On Dissociation: Part Two
Strategies to cope/help are making sure I listen to my others and communicate with them. Making time for my others to orient with the present and find or fulfill a dream of theirs before they integrate. Notes and keeping calendars especially. I keep a calendar on the wall in my room...those write on kinds. I keep a small calendar with me to write appointments in when I'm at therapy, drs. etc. I keep an organizer to keep track of everything, calendar, lists, phone numbers, expenses, etc. and I keep a calendar and note pad in my car. At the end of the day or beginning of the day, I review all these to update them and then list out what my day holds even to the most minute detail such as 6am - take a shower.
My struggles are identifying boundaries and maintaining them. I have a very demanding husband and very demanding children who are adults but living at home. I struggle with the perception of everything having to be perfect and perfectly done because I fear punishment, rejection, verbal abuse, emotional detachment, etc. from others. I'm like a tightly wound clock just about every day. I can't think of any joys being DID outside of finding people through the internet that are like me and we can share and identify with each other, encouraging each other as we heal. Humor? Well after my diagnosis and telling my husband and kids about it and what it means. About a year later, my son was cleaning his closet and decided that he didn't have enough room, nor did he want any of his friends to see that he had a couple of suits in his closet. So he put them in mine. Learning some of the signs of multiplicity, varying clothes being one of them, you can imagine my expression and reaction at finding a couple of men's suits in my closet! I was completely flabbergasted! My son, seeing my distress, quickly told me what he had done and why they were there. That provided some relief except for a male alter about my son's size took a real liking to the suits, shoes included. I have more female alters so out in public, we over power his desire so we don't look completely out of whack. :o)
Svali, a survivor of ritual abuse, discusses her DID: I have been working hard to
Latest Articles