Ego-state Therapy For Complex Trauma And Dissociation

[super_saiyan]

Got told today this is what I will be starting. I didn't fully understand what was being explained to me. Does anybody have any experience of this therapy? I have never heard of it before.

 

[Jane1234]

Sorry wish I could help but I'm not aware of this

 

[Silver.]

I had no idea what you were talking about, so of course I googled it, so I could give you some input. I can understand why it would be complicated for you to understand. I would read up about it yourself, and then talk to your therapist a bit more before you start anything, especially if you are unsure.
I think the best site I found at explaining Ego State therapy was here: http://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/ego-state-therapy
I hope that makes some sense for you, but as I said, make sure you talk to your therapist, write things down if you need to, so you have a clearer picture of what it is you're going to be doing.
With so many different people on the forums, I am sure there will be someone that has gone through this and can relate well to you. Take Care x

 

[Justmehere]

I have done ego state theory the rosy and my current therapist still uses it from time to time. It has been incredibly helpful for me!

Think about it this way:

Everyone has ego states, even without PTSD. When I'm at work, I have a work jmh. If my mother calls me at work, my concerned daughter ego state might kick in, worried about a family emergency. If I find out the call is about something mundane, then my irritated and annoyed daughter ego state might kick in.

That's how ego states work.

It all goes well if the different states are fluid and someone can move between them. If I stay in pissed off triggered daughter mode, it's going to affect my job and overall well being. If I cut off or numb out that pissed off daughter state, then it's going to come up unexpected and more likely to be overwhelming ways.

What happens in PTSD form complex trauma is that people build walls between ego states to try to contain emotions, which works for survival for a time, but doesn't work when the trauma is over.

Ego state therory has basically helped me bring on the adult self that can handle work stressors to help deal with the ego state that is the possess off daughter - so it's integrated and better regulated.

I don't have DID but it still works for me, and many people who try it. It's also often done alongside many other trauma therapies like DBT, EMDR. A lot of ego state therapy overlaps or is he same as internal family systems therapy.

 

[Eagle3]

My T is an ego-state therapist, but I didn't know that when I started seeing him. He's pretty eclectic, does all kinds of TCM, energy work, EMDR, CBT, etc. But what made it easy for me to see him regularly was the connection we had surrounding martial arts. I know his MA philosophy, so I know he's not gonna hospitalize me over some of my more violent thoughts. Not sure how I feel about the whole Ego-state thing, but I do know I've seen more progress in one year than I've ever experienced in my whole therapy career. Its all about finding the right therapist, no matter the approach. And as explained above, Ego-state does help you notice and move between the states fluidly. It really does help I think, even if I find it a bit fruity sometimes...

 

[super_saiyan]

I feel so utterly confused. I never saw myself as having DID but today that it was I have been told I have; that during extensive trauma my personality has split into 'alter states'. I just thought I had CPTSD and felt different emotions/different thoughts/behaviours at different times, like everybody.

I think what follows this is EMDR. So, like a biphasic treatment plan.

Thank you for the information. I feel very lost and very scared about all of this.

 

[Justmehere]

I feel so utterly confused. I never saw myself as having DID but today that it was I have been told I have; that during extensive trauma my personality has split into 'alter states'. I just thought I had CPTSD and felt different emotions/different thoughts/behaviours at different times, like everybody.

I would certainly talk to them more about if you have DID for sure, and what makes them think you have DID. All dissociation happens on a spectrum, so that it could be that you are just on the edge of the DID spectrum. She also may be noticing things you may not remember or recall experiencing, and that is hard and scary to face, but worth it.

Having different ego states alone isn't DID. Again, almost everyone has that to some degree, just like almost everyone dissociates to some degree. Having ego states that each have their own full personality, with separate likes and dislikes and etc - that's more like DID. I could see how different thoughts and emotions and behaviors, perhaps could be somewhere on the dissociation spectrum end towards DID, even if you don't experience it as separate personality states.

It seems like you may recognize something really key: it's all you. DID or not, it's all you. All of it is state or parts of who you are, and ego state theory can help you experience it all in a more integrated way.

You are beginning a good journey, one that will hopefully bring you a lot of relief and let you better live the kind of life you want to live. Keep talking to your therapist about any concerns, fears, or questions you have along the way. This will help in and of itself.

That's great that EMDR could follow this phase of treatment. Sounds like a very forward thinking therapist who has a lot of hope for you.

 

[super_saiyan]

I would certainly talk to them more about if you have DID for sure, and what makes them think you ha...

Thank you so much. She definitely sounded very experienced and knowledgeable. I think it is because I regularly do things that I have no recollection of, and often get reports of how I have acted, things I have said and done at different times. It's all so complicated and confusing. I don't understand myself at all.

 

[joeylittle]

It's all so complicated and confusing. I don't understand myself at all.

I don't think it matters, right now, that you understand yourself. What matters is that you are doing a great job at embracing therapy, reaching out to the community here for support, sharing your fears. You're scared, and that's so, so normal. But you are OK admitting it, and that's not always something people can do.

I don't have good words for what I'd like to say, but it's something like - I think you're doing a really great job, being open to what you are being told, and being willing to engage and help yourself.

 

[Suzetig]

Try not to get very hung up on diagnosis and what you think it might mean - you're the same person you've always been before DID was suggested. Think of it as a way of your therapist understanding how best to help you rather than something that changes you. If something doesn't fit in terms of treatment then talk to her about it but diagnosis is such a double edged sword at times, try not to let it define you.

You're doing a great job looking at how to heal and move forward, well done!