Not sure where to start

This is my first post here, so first of all, hi!

I don't know if I can even exactly be called a caregiver... since the person I support isn't in my home, or even a relation to me beyond a friendship.

I just know that I want to help him, and I'm not really sure how to start. Well, I have started in a way, just by being there to talk whenever he needs someone, and supporting him in any ways that I can.

I know he deals with DID (co-conscious it seems), has flashbacks, and has issues with SI and depression.

I'm obviously not a educationally qualified person to be doing intense therapy or anything like that, but I've dealt with some of these issues myself, and have done a lot of peer support counseling for others over the years. I'm really at a bit of a loss for what to do for him though. He self medicates on a daily basis, either with alcohol, sleeping pills, at one point that I know of perscription painkillers also.

I'd be happy if I could just help guide him to a place where he was somewhat stable, and "ok".

He's obviously fighting a lot of internal battles atm, between personalities especially, and I'm really at a loss as for what to do. He refuses any attempts at even talking about getting professional help due to some bad experiences in earlier therapy.

He's functional enough to continue at his job with no issues, and I'm actually the only person that knows about his DID at all, so I'm the only support he has.

Is there any particular ways that I could help him through anything, or be a better support for him, or help him in any ways really besides just being there for him to talk to? He doesn't tend to talk about things unless I ask him questions about them, so maybe anything I could guide him to talk through, or something along those lines? Anything that I absolutely shouldn't do, that may make things worse for him?

Any input is appreciated.

*Edit - I'm not sure if this was the place to post this, but it looked the most likely. Mods, feel free to move if needed or if it's more suited somewhere else.

I am DID You can find MY experiences and so on in my blog

This link will bring you to one of my blog entries which has a second purpose explaining how to locate the members blogs in general.

PLEASE READ WITH CARE

this blog is MY experiences and MY therapy program and MY research that has been apart of my therapy program. If your friend does not have these experiences that is OK.

http://myself.psychcentral.net/2006/...ate-the-blogs/

As for how you can best help your friend. Just continue treating him as a friend and continue being a friend. He will let you know when there is anything you can do to help him and what he needs from you.

Thank you so much for the link, and for sharing your experiences.

I know every person is different and not all will apply to my friend, but anything I can learn and find out more about that possibly could be something he could relate to, or that I can understand better, is helpfull.

I really appreciate the response.

I do plan on continuing to be there for him and be a friend to him as much as I can. I just always wish that I knew a way to do more, you know? I know it's quite possible that I can't, but if there is any way, I don't want to not do it simply because I didn't try to find the way.

Thank you again. =)