[Michael W. Harris]

I would like to know from some of you with co-consciousness, how do I open communication with alters?

I would like to have some contact with my dissociated parts. I do not know how to do this without help from someone like Dr. Colin Ross. I cannot bridge the amnesia barriers by myself.

Is there something that I can do on my own to develop co-consciousness?

I want to have the memories that my alters have!

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Michael W. Harris

I would like to know from some of you with co-consciousness, how do I open communication with alters?

I would like to have some contact with my dissociated parts. I do not know how to do this without help from someone like Dr. Colin Ross. I cannot bridge the amnesia barriers by myself.

Is there something that I can do on my own to develop co-consciousness?

I want to have the memories that my alters have!

with me there was no opening communication... short version I was DID from very early childhood. that means everything that came with DID was already there since very early childhood.

those that could talk to me and I to them just was happening for ever. those that could write or color would do so and I too as a child colored and wrote, those that could play did do, those that could cry or make their thoughts known to others and me did so. Im not saying this is how it was with all my alters just those that I had co consciousness with.

the ones I didnt have co consciousness with well it was normal because part of co consciousness was beig aware, if I wasnt aware of them then of course I couldnt talk / communicate with them....

my suggestion is just do what comes naturally. if you can already hear their voices and talk with them and know what they are doing thats your way of communicating with them. if you and they already draw or write to each other thats your form of communication...

each alter with DID has their own sense of agency (what they can and cant do, how much control they have and so on) which means you cant make them do what they cant do. so you might as welll start with what you both can already do and learn what each ones own form of communication is.

another suggestion if I remember right you are now living in a special program or situation with treatment providers and on what ever treatment plans they have you on. so check with them, they will tell you how they want you to communicate with yourself and those with in. I wouldnt want to suggest your doing something that goes against what ever treatment plans you are on at this place you are now in and program you are participating in.

[zoiecat]

Mine started through mindful meditation. I've found the best way for me to communicate is to number one clear my mind and relax. Many of the ones that hold the memories do not feel comfortable relaxing which triggers them to communicate. Sometimes it is in words, sometimes in pictures and other times through body memories. Just be open to whatever happens and remember to relax. Do not try to force it. Good luck to you.

[whispers_inthedark]

I have a lot of co consciousness that isn't controlled but no communication. The two of us that are out most often area able to know what is happening most of the time but we can't control it if someone else is operating the body.

I noticed that my thinking pattern was that of a group of minds, and that the thought of the Others were just how my brain works. After awhile, I was able to see that each voice had it's own manner of being- then the glue dissolved and our mulitplicity was founded out within.

It's like driving a 4 seat car with 3 backseat drivers.

[yagr]

I'm not sure that we'll ever find a template that works for everyone, but this is how I opened communication:

At twenty seven years old I knew enough to know that there was someone else. I mean, it's tough not to. Missing time, strangers coming up and talking to you but they're calling you by a different name, etc. So I knew. Then I decided that I was going to make contact. This is what I did:

I committed to spending the last fifteen minutes of each day for a month talking to whoevertheheckitwas and coaxing him out to talk to me. Within minutes, I ran in to trouble. I didn't know where to focus my attention. So I grabbed a stuffed animal that had been recently given to me as a going away gift by my only close friend in the world. I talked to the stuffed animal. I knew I was looking internally but having something external that I could see, touch, and focus on made the difference.

So fifteen minutes every day for thirty days and I got absolutely nothing. I remember saying to the stuffed animal that this is seven and a half hours I'll never get back but I've wasted seven and a half hours doing stupider things plenty of times. The last fifteen minutes came to a close and I said good-night for the last time, turned off the lights and she screamed. I heard her. I felt her terror. I suddenly knew that he was a she and that she was scared of the dark.

I threw the light back on and we spent the rest of the night taking. She was so angry, untrusting and alone. I said some stupid things and felt her react before I 'heard' her speak. I said some really good things too, and felt her soften. We've been co-conscious most of the time since then. Sometimes she retreats for a bit, sometimes I do, but we can always find each other if we need to.

It took about eighteen months to two years to learn to trust each other completely and work through a lot of the stuff that stood between really bonding but she is absolutely my best friend today. It's been twenty-four years now.

