Does Anyone Else Feel Like They Have Other Personalities Within Them?

[Lucycat]

@Pencil I like that - and I know:eek: The whole idea freaked me at first, but having got to know and recognise what is happening is crucial to not feeling crazy!

It is hard enough to discuss here on the forum, impossible in real life with people who simple will not understand ( except T of course)

 

[Pencil]

crucial to not feeling crazy!

Oh hell, yes! :D I wouldn't even try talking about it out there.

 

[Pencil]

discuss here on the forum,

I would like to talk about it - without getting into arguments of course - and this thread is now the perfect place, especially as Wakemeup seems to be asleep.

 

[Lucycat]

Wakemeup seems to be asleep.

that is just classic. Sorry @Wakemeupwenitsallova I hope you don't mind our little bit of humour!

 

[Pencil]

Should we wake her up when this thread gets locked?

 

[Lucycat]

There is no need for it to get locked. It is still on track regarding subject matter, and we are going to remain very polite in our discussion. :sneaky:

I am having trouble now - my keyboard keeps locking up. I will keep trying.

I have part that is not mature or stable. When she takes control- that is not so often these days- I feel unable to function in an adult world. I still have to go to work, but find myself doing the minimum, sneaking home to safety early and scared shitless that I will make a mistake in duties that any other day I am more than competent or confident to achieve. Driving is a big deal when I am like that and I drive a lot for work.

The worst experience I had was when that part took control in a therapy session, and stayed for a whole week until the next session. T knew what had happened and kept checking in on me during that week. It was scary and I had to take time off work to deal with me.

Now that I understand it a bit better, I can take care of myself when these things happen.

 

[Lucycat]

On the other hand I also know that in addition there is my Inner Child, the one who enjoys playing Lego when the grandchildren visit.

My 'Part' is certainly a child, but it is not the same as the happy friendly I C who likes to play. For ease I do sometimes refer to the Child Part as my Inner Child although I do understand the difference.

I think I would describe my Inner Child as an attitude in response to my environment. The Part is completely different and is able to take over my being at will and to my detriment. The Part has different abilities,emotions and feelings to the real me.

The OP uses the term personality. The definition of personality is complex and tied in with identity although it is argued that they are different concepts. Social Constructionism is a theory that our identities are solely a product or 'construct' of the society in which we live. Therefore as individuals identity cannot exist as it is always in relation to another. ( at least I think I have understood that right. It is very complicated and even the eminent psychologists cannot agree)

It is interesting that Multiple Personality Disorder(MPD) became Dissociative Identity Disorder(DID) which reflects the changes in attitude about the complexity of personality.

 

[Pencil]

There is no need for it to get locked.

Just kidding. Out in the world it's not over till the fat lady sings; on here a thread is not over till it gets locked. I was wondering at what point we could determine 'it was all over' so we could wake Wakemeupwhenitsallova up.

Erm ... okay, I'll be serious.

It is very similar for me, apart from the fact that there are two kids. One is mute. I never realized how much and how often I jumped between the three - this became apparent only in December 2012. Now I understand for the first time why my life is such a mess: I can't function in a work environment as I appear ... goodness knows how I appear to others. I hate untidiness, but my environment gets into a frightening state - so I spend half my life tidying up mess (which I feel I did not make). There are days I simply can't face the world and can't leave my house. When I have any reaction to any person I often don't know which part is reacting - and so when someone annoys me, I have to analyze whether my annoyance is a valid adult response - but I can't analyze when I'm in a child state. The one child wants a mother - and does NOT want the adult me. This is embarrassing! The mute one makes me look like an idiot when a response is clearly called for. The adult makes plans, draws up lists and schedules, but the others don't cooperate. OMG I could go on for hours!

 

[Pencil]

able to take over my being at will and to my detriment

Indeed.

And all of this is described in the OSDD criteria.

I have part that is not mature or stable

Do you understand or know that part of you? How do you deal with it in therapy?

My 'Part' is certainly a child, but it is not the same as the happy friendly I C who likes to play.

This is what I find extremely difficult: I have an 8 yo daughter. I so often try to just bloody relax and play and have fun with her. But it is especially at those times that the child will act up.

Wakemeup, apologies if I went haywire on your thread. I hope some of this is useful to you.

The adult me is taking us off to bed.

 

[Wakemeupwenitsallova]

Lol thanx guys, yes I was asleep and in amongst all the helpful information I did manage to have a good giggle! I'm still not quite sure where I fall into in this category? Maybe it is just normal thoughts, I dunno?
Here's a bit of my background which may help a little?

I thought my recent (almost a year ago) relationship with my ex who was extremely emotionally physically and sexually abusive was what caused my PTSD. However since being diagnosed and starting therapy I have discovered this was mearly a, trigger? (all be it a massive one!). I never realised that I had been disassociating since I was a very young child, I thought everyone had their own imaginary friends and went into their 'own little world', it was only when these 'episodes' became extremely frequent and more intense after I got away from my ex that I decided to see a doctor and then a psych, that childhood memories...or more so feelings came back. I think I was around the age of 2 till about 4 when I think I was molested by an older man in the caravan park where my mother and sister and I lived. I say 'think' because there is no actual proof or real memory, only feelings. The man was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting other children in the park however nothing has ever been said about myself. I only just discovered that this man actually really existed after talking with my older sister about these feelings a few weeks ago...

I am really only worried about the part of me that is angry, I can handle the others, but she is so very angry that it scares me! When she takes over I guess you could say, I feel completely different and everyone who's close to me can see something's up. I haven't been able to say any of this to anyone cause I feel crazy...but when I look in the mirror that angry part starts abusing the sad part, calling her nasty hurtful names and almost yelling demoralising things to her. It even get to the point sometimes that I hurt myself, bad! I've scratched my face to shreds, cut myself, punched myself repeatedly and even smashed my head into walls. I don't think the angry me wants to kill myself tho, (the sad one does) just really hurt myself! The angry one wants to kill my ex and almost did about 10 months ago, but I feel like I can almost control it enough now that I can feel when it's about to take over and I use a kind of grounding technique maybe, to a point, control it.
Wow ok so I just put it out there! I feel like I should delete it....

 

[Wakemeupwenitsallova]

Shit I pressed post before I could chicken out lol

 

[Wakemeupwenitsallova]

@radicalgratitude yes it is quite a bit like that! Thank you