DID Most helpful DID techniques?

[TruthSeeker]

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

I did clinically guided self-hypnosis many years ago with a therapist but when she suggested that maybe my father did something inappropriate to me...I ditched her. The good I took away from it was that it was super stress reducing, but when she verbally led the trip, I never knew where we were going. Everyone who practices hypnotherapy has their own script, their own flavor,
but the gist is first to create a "safe place" in your head.....beach, mountain cave, field of flowers, mineral springs, and use
your imagination to make it the "ideal safe spot."

Shamanism uses compassionate spirit guides to travel with you to your mindwalk-safe place, where drumming/rattles are used to help the journier move to an altered state of consciousness-self-hypnosis (there is no therapist guiding you-just your own specified intent for the journey). I use core shamanism principals to do my parts work. I have a sacred garden, a power animal who travels with me, a seat of power which energizes me. Shamans are healers...and they do parts work, and soul retrieval (find lost parts), and I like this approach as it aligns with what I'm doing in therapy. I do the internal work with parts in the sacred garden. Some therapists also incorporate the core principals into therapy for those individuals who lean towards a philosophy of Mother Nature. All religions have some form of meditation-this is just one that seems to work for me and parts work. This is just a little more earthy and it is self-directed. You journey (mindwalk) with the intent to learn something (maybe find a teacher and learn more about X), get an answer to a question, thank parts for their roles, deal with loss, forgiveness, do healing work, get to know yourself, feel more powerful and energized, as well as develop clarity. When done alone as a practice, it is great and when done in a group......the energy of the group is powerful. Workshops are given on Core Shamanism across the US. to learn the practice. I'm fortunate that my Unitarian Universalists have a shamanism journey group meeting once a month and a leader who does the drumming aids the group in their journey.

I journal all of my journeys, as do other participants, a standard practice for core shamanism. I learn a lot about myself, am always safe with my compassionate spirit guide, and am never feeling alone in the process-even though in the real world, for a while, I really was. Compassionate spirit guides make me feel safe, something everyone with PTSD needs. For more information, you can go to the following website: shamanism.org

 

[AlishaK]

Not having been diagnosed for very long, I can't really answer this question based on my experience. I have done a TON of research on it, and read books intended for those with advanced degrees on the subject. The thing I found to be of interest and promising is called sensorimotor psychotherapy. It's fascinating and I know that my therapist has tried to get me to do it, but with no success at this point. You might want to look it up.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Question for those with DID and DID-spectrum disorders. What therapeutic techniques have helped you most in managing or overcoming your DID?

I'm wondering about both individual therapeutic strategies (i.e. yoga, grounding, etc) and types of therapies (CBT, DBT, EMDR, etc)?

I feel like I've kinda plateaued or hit a hall, and would like new ideas of things I could try or ask my therapist about.

I do Shamanic journeying and communicate w parts in that state, also art therapy is really helpful- an alternate form of communication, personal journaling, read a lot of books on coping strategies and listen to audiotapes in the car, -and trauma based therapy ( CBT, Family Systems Therapy).

 

[TruthSeeker]

Not having been diagnosed for very long, I can't really answer this question based on my experience. I have done a TON of research on it, and read books intended for those with advanced degrees on the subject. The thing I found to be of interest and promising is called sensorimotor psychotherapy. It's fascinating and I know that my therapist has tried to get me to do it, but with no success at this point. You might want to look it up.

Yes, My therapist has approached this w me. Thanks!