DID Most helpful DID techniques?

[Keen]

Thank you for this thorough list of things that have helped, @Reflections , I really appreciate it, and will look into these!

I agree and am with you on nature, it totally helps me calm down and feel real, which is why I'm sad that winter is here which is going to limit it for me.

be mindful if any parts don't like coping skills. Don't use them to "shut up" anyone

Yes, this, I have totally run into this mistake.

 

[Keen]

Thanks for your thoughts, @Swift , I like what you said about being a gentle, steady presence for the other parts. I've really failed at that in the past, and see why its so important. Maybe if I can be like that, they'll start trusting me enough to communicate and collaborate.

 

[Ronin]

Yes, this, I have totally run into this mistake.

... Or everyone could grab their own set of coping skills, or the way they use those to cope.

Instead of grabbing one type of them, for the whole?
Different types, for different people, as to what is most needed for them.

 

[Keen]

Different types, for different people

That makes a lot of sense, I hadn't thought of that before.

 

[Keen]

if my reactions to a situation seem irrational, it often means that one of my parts is upset. Learning to trace those emotions to a particular part being upset

Yeah I've definitely noticed this, and realized my strong, not-connected-to-the-situation, or overreactive emotions are from parts, but when I try to find out whats going on for that part, I get overwhelmed by them and it ends up a mess. Not able to be that steady, calm influence for them.

 

[Ronin]

I get overwhelmed by them and it ends up a mess.

Could you ground out from that time mindset / that part mindset?
As in, not trying to be the anchor of everybody, but them doing their deal.
Using what was comfort, soothing, etc, for when trauma was going on for them, or time they originated, whichever it is that causes issue.

Since looks to me imposing very different mindset onto their (Now, and yours, Vs Then, and their) is likely to cause utter chaos, times wise if nothing else.

 

[Wendell_R]

I get overwhelmed by them

I had to become proficient at grounding myself before I could talk readily to my parts. I still do grounding, partly as a daily exercise to experience each day by itself, and partly when the voices from my younger parts are overwhelming. I think it's okay to just recognize that the inside voices are there and making a ruckus, and then to ground yourself to the present. Learning how to do that is itself hard but has been really valuable to me. After the grounding starts to work, there is more room for the parts to speak a bit without utter chaos!

 

[Keen]

Thanks, guys, I will try practicing grounding more. And look for what might be grounding for specific parts. Thanks!

 

[Reflections]

I agree and am with you on nature, it totally helps me calm down and feel real, which is why I'm sad that winter is here which is going to limit it for me.

I'm having the same issue, it's been so cold and rainy where I live. Walks are difficult! I just want to bundle up at home but it effects my wellness. I try to at least go out a bit in the yard. Some cold air is nice, it's rather grounding for me.

When I was first learning coping skills, I was taught to create a scale to find what I felt when and test out what worked at what times. I wrote down the coping skills and self soothing skills, it helped me to know what works and when. Not every coping skill works at every level (or "state"). It helped me to know what helps my alters before I realized they were alters. It's not always something fancy either, like certain music helps calm me down, funny videos, shower, smothering my face in a pillow, cold pack, water, etc.

 

[Keen]

I was taught to create a scale to find what I felt when and test out what worked at what times

I really like this idea, it seems really helpful, thanks for sharing it!

 

[TruthSeeker]

Be careful with hypnosis. People with DID are particularly vulnerable to suggestion under hypnosis and it is counterindicated.

I use self- hypnosis and take my own mind walk and it is quite helpful for stress, problem solving, and communication w parts. . I know I’m vulnerable so I don’t do hypnosis where a therapist leads.

 

[Cypress]

How do you do self-hypnosis? Is it like meditation?