[Solnutty]

Originally Posted by yagr

I'm not sure that we'll ever find a template that works for everyone, but this is how I opened communication:

At twenty seven years old I knew enough to know that there was someone else. I mean, it's tough not to. Missing time, strangers coming up and talking to you but they're calling you by a different name, etc. So I knew. Then I decided that I was going to make contact. This is what I did:

I committed to spending the last fifteen minutes of each day for a month talking to whoevertheheckitwas and coaxing him out to talk to me. Within minutes, I ran in to trouble. I didn't know where to focus my attention. So I grabbed a stuffed animal that had been recently given to me as a going away gift by my only close friend in the world. I talked to the stuffed animal. I knew I was looking internally but having something external that I could see, touch, and focus on made the difference.

So fifteen minutes every day for thirty days and I got absolutely nothing. I remember saying to the stuffed animal that this is seven and a half hours I'll never get back but I've wasted seven and a half hours doing stupider things plenty of times. The last fifteen minutes came to a close and I said good-night for the last time, turned off the lights and she screamed. I heard her. I felt her terror. I suddenly knew that he was a she and that she was scared of the dark.

I threw the light back on and we spent the rest of the night taking. She was so angry, untrusting and alone. I said some stupid things and felt her react before I 'heard' her speak. I said some really good things too, and felt her soften. We've been co-conscious most of the time since then. Sometimes she retreats for a bit, sometimes I do, but we can always find each other if we need to.

It took about eighteen months to two years to learn to trust each other completely and work through a lot of the stuff that stood between really bonding but she is absolutely my best friend today. It's been twenty-four years now.

This makes my heart puff up.

Here are 15 pages of blog articles on how to communicate with your insiders:
https://www.discussingdissociation.c...communication/

[MtnTime2896]

When I was a child I had a friend no one else could hear, no one else could 'see' and no one else could understand. I still don't know exactly when or how he arrived and my earliest memories have always included him. We actually had a weird ritual for us to switch from one to the other. I'd run into a wall (usually with my body) and I wouldn't remember much and sometimes I'd remember nothing. He'd talk to my siblings and my mom. I became used to them always asking if they were speaking to him or me. While they were accepting, it's only because they believed it was just child's play. After some time I couldn't talk about him anymore because it either scared them or I'd get the "You're too old for you to still be doing this". As I got older, I'd talk to him but hide the fact that I was because I didn't want anyone thinking I was crazy. I always sort of talked to him through "prayer". When I got more involved with church I began assuming that he was an angel or even God himself. In turn, when I fell out of my faith, I wouldn't answer when he talked to me. It hurt him a lot but he was very forgiving.

With any of the others, I talked to a couple of them during childhood, as well but not often. As of now, I have strong connection with my childhood friend, foggy/dangerous conversation with another and intermittent communication with two others. They began talking when my dialog with my old friend became stronger. I've learned not to force any of them, they'll talk when they please. Though I talk to them, I avoid almost every chance I get to learn of their memories. I don't want them and when I think I do, my old friend tells me I'm not ready. He wants the memories to come naturally and only when I'm in therapy or with someone he trusts.

I admire your determination and courage to seek their memories. Just be careful while you do and make sure you're in a safe place.

[L.P.]

I got a good degree of co con with a lot in my system, not all of em mind you not even close, but quite a few nonetheless. I try to listen, not for words exactly though if they come through thats a bonus, but listen for feelings, ideas, impressions or whatever. If I get a good vibe when I do something I might keep on doing that even if the activity doesn't much float my boat. Lol. Flip side of that, if I get a tense vibe from something I might just quit it even if I was planning on doing that and take some time to try some self soothing and direct it not to me but to whoever might be paying mind. For me, stuff like that builds trust and trust opens doors for communication.

I used to be one nobody had much co con with. I kept to myself when others wanted all up in my business. I didn't think they were ready to know what I was knowin. Maybe that wasn't my call to make, but I made it. A few of em tried to impose on me their ideas of who they thought I was and what they thought I was about. I didn't much care for that. My own perspective on this prompts me to come at others in my system in a almost detached way. I try real hard to not to be pushy or make guesses about what I think others I don't know about are like or why they're here but take time to talk to myself and ask if others are there listening and let them know I'd like to know them if they want to and maybe talk about how it's safe in the here and now and yammer on a bit about who I am and what I'm about.

Short of it, I talk to myself and try to pay mind to what I'm feeling and how I'm reacting and then try to be kind to my others.

Tay