[Chez3]

I'm not sure, but I can kinda feel it. She's a sexual alter I think, and I'm not sure that Chez knows about her. I need to look into this more...

[MickeyCheeky]

((((Chez3)))) Let us know and stay safe.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Chez3

I'm not sure, but I can kinda feel it. She's a sexual alter I think, and I'm not sure that Chez knows about her. I need to look into this more...

One thing I knew about DID was what my treatment providers told me...

DID and having alters isnt something that just suddenly happens.

its something that happens to a very young child (here in my location the mental health statistics / demographices that treatment providers report to the government and state and county agencies is before the age of 5 due to extreme abuse / trauma)

Its also a situation where getting the diagnosis doesnt change what is and has been since very early childhood (my location before the age of 5)

that told me that even if I was ..............feeling............... what I thought was a new alternate personality. that alter really in reality was not new. They had been there all my life time taking control any time I had a problem and dissociated. even in therapy, out with friends or at home.

Another thing my treatment providers told me was that each alternate personality had their own sense of agency.

my point was when I felt like I had a sexual alter and this alter was new to me I contacted my treatment provider who told me yes Thelma was there and my treatment provider and Thelma had had many conversations around sexual issues. Why because that was Thelma's job, purpose, reason for being - to handle sexual situations.

in other words any time in my whole life since before the age of 5 where I had to deal with sex, intimacy I would have my dissociative symptoms and Thelma would take control and handle that, why because she was my sexual alter.

example ...

Any time my abusers abused me in any sexual ways I would dissociate (feel numb, space out, mentlally sink into what ever was around me and Thelma my alter whose sense of agency was to be and take are of sexual intimate situations would take control and do her sense of agency

in kindergarten when the teachers were explaining stranger danger, good touch bad touch and so on I would feel numb, space out, emotionally sink into the chair I was sitting on and Thelma would be the one sitting there in class learning about all this stuff.

in high school dating there was thelma doing her sense of agency any time this caused me to dissociate.

in school no matter when any sexual conversations came up I would dissociate and Thelma my sexual alter would handle that.

as an adult Thelma would take control any time I was in a dating, intimate situation.

my suggestion would be contact your treatment provider, or even your medical doctor. adults male and female have to periodically have their intimate parts examined in routine physicals, your medical doctor or therapist can look in their files and tell you whether they documented you dissociating during intimate, sexual conversations, physicals and such. they can also tell you details about this alter that they noticed or disclosed to them while you were dissociated and the sexual alter was in control. you can also check with your schools that you went to, they would have documented any time you were uncomfortable or dissociated during classroom discussions and any dating issues you may have had while attending their schools.

my point is there are many ways you can find out if this is just a feeling or whether there is a sexual alter there inside you and what to do next.

[Amyjay]

Yeah Chez3, its highly unlikely that your teachers would have noticed you dissociating during classroom discussions and documented it. Unless you had really extreme behavior teachers wouldn't notice a thing. Even drs documenting dissociation is an extreme longshot. DID is largely a hidden thing, most systems jobs are to cover up the abuse and keep it from being known about, otherwise everything would have been picked up a lot earlier, wouldn't it? So it's not very likely anyone would have known enough about your behavior to think, Oh, I think this is dissociation and this must be a sexual alter. So I doubt you'd find any useful information at all going down that route.
You might have more luck talking to your T about it or even asking other insiders if they know anything about this one you are beginning to become aware of.

[Betty_Banana]

Originally Posted by Chez3

I'm not sure, but I can kinda feel it. She's a sexual alter I think, and I'm not sure that Chez knows about her. I need to look into this more...

It's always kind of freaky when you realize there's more insiders than what you originally thought.It's good that you are learning more about your system and are beginning to 'feel' them.Awareness is key with DID.

Originally Posted by Amyjay

Yeah Chez3, its highly unlikely that your teachers would have noticed you dissociating during classroom discussions and documented it. Unless you had really extreme behavior teachers wouldn't notice a thing. Even drs documenting dissociation is an extreme longshot. DID is largely a hidden thing, most systems jobs are to cover up the abuse and keep it from being known about, otherwise everything would have been picked up a lot earlier, wouldn't it? So it's not very likely anyone would have known enough about your behavior to think, Oh, I think this is dissociation and this must be a sexual alter. So I doubt you'd find any useful information at all going down that route.
You might have more luck talking to your T about it or even asking other insiders if they know anything about this one you are beginning to become aware of.

Good post here.And I agree with everything you said.I wanted to add though that I had 'extreme' behavior when I was in school but not one single authority figure ever thought wow,this child has alters or DID.I was just known as a troublemaker,a problem child,etc.

