DID When you have been diagnosed with did? what do you and how do you deal with it?

[Cerulean Synapse]

I have been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder and Dissociative Disorder. It's tough when you have others in your head and one of the switches and you become an entirely different person. This is part of Complex PTSD. I would like different peoples opinions and stories on how they deal with it if they made conscious contact with their parts and how they deal with their parts on a daily basis because we know when we are triggered the first thing we do is switch. At least that is what I do and I try with all my might not to.

 

[Truthful_Whispers]

I have never been formally diagnosed with that, but I have always had a few very distinct 'versions' of myself. I still know who I am, and identify as my real name, not multiple names or other sexes. However, depending on the situation, my persona can drastically change, and it will stay in that 'mode' for quite a while, until my mind finally settles. It's almost like I can wear different emotional 'masks' and armor, sometimes it's automatic, sometimes it's at will.

 

[Maryanne]

I have been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder and Dissociative Disorder. It's toug...

I am so glad you brought this up! Thank you!
It was just a few years ago that a close friend of mine unexpectedly walked in my room and witnessed me 'switch' from little girl mode to grown up Maryanne, it was very strange for my friend and me to say the least.
Before that I had never heard of DID but I knew there were other 'parts' of me and somehow instinctively knew that I needed to be integrated into a whole. I did a bit of research and then began looking for help...the first person I saw tried to tell me that multiple personalities was very rare and sincerely doubted I had that problem. Her final question that day was jokingly, 'what, do you curl up in the fetal position and suck your thumb?' I looked at her hard and replied 'yes.'
It's been quite a struggle, and I would like to say that I am fully recovered, but I know that the strongest part, little maryanne, is still in there and needs to come out occasionally to play. I am just extremely careful who I let her out in front of!

 

[Maryanne]

I have never been formally diagnosed with that, but I have always had a few very distinct 'vers...

I can relate to that!

 

[Cerulean Synapse]

It's pretty hard when my little 5 years old and 2 and 3 year olds come out because it's like there is nothing you can do. The other person or persons that you are in the room with can't do anything. But I think the sucking your thumb thing I can relate.

 

[Truthful_Whispers]

It's pretty hard when my little 5 years old and 2 and 3 year olds come out because it's like th...

You need to learn to have the "adult" version of you psychologically present when your younger persona appears, to care for and comfort the "child" you that is locked inside. My therapist taught me that. Hope it makes sense.

 

[Cerulean Synapse]

It does make sense. And has been taught, but there is just one or two that just like to tug bad like a dog that tugs really hard on a leash and you can't let that leash go or out they pop out. I am sure in due time they will certainly not tug as much and learn that someone is taking care of them at all times, but when my ex fiancé was with me he was constantly abusing me so all my parts were defending themselves. It was like another traumatic event after another. So now that he is out of my life, I have to and my parts have to pick up pieces that my fiancé caused wreckage to and that is not an easy thing to do but it's possible if I let the healing begin. And sometimes I feel so hurt I don't want any healing to begin. I don't know if anyone feels like that sometimes of that makes me an odd duck. But I hope that I left you with some clarity.

 

[PTSDbegone]

I was just diagnosed with DID this year. I am still very much confused, and sort of in denial I think. My therapist believes the younger parts of me are too scared to speak up. I just go into a dissociative trance like state. I rarely speak when in the trance, but apparently have been speaking up more and more. It's still hard for me to grasp even just the idea of having other parts. It makes sense to me when my therapist explains it, however I don't think I want to believe it myself. She thinks the younger parts of myself are almost hijacking my adult self, and trying to protect her.