questions: dissociative disorders version

I suppose the mountains

we don't like sand or saltwater, plus mountains would give a great view of the area (not to mention it wouldn't be as hot!)

do you prefer spending time outside or inside

Outside!! Too much time stuck inside makes me feel boxed in.

I'm trying a new recipe for Thanksgiving. Shrimp and grits dressing. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

we don't do thanksgiving in the UK. but I know you guys eat turkey and we do sometimes eat that, so, turkey..

what is your earliest positive body memory

This may be a stupid question, but I don't know what a positive body memory is. I was waiting on someone to reply, but I was curious and I love this thread.

first memory since diagnoses that you were all truly happy and something that's comforting to look back on

Ok. I've tried to answer this all day, after I read your reply SS.

This past Saturday evening, my oldest son called me and asked what we were up to. I told him that we were just hanging out and not doing much. Then he asked me if we had any board games. I almost dropped the phone! "Yes!! Yes we have board games!!" They wanted to come over and play a game. They were bored. His wife and he came over. We ordered pizza and played Monopoly. We laughed. My younger son, who struggles with anxiety and hardly leaves his room, played and laughed too!!

To me, it was like a Norman Rockwell moment. It was an experience that I've never had and I will not forget it.

Oh!! On top of that, I WON!!!

What is your favorite board game?

I really like the game Balderdash. I am not a fan of monopoly. It usually ends really well for one person, and in devastating failure for everyone else! I like the game of Life, though.

My kids and I tried to play board games the other day. We don't play often, but when we do it is usually fun. We couldn't concentrate though. It was post election day, and all we wanted to do was get online and see what was happening over there. It was pretty depressing.

If you could live in any one country in the world, where would you like to live? (Can be your own)

Ireland!

Being an American solidifies the fact that I am a mix of many different countries.

My grandmother was German and her husband was Irish. My Granny was a mix of American Indian and her husband was Scottish.

Actually, my great, great, great grandma was an Indian princess. That is truth.

The Irish in my blood calls to me mixed with the American Indian.

Oh! Didn't ask question!

What is your favorite imagined place?

atlantis.. the stuff of legends, and how we got our system name.

at luce: I usually start off really well at monopoly, then accept a trade and it all goes wrong. I like buying the train stations- since if you own all 4 it's just like passing go!

have you personally ever suggested psychcentral to anyone you know?

No.

Do you get triggered often and easily, or only by a few specific things??

often and easily!

we have a list of triggers but in the long run it's only really a rough guide

1 positive thing you'll do to care for yourselves this weekend

we have been butterfly hugging lots when we get switchy and stuff. it helps. our new t taught us it.

do you know how to do the butterfly hug??

never heard of it

are you afraid of spiders

nope.

if you could travel to any place and time in the history of the world, where and when would it be?

The US, before Europeans came here.

What is this butterfly hug thing?

My T says sit comfortably, lower your gaze to a spot on the floor, do deep belly breathing, and then put your hands in the position shown in the video. She suggests using firm taps at a pace that feels right for you. Do alternate tapping for at least one full minute.

She also suggests practicing at neutral moments before beginning to use it for calming... just to build up positive associations with the activity before your use it to calm for stress.

I have been practicing this for just over a week and now use it all the time for calming. It works really well to help calm me.

Next question: Will you give the butterfly hug a try?

ok, I watched and tried it. So, it's like the tapping stuff. I used some of that before. I'll try it sometimes.

what do you you do to calm yourself sometimes, besides butterfly hug?

Sorry. This is not in the required answer order....

Luce. My counselor showed me this a few sessions back, when I was hyper vigilant in his office. It helped me. Very much. I forget it when I get in those places. Thank you for reminding me!

To calm myself, I like to be outside or work with my plants.

What would be your ultimate job, if it could be anything.

I would be a researcher... there are so many things to learn more about! (particularly with trauma and dissociation, but with many other things too)

I was out and about in town today, which is typically a very triggering and dissociative experience for me. After an hour or so I noticed my hand was lightly tapping on my chest, so I consciously did an adapted sequence of taps (as done in the butterfly hug, but one handed, since I was in public). To my surprise I immediately became clear-headed and untriggered and was able to focus on what I was there to do. For the reminder of my time in town every time I felt myself becoming dissociative I did a few one handed taps and was able to ground myself again. I am so pleased to have learned this tool!

TR, my t emphasized practicing this technique when untriggered as often as you can, too... the more you practice it when feeling calm, the better it will be able to support you when you are triggered.

Same question for the next person... What would be your ultimate job?

A researcher too!! Can't explain my feelings other than the knowledge I have from all of the reading and googling I've done to try and make some sense of myself and what I'm experiencing. It would give me great joy to help someone understand that they are ok. It's not your fault or choosing. That would be a gift to them and to me.

Or.

I would love to grow beautiful plants and make peaceful arrangements for people to plant their thoughts and worries.

That's what I'm in the process of doing now. Maybe the other will come. Who knows?!

What would be the ultimate vacation for you and why?

disneyland california

it's always been on the bucket list... go to where it all started. the original disneyland (which I believe even walt disney himself saw the opening of and helped with some of the early atractions)

of course, my ultimate vacation would include meeting the man himself, but that is no longer possible

when was your last vacation, and where did you go?

My last vacation was 3 years ago. The whole family went to Destin, Florida and stayed a full week. We rented a condo on the beach and planned it from the middle of winter. It was something to look forward to. It was the worst vacation I have ever been on!! My H will tell you that it was the best vacation that he has ever been on. He is the only one in the family who remembers it that way!!

There are people in my neighborhood who have already decorated their yard for Christmas. When do you put your Christmas tree up?

usually around last week in november (when we start listening to christmas music)

are you home for christmas?. or spending it somewhere else

hey luce (or who ever answered the question)

I missed the answer about how the butterfly hug worked

can you repost?

thanks