DID really is a hidden disorder and it would be pointless to talk to schools you went to.And probably pointless to talk to a medical doctor too because I highly doubt they would have known.The best person to talk to is a mental health professional and even trust your own judgement.I'm not saying a person is always right when it comes to their system or even whether they for sure have DID but I think we usually know ourselves best and we need to learn to trust our own intuition sometimes.Nothing about DID is by the book,nothing is set in stone,each individual is different.

I would be nice if teachers,doctors,etc. would be able to identify alters and dissociative disorders in childhood because then maybe people would be(or could have been) able to get the help needed while young instead of still suffering as adults.

I wish when one of my alters came out during a pap exam my doctor would have known and informed me so I could have got the help I needed so many years ago.I wish my teachers would have known when I was in kindergarten and got me the help I needed then.It just doesn't work that way,that's just not reality.Maybe in a perfect world,but it's just not how it is or how it works.

[amandalouise]

thought I would add more to my post...

in my early years it is documented with my school teachers that I "didnt pay attention" "daydreamed excessively" "seemed to not know the work today when she knew the same identical work yesterday" "when asked a question during math class burst out in tears for no apparent reason" "just stared when asked to write her name on the achievement testing form as if she did not know her name" "Amanda appeared at school today with sore body parts, accompanied her to the school nurse who did a preliminary exam and found unexplained bruising. when asked what happened her reply was I dont know" "Amanda complained in reading class today that she could not see the board, that it looked like it was far away, she accidentally got hurt on the playground and the recess teacher stated she did not show any emotions despite the fact that it knocked one of her teeth out. teacher states it was like she went totally numb, on automatic, teacher assessed for shock but she was able to respond but with out emotion."

underneath each of these on my school files stated.....recommendation call parent to take Amanda to the family physician for assessment of possible ADHD, Dissociative problems, hearing/ vision problems, learning disorders.

my point is on my elementary school records it is documented that I had dissociative problems.

anyone can contact their elementary and high schools and see their records that the teachers and school kept on them. at my schools they did document mental and physical health problems as well as immunizations and any special acomodations needed, grades, and any contact that the teachers, nurse, school psychologist, and office staff had with me. I found out for NY state this was standard as far back as the 1950's and that school records are permanent files. they do not get shredded or destroyed.

anyone who is a college student has to sign forms for their college to obtain certain records out of their elementary through high school files that was kept on them.

my point it is actually documented on school records when mental disorders are suspected, which ones, and why, symptoms and statements that the students say.

[Amyjay]

Originally Posted by Betty_Banana

I wanted to add though that I had 'extreme' behavior when I was in school but not one single authority figure ever thought wow,this child has alters or DID.I was just known as a troublemaker,a problem child,etc.

I would be nice if teachers,doctors,etc. would be able to identify alters and dissociative disorders in childhood because then maybe people would be(or could have been) able to get the help needed while young instead of still suffering as adults.

I wish when one of my alters came out during a pap exam my doctor would have known and informed me so I could have got the help I needed so many years ago.I wish my teachers would have known when I was in kindergarten and got me the help I needed then.It just doesn't work that way,that's just not reality.Maybe in a perfect world,but it's just not how it is or how it works.

Yes, I agree, all good points. I too had extreme behavior in school and despite having many interventions, social workers, therapists, suspensions, expulsions and multiple incidence reports not a single person ever noticed the dissociation, switching and alters for what they were. Any records were kept about behavioral incidences and not emotional states.

[Fuzzybear]

[Betty_Banana]

Originally Posted by Amyjay

Yes, I agree, all good points. I too had extreme behavior in school and despite having many interventions, social workers, therapists, suspensions, expulsions and multiple incidence reports not a single person ever noticed the dissociation, switching and alters for what they were. Any records were kept about behavioral incidences and not emotional states.

It was the same for me too.Wouldn't it have been great if DID had been recognized by someone back then?

[Betty_Banana]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

thought I would add more to my post...

in my early years it is documented with my school teachers that I "didnt pay attention" "daydreamed excessively" "seemed to not know the work today when she knew the same identical work yesterday" "when asked a question during math class burst out in tears for no apparent reason" "just stared when asked to write her name on the achievement testing form as if she did not know her name" "Amanda appeared at school today with sore body parts, accompanied her to the school nurse who did a preliminary exam and found unexplained bruising. when asked what happened her reply was I dont know" "Amanda complained in reading class today that she could not see the board, that it looked like it was far away, she accidentally got hurt on the playground and the recess teacher stated she did not show any emotions despite the fact that it knocked one of her teeth out. teacher states it was like she went totally numb, on automatic, teacher assessed for shock but she was able to respond but with out emotion."

underneath each of these on my school files stated.....recommendation call parent to take Amanda to the family physician for assessment of possible ADHD, Dissociative problems, hearing/ vision problems, learning disorders.

my point is on my elementary school records it is documented that I had dissociative problems.

anyone can contact their elementary and high schools and see their records that the teachers and school kept on them. at my schools they did document mental and physical health problems as well as immunizations and any special acomodations needed, grades, and any contact that the teachers, nurse, school psychologist, and office staff had with me. I found out for NY state this was standard as far back as the 1950's and that school records are permanent files. they do not get shredded or destroyed.

anyone who is a college student has to sign forms for their college to obtain certain records out of their elementary through high school files that was kept on them.

my point it is actually documented on school records when mental disorders are suspected, which ones, and why, symptoms and statements that the students say.

