Talking In A Child's Voice

[radicalgratitude]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone else has struggled with this. I just started seeing a new therapist, and she kept telling me today, "You're an adult. You need to remember you're an adult. You are not a child." I thought that was interesting, but as I was leaving the session I realized I had been talking like a child....again.

In the program I just finished, they would say, "I can hear another part present, how old do you think she is?" Then I would realize that yes, there is another part present and she is four-years-old. Then we would spend time talking to the part and nurturing her.

I don't have DID, but it also takes some time before I realize that I disassociated to the point of my voice changing. It's embarrassing. It really annoyed the people I used to live with.

Now I know what to do, I need to dialogue and soothe that part that came out. However, does anyone know how to catch it before my voice changes or notice that my voice changed earlier?

 

[franciemarnie]

I'm sorry I don't know how to catch it. I don't have DID either but I slip in and out of voices with my husband all the time. He's a real doll about it. It never has happened that I know of outside the house. I don't see many people in social situations.

The only way I know though of being aware of what's going on inside me is mindful meditation and body scans. I will check in with parts regularly and see how everyone is.

I've gotten pretty good at it. I will feel my left hand as really small and my right hand as adult size - stuff like that. Though I know I am very much adult sized all over!

 

[Lotusstarr]

Hello

I know I'm a bit late replying, but I just wanted to say that I experience this as well. I'm not in therapy at the moment, so I haven't been able to work on it, but it first came to my attention when a boyfriend at the time pointed it out, it really surprised me, as I had no idea my voice or mannerisms had changed. It was as if I was there, but someone else had completely taken over the drivers seat. Others have since pointed it out to me. I've become a bit better at recognizing when I 'change'. It often happens when I'm being affectionate or close with the person I'm dating. I'm assuming she wants love/comfort, but I'm not sure how to give that to her.

 

[TeaLeaf]

Happens to me too, occasionally it is not just the voice that changes but my whole sense of where I am and how old I am and when I snap out of it I get really scared of how disconnected I was. My therapist has pointed it out, saying I seem really young at certain points and my husband has pointed it out as well. I don't have any advice for catching it earlier but I agree with franciemarnie about the bodyscans and mindfulness. I notice it comes out when I am triggered really deeply or scared to feel the feelings that are coming up, I think as I have healed I have been able to catch it before it goes on as long as it once did. Sometimes I think it comes up because I never really got to be a child and maybe I need to just nurture this part of me and hug my teddy bear until I feel better.