Structural Dissociation?

[EveHarrington]

I think it’s important to realize that there are a number of different “parts” theories out there, from those that apply to everyone to those that apply to only those who have DID. I’m not reading anywhere else that structural dissociation only applies or correlates to those with DID. (I’ve been trying to read studies and such.)

It’s confusing to say the least. I follow IFST, and it seems to help me make sense of things, but even so, IFST doesn’t cover it all. I know how my mind works, it’s just that no one theory seems to cover it sufficiently and correctly, so I read what I can about the various theories and apply what helps. (That’s why I’ve wandered back here again.)

Anyway, I’ll be reading back and following along, trying to make sense of things.

 

[Ronin]

I think it’s important to realize that there are a number of different “parts” theories out there.

Yes?
But none of them speak of involuntary abusive / violent behaviour as one of the standard or common symptoms. (That was a topic on how tos the last few pages.)

Those that do refer the kind of stuff refer back to very specific origins / types of trauma where that would be the only way of acting and rewarded, for a long time.

(a.k.a still on the question of parts + X issue, not just is it the parts?, issue.)
So not really unreasonable to suggest not everything may be a parts issue, and that therapists encouraging that it is one, are doing disservice to the client.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Strange, I've been thinking lately that I should maybe try something art related... and you posted about that very idea... Maybe I'll finally try.

Based on my own recent experience, I strongly suggest making a list first and asking internally who wants to be in the artwork. I started drawing and realized I needed to know who wanted to be included. I didn’t draw exiles as they didn’t come forth. Once I had a list I typed up a a short description, male/female, age, and prominence in my life now then I went back to the artistic part and it was much easier to do w a plan. Some call this preliminary work a head map activity- I got started on the art aspect then had to backtrack and make a list.
Remember to date and sign your name! If you did another in a month- insiders may change a lot as you learn about them.
That’s what I’m finding. Good luck!

I think it’s important to realize that there are a number of different “parts” theories out there, from those that apply to everyone to those that apply to only those who have DID. I’m not reading anywhere else that structural dissociation only applies or correlates to those with DID. (I’ve been trying to read studies and such.)

It’s confusing to say the least. I follow IFST, and it seems to help me make sense of things, but even so, IFST doesn’t cover it all. I know how my mind works, it’s just that no one theory seems to cover it sufficiently and correctly, so I read what I can about the various theories and apply what helps. (That’s why I’ve wandered back here again.)

Anyway, I’ll be reading back and following along, trying to make sense of things.

@ EveHarrington Good Points. I think people are all so different that no one theory will ever adequately describe something we can’t physically see or measure with accuracy. I guess that’s why they are theories and not facts. I guess you have to go with what works and feels right.

 

[Skywatcher]

I like that my therapist treats my parts as both individuals and part of the whole. When I tell her that I don’t know how to comfort some of them, she encourages me to find another part that can. Because some of my parts are strictly stuck in the trauma, she encourages me to bring others to help when we do emdr. I honestly don’t know if my dragon is a part or part of my imagination... yet maybe it’s our imagination that allows us to split up to protect us from the overwhelm if it was all glued together.

New question: I thought I was doing a form of self harm and asked my T about it. We called it negative coping. So we did emdr on it and I saw it happening by “him” onto a young part. (Not adult me doing it to adult me.) After that my young part wanted to die. She still does, despite the helpers we brought in with us and taking her past the part that holds all of the bad emotions. Then I had a trauma anniversary with an older part. Now she seems to have teamed up with the younger part in a huge amount of SI, and the rest of us are trying to figure out what to do. It is really exhausting. I’m wanting to sleep more than usual and lean more towards depression than the anxiety I was feeling prior to the anniversary. Any suggestions here?

 

[shimmerz]

After that my young part wanted to die. She still does, despite the helpers we brought in with us and taking her past the part that holds all of the bad emotions.