I agree that they are documented but things like not paying attention,daydreaming,etc.are a far cry from any documentation of switching or specific alters.In my old report cards and letters from the schools there's things which in hindsight were obvious dissociative problems but at the time were not looked upon in that way.The average teacher,principal,etc doesn't normally even know what dissociation is let alone to suspect it or document it.My school called in a psychologist to talk with me and he never suspected dissociation or DID.He just said I had "behavior" problems.

I think you said before that you weren't diagnosed until you were in college(?) so for you,as well as most people,talking to the school one attended as a young child wouldn't be of much help in finding out about alters as you suggested.It might bring some clarity in hindsight but that's about it.It doesn't really help anything in the here and now.

It's sad that your school did suspect dissociation,which is a rarity and you didn't receive the help or get the proper diagnosis until years later.

[Betty_Banana]

Now I'm curious how often DID and other dissociative disorders are diagnosed and treated in childhood.Also curious whether it's easier to treat/recover from at a young age.

I suppose I should have started a new thread about this but didn't.

Back in my early years (now 50) DID was MPD and there wasn’t much written about the subject. MI wasn’t much of a teachers concern obviously because I was scooted through unnoticed: an introvert shy and afraid of people, confused,...

I’d often go mindless, tranced, day dreaming, switching, dazed.

I don’t magine it got much better in recent years unless you were a trouble maker like a child that has ADHD does (my son)....they sure are quick to diagnose them and get them on drugs fast. But, if you were quiet and non threatening- you slip through.

I feel like DID is an iceberg and all you can see is the tip, that there is more than you can see...at least that’s how I feel when looking at my case.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Betty_Banana

I agree that they are documented but things like not paying attention,daydreaming,etc.are a far cry from any documentation of switching or specific alters.In my old report cards and letters from the schools there's things which in hindsight were obvious dissociative problems but at the time were not looked upon in that way.The average teacher,principal,etc doesn't normally even know what dissociation is let alone to suspect it or document it.My school called in a psychologist to talk with me and he never suspected dissociation or DID.He just said I had "behavior" problems.

I think you said before that you weren't diagnosed until you were in college(?) so for you,as well as most people,talking to the school one attended as a young child wouldn't be of much help in finding out about alters as you suggested.It might bring some clarity in hindsight but that's about it.It doesn't really help anything in the here and now.

It's sad that your school did suspect dissociation,which is a rarity and you didn't receive the help or get the proper diagnosis until years later.

yes I was diagnosed in college with DID.

back when I was in elementary school (the 1980's) daydreaming was a symptom of many things including MPD (now called DID). back then the diagnostics were not what they are today and the other accompanying symptoms were not what they are today. Back in the 1980's daydreaming was called dissociation, Which is one reason why I was not diagnosed MPD as a child.

they did document that I seemed like one person one moment and the next but my location has a rule that there are some diagnosis's that are not placed on the child MPD was one that children in my location do not get diagnosis for. just like some locations do not diagnose a child with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

I'm not saying look in your elementary files for a ........"diagnosis"........

Im saying it would be documented in the sense of the problems that come with having DID. .

complaints of numbness, spacing out (which used to include daydreaming) disconnected (again used to considered possible daydreaming on the older standards) memory problems beyond the normal, feelings of depersonalization derealization, acting out in ways not characteristic of the child, all these things a school will document.

DID is not something that just begins in adulthood and never have problems their whole life.

its the opposite. it begins before the age of 5 and so do all the problems related to having it. getting a diagnosis just puts a name on whats already going on.

if the original poster does have a sexual alter then everything that happens because of having this alter would have been happening since before the age of 5.

So Im saying check the files to see if there are any indications in the files about sexual issues. to be blunt most teachers and school officials would notice and document a child holding one self or other sexual activity that could point to possible home and physical/ mental health problems.

DID alters dont just take control at home in ones own bedroom. it happens in all aspects of a persons life. so school is a great resource for looking to see if todays problems happened back then too.

thats what I am saying. the orginal poster thinks there may be a sexual alter they havent known about before. if there is a sexual alter there are ways to find out. check your childhood files for things that point to that or not.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Betty_Banana

Now I'm curious how often DID and other dissociative disorders are diagnosed and treated in childhood.Also curious whether it's easier to treat/recover from at a young age.

