Coming to Terms.

So, I'm attempting to be more accepting of what's happening to me. The others, well three of the others, have been keeping me "present" while they run the show for a few minutes. One has done it a few times, the other two have done it once. Like, they're trying to show me that this isn't a joke and that they're real. My therapist encourages this because of that whole, "Accepting is the first step to healing" agenda.

I was asked how I'm doing with all of this information.

Well, every time I try to deny it one of my alters tell me to quit being a stubborn jack-***. < And with that logic, I can deny it.

I do have a question though, see when I can hear the others, it's inside my mind, it's not coming from outside. I do, however, hear and see things that no one around me can. I'm doing it right now, pretty bad and it terrifies me because I know it's not anyone inside. I guess the question I have is, does anyone else here also have hallucinations or could this be a separate issue?

It sounds like you are doing good work! I have had hallucinations, though not frequently, only in times of very great disturbance. (PTSD/DDNOS if it helps you to know that about me, and I do experience parts/alters)

I think hallucinations can come with all sorts of conditions, and not just psychiatric issues either- bad drug interactions, sleep deprivation, etc. Their occurrence can be harmless or more worrying. They can change a diagnosis or simply become part of a bigger picture of yourself. Please tell your therapist! They sound very capable. In addition to providing diagnostic advice they can also help you with techniques to keep yourself centered when they happen.

As for me, we don't do anything about them, we rather just note that yes, they're scary, and I must be under more stress than I think.

yeah. just in my last session i was kind of back and forth between am i faking or not. it gets confusing, and sometimes i'd rather it be fake because it's so difficult.

when the others aren't so active, i feel like it's all fake and then am confused why they are so quiet..but when they are more active, i don't quite know how to deal with them all and then wish it was fake except it's so hard to deny when it's right there and happening.

i have had hallucinations, delusions, etc. but they were during highly dissociative episodes and also probably mixed with PTSD reactions. it is hard to explain, but i have seen/hear things outside as well as inside. in recent years, been internal except a time under severe stress where i 'saw' an invisible man (not one of the others) in the back yard and thought he was going to hurt me. but he was just standing there watching me. it was weird because i know it wasn't real but at the same time wasn't sure. but as a child, i saw things more externally and had more delusional thinking.

i am unsure what they are related to diagnosis wise, but i know severe stress can cause that kind of thing.

Awesome that you know the key of recovery is "acceptance"...it actually took me a year to wrap my head around this while some of the Others knew forever or are still in denial about it.

I'm bipolar affected...and have taken a lot of LDS when we was younger....but can't see anything that would quite match up to being on an hallucinogen from 20+ years ago.

Maybe an anti-psychotic might help?

Anyways...congrats and good luck!