wondering if anyone had experience of living with an alter who is deaf or mute. I'm newly diagnosed as having DID, but I also have PTSD, depression, anxiety and Borderline personality disorder (I guess that border's been breached now). I used to dream in sign language all the time, but never thought too much about it. Now it's clear this is how an alter communicates, it has thrown me. I was never taught sign language apart from how to sign my name in BSL. I've only been able to work out 2 of her signs, for milk and for pee.

Any comments/advice would be appreciated.

I had a n on verbal alter that used a type of sign language with my therapist. when I found out about this alter I was a bit confused, but my therapist reminded of something. that in order for the alters to be DID \dissociative type they had to have their own jobs, purposes, reasons for being. that they were a special kind of alter that did not share the same things as me, therefore it wasnt anything to worry about when I discover each of my alters were not like me and thought differently than me and had other ways of dealing with things like me. for this alter this means she for what ever reasons was non verbal and used my cultures symbols\signs as a way to communicate.

exactly how this came to be that this alter was non verbal and had a different way of communicating was because my alters held memories / trauma's \ emotions that I could not handle. I was told and threatened during extreme traumatic events to not tell what was happening but yet I was being taught in school and home to follow that feeling when I felt something was wrong, say no and go tell.

this traumatic event conflicting with what I was being taught resulted in my very young mind that was unable to handle the trauma and not tell\tell conflict split to form an alter that literally could not tell in verbal ways what was happening. when it was finally understood that it was ok to tell, this alters job, purpose,reason for being was no longer needed so she integrated with me to become one whole person with me.

only you and your treatment providers can say how and why you have this deaf\mute alter.

my suggestion talk with your treatment provider, they will help you with this in ways that we online can not.

Originally Posted by ACrystalGem

I was wondering if anyone had experience of living with an alter who is deaf or mute. I'm newly diagnosed as having DID, but I also have PTSD, depression, anxiety and Borderline personality disorder (I guess that border's been breached now). I used to dream in sign language all the time, but never thought too much about it. Now it's clear this is how an alter communicates, it has thrown me. I was never taught sign language apart from how to sign my name in BSL. I've only been able to work out 2 of her signs, for milk and for pee.

Any comments/advice would be appreciated.

Awww, I bet that's like delightful that your alter maybe aware. I'd start learning sign language because it sounds like an attempt to connect.

I wonder how would you set that up journal like? Video? Maybe she can write...that makes sense. I'd teach her how to write.

I'd sign into a mirror so that she can see it face on. She might help you learn it faster too! This could be so fun.

I used to be around deaf crowd but never learned it, but it's not really that hard since their are single signs that means whole words. Have fun!

I have several who are mute due to trauma

[ACrystalGem]

Thank you for the mirror idea. I'll give that a go.

Originally Posted by AlwaysChanging2

Awww, I bet that's like delightful that your alter maybe aware. I'd start learning sign language because it sounds like an attempt to connect.

I wonder how would you set that up journal like? Video? Maybe she can write...that makes sense. I'd teach her how to write.

I'd sign into a mirror so that she can see it face on. She might help you learn it faster too! This could be so fun.

I used to be around deaf crowd but never learned it, but it's not really that hard since their are single signs that means whole words. Have fun!

[ACrystalGem]

I also had the "Don't tell," underlining much of the abuse, so in a way I can understand. Thank you for your response.

[QUOTE=amandalouise;4833385]I had a n on verbal alter that used a type of sign language with my therapist. when I found out about this alter I was a bit confused, but my therapist reminded of something. that in order for the alters to be DID \dissociative type they had to have their own jobs, purposes, reasons for being. that they were a special kind of alter that did not share the same things as me, therefore it wasnt anything to worry about when I discover each of my alters were not like me and thought differently than me and had other ways of dealing with things like me. for this alter this means she for what ever reasons was non verbal and used my cultures symbols\signs as a way to communicate.

exactly how this came to be that this alter was non verbal and had a different way of communicating was because my alters held memories / trauma's \ emotions that I could not handle. I was told and threatened during extreme traumatic events to not tell what was happening but yet I was being taught in school and home to follow that feeling when I felt something was wrong, say no and go tell.

this traumatic event conflicting with what I was being taught resulted in my very young mind that was unable to handle the trauma and not tell\tell conflict split to form an alter that literally could not tell in verbal ways what was happening. when it was finally understood that it was ok to tell, this alters job, purpose,reason for being was no longer needed so she integrated with me to become one whole person with me.

only you and your treatment providers can say how and why you have this deaf\mute alter.

my suggestion talk with your treatment

[Lady Lindsey]

I have Sunshine, she is my little artist... she expresses herself through art... problem is usually new art, means more work is ahead... she never speaks, she is forbidden as she holds the secrets... but I love her artwork, I so wish I could draw, she is very talented

[ACrystalGem]

I've managed to document 11 different signs so far. I always get a massive headache when doing this, but it's worth it for being able to understand what Forest Jacq is communicating. Thanks so much once again to everyone who's been so positive here.

hey,

welcome to PC.

i've not heard of this myself, but the best of luck in figuring it all out!