I suppose I should have started a new thread about this but didn't.

some locations limit what diagnosis's can be used on children in that location. many places in my state do not diagnose DID in childhood. just like they dont usually diagnose Bipolar disorder in children in my location.

regardless of diagnosis the treatment is the same. teach the child to focus on things outside their self (grounding, breathing, meditation, medicine for anxiety and others just like with adults) work on problem areas like behaviors,

it is actually harder for children because they dont have the mental concepts and logic that adults do. you cant just tell a child that voice in their head is an alternate personality and how the brain created that alter by this that and the other thing physically and mentally and... well think about all the different questions you have had over the years of your adulthood that have been answered for you including all that you went though with integration of your alters if you are integrated ( I cant remember who is and isnt with out going back to reread your posts ) now think about trying to explain all of that to a child and have them understand everything.

children just dont have the ability to understand the abuse they went through that created their alters let alone the mechanics of mental disorders and healing from this.

[Amyjay]

Well goodness me, how bizarre things can be sometimes. I agree Betty Banana, that extreme behaviors are the ones most likely to be recorded and noted. In my school years there were many comments and notes recorded about my inconsistencies from one day to the next, and the very obvious changes in my output level. It is extremely doubtful that a single teacher of mine thought, for even a fleeting second "Oh, I wonder if this is a symptom of a dissociative disorder?" Goodness no, back in the 90s and in the the first decade of this century even they would have known very little about dissociative disorders other than what they might have heard in the media about MPD and false memory syndrome. If there had even been anyone around to educate teachers about dissociative disorders at that point the social climate was such that I doubt they would have believed it anyway.

Part of my work now is in schools and I doubt teachers would know much of anything about dissociative disorders even now, let alone what the symptoms look like. I will ask next time I go in to a school. Given that so many therapists still don't believe in DID I just can't imagine that teachers are educated about it or know what to look for or know to refer a child for an assessment for it!

[dlantern]

there is hair nails makeup game and talking if male there are several suppport areas can be a blessing. Just know everyone ISNT sexual some are asexual and will get jealous!

[dlantern]

Trigger Warning....

What ever the medical term is we are talking those being torn out from the fram e those areas. So don't be so selfish if you find a way to make sexual be a blessing in the bedroom dont blame dont judge it is needed for a reason...Once you get trauma to stay around and find sex safe in some capacity then do so. Dont worry about young kids counting score cards that is why i'm careful at my famous ones that only counting the honey count....Allow them to stay away it will come in droves they will ruin it for you to some degree

[Betty_Banana]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

yes I was diagnosed in college with DID.

back when I was in elementary school (the 1980's) daydreaming was a symptom of many things including MPD (now called DID). back then the diagnostics were not what they are today and the other accompanying symptoms were not what they are today. Back in the 1980's daydreaming was called dissociation, Which is one reason why I was not diagnosed MPD as a child.

they did document that I seemed like one person one moment and the next but my location has a rule that there are some diagnosis's that are not placed on the child MPD was one that children in my location do not get diagnosis for. just like some locations do not diagnose a child with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

I'm not saying look in your elementary files for a ........"diagnosis"........

Im saying it would be documented in the sense of the problems that come with having DID. .

complaints of numbness, spacing out (which used to include daydreaming) disconnected (again used to considered possible daydreaming on the older standards) memory problems beyond the normal, feelings of depersonalization derealization, acting out in ways not characteristic of the child, all these things a school will document.

DID is not something that just begins in adulthood and never have problems their whole life.

its the opposite. it begins before the age of 5 and so do all the problems related to having it. getting a diagnosis just puts a name on whats already going on.

if the original poster does have a sexual alter then everything that happens because of having this alter would have been happening since before the age of 5.

So Im saying check the files to see if there are any indications in the files about sexual issues. to be blunt most teachers and school officials would notice and document a child holding one self or other sexual activity that could point to possible home and physical/ mental health problems.

DID alters dont just take control at home in ones own bedroom. it happens in all aspects of a persons life. so school is a great resource for looking to see if todays problems happened back then too.

thats what I am saying. the orginal poster thinks there may be a sexual alter they havent known about before. if there is a sexual alter there are ways to find out. check your childhood files for things that point to that or not.

Thanks for explaining.I guess I interpreted your post as meaning if the OP wanted to find out about the specific sexual alter they were curious about to find out from their school.I guess it was in the way your worded your post that had me confused.

I agree with what you say,that there would have been signs and other issues in childhood that point to DID.And it is helpful,in hindsight,to check into past records.I wasn't trying to debate that,was just saying it's not likely anyone could find out about specific alters,switching,etc.in the present by doing so,which was what I thought you were trying to say.