This is serious business. Have you spoken to your EMDR person to let them know that this is happening? It needs to be taken very seriously any exaggerated self harm or reckless behaviour when working with parts.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I like that my therapist treats my parts as both individuals and part of the whole. When I tell her that I don’t know how to comfort some of them, she encourages me to find another part that can. Because some of my parts are strictly stuck in the trauma, she encourages me to bring others to help when we do emdr. I honestly don’t know if my dragon is a part or part of my imagination... yet maybe it’s our imagination that allows us to split up to protect us from the overwhelm if it was all glued together.

I think our mental safe place ( mine stems from the structure of Shanaic journey) is our creativity speaking which allows us to create in our head. I think my parts look as I imagine them. If I can imagine them w my spirit guide, I know they are safe. I think most of us here are super creative in many ways. My painting/drawing art, writing, poetry, and 3 d artwork all come from my imagination- and my experiences. Creativity is essential in problem solving! My protector in real life and my journeys is an eagle. A dragon is cool! Read up on them- some breathe fire, others ice, and others different things-for protection. I wonder what your dragon breathes. In shamanism, the dragon is a spirit used in healing. Good luck!

 

[shimmerz]

Wilbur, I use spirit animals and have constructed safe places as well. Interestingly enough, different parts like different safe places. I tend to focus on what these different parts want rather than what they don't want and it is always about a stronger element of safety.

 

[Spacefish]

Hi sorry new around here and I keep seeing "IFST" ... what does that mean? Thx!

 

[Wendell_R]

I keep seeing "IFST" ... what does that mean? Thx!

IFST = Internal Family Systems Therapy

Lots on the web if you look up the full phrase "Internal Family System"

And Welcome, by the way!

 

[Ronin]

New question

... What resources do you have to stop the self harm, and what do you need to do to be secure?

(Emotional one later, what do you need to stop the behaviors, and be physically alright.)
Edited, is sleep something feasible? Might help, I'm thinking. Both in keeping yourself alive for the duration, and being less symptomatic.

 

[Skywatcher]

This is serious business. Have you spoken to your EMDR person to let them know that this is happening? It needs to be taken very seriously any exaggerated self harm or reckless behaviour when working with parts.

My t is fully aware. I have written it, I drew a picture of what happened to her, wrote a poem, told my T that before I wrote the poem, I wrote a page of “she wants to die” next to the picture, then erased it and wrote the poem on top. It’s really just a strong ideation. There is no plan, it’s more of an imagery for my parts. That was a week we had a phone call, and then she sent me something to read (we don’t normally have contact between sessions), then I had an internal group meeting with the other parts. My T was also fully aware of all of my writings between the sessions when I came back. We didn’t do emdr the next session. More talking on how to support the parts. An email response, then an extra session. More talk on “negative coping.” And here I am. The ideation has really calmed a bunch now. I see her in a few days. There is an emergency line at my therapy place, but I don’t want to use it. I’ve been in worse states, without using it.

... What resources do you have to stop the self harm, and what do you need to do to be secure?

(Emotional one later, what do you need to stop the behaviors, and be physically alright.)
Edited, is sleep something feasible? Might help, I'm thinking. Both in keeping yourself alive for the duration, and being less symptomatic.

My therapist said that I have been using this particular self harm for a very long time and have been okay. It’s not something that can do much damage, honestly, but it could if I got lost in it, and my goal is not to. She believes that with healing it will naturally go away in time. I think the shocker that brought in the ideation was that during the emdr I learned that it was a re-enactment... not your run of the mill self harm. And this was kind of the missing piece in the narrative of what happened and so my trauma part felt the terror in that emdr session. My dragon pulled her out took her to a safe place. I went in to tell her that her abuser is dead. She has a good life, grows up. She survives this. But at that point some major ideation set in for her..... there was another time that my T explained to me that suicide ideation is a form of coping and comfort all in itself. I agree. It’s like having that option out there, a way out, gives you a peace that maybe you can hang on and try to heal. I don’t know. I think I am okay as long as I don’t get a massive trigger in the near future. I need to learn to take my Xanax when I feel the pull. Not go in the room that I do this in. I have had a protector voice jump in in the past, that helped.

 

[shimmerz]

I have had a protector voice jump in in the past, that helped.

What does the protector voice encourage?