As you say most of those answers will be different for everybody, not everyone on the dissociative spectrum has alters and for those who do the degree of seperation between them varies greatly. A lot of professionas have varying opinions on it, I've been referred a few times by ones who have denied its existance even before the diagnosis many would refer me once they realised I lacked a lot of memories - some of which did so after being fairly nasty about the whole memory gaps thing.
I was diagnosed with DDNOS a while back but only got changed to DID fairly rescently. I've been told that on average it takes 5 years of being within the mental health system for DID to be diagnosed, in part because secretcy is sort of a fundermental aspect of the formation and working of it
How do you get diagnosed with DID and how long did it take you all to get a proper diagnosis? we were diagnosed with DDNOS (Dissociative Disorder not otherwise specified) meaning we have alters but we dont lose time and although we had some sort of abuse short term as a child most occured from ages 19-28. but that is us.
Who names your alters, or do they tell you their names? my others came up with their names themselves.. sarah sorta chose hers.. sadie appeared known with sadie as if she has always had it.. and well the voice or dirty girl as sarah calls it.. we arent even sure that its human it seems shadowy and well it doesnt seem to have a name so we just call it the voice.
I've heard that you have to have undergone years of extremely traumatic abuse to develop DID - so did most of you manage to get the abusers into prison after your psychiatrist found out?
this question doesnt really apply to us i think. the abuse that happenwhen we were young was done but neighbor boys when we were about 8 and they were like 14 or 16. we dont even remember what happened..just know something happened..only the voice knows what happened and it refuses to ever tell us. with my ex husband.. we dated since i was 16 and married at 19 . we were married 8 and a half yrs. i was severely depressed and suicidal -tho i never attempted- i isolated myself and didnt even recognize myself in the mirror.. i have a feeling the emotional abuse i suffered for those 8 and a half yrs may have been even worse that i remember.. maybe..just a feeling that seems to come fome the voice. i never learned how truly become a responsible adult due to the 8 and a half long yrs of emotional abuse during my young adult hood.. i divorced him .. and back in feb of this yr after sarah made herself known and then sadie made herself known in june.. i finally voluntarily had myself put in a psych ward for 4 days for a psych evalution. and was diagnosed with major depression, generalized anxiety disorder* which i have been dxd with since 2000* and dissociative disorder NOS.
How do you manage to login to your account to type messages from your different alter-egos? well for one- there are not many in our system only 3 (sorta 4) that we know of. we do not 'lose time" or have probs with amnesia so that is partially why we are DDNOS instead of DID. however we have recently been havely alarming issues with forgetting things.. mostly small and not very important things.
Has anyone ever 'recovered' completely from DID or is it a life long disorder a bit like schizophrenia? ok just to be clear- schizophrenia and DID/DDNOS are not connected.. two totally different things there. some i think can recover from Dissociative disorders but it take tons and yrs of work. and the entire system must want to agree to integrate into one. I, personally, dont like the idea and well sarah and sadie certainly dont.. as they want to have existance in their own right..even if we do share a body.
Some of you sound you have it extremely badly (like having alters that actually write on this forum, or alters that harm you badly) so how do you function in everyday life, like school/work etc?? umm well my others write here and sadie does sometimes harm us. but we can function. it is very difficult sometimes but sadie is good at pretending to be me ...but sarah isnt. sarah is only 6 so most times she does not come out at work.. most times she only allowed out after work at home which is why you may see more posts here from her.
also - i have no issues at all with your questions you were open, honest, curious and nonjudgmental.. so no worries with us here ok?
Hiding
Last edited by hidingme : 05-09-2010 at 04:56 PM.
Reason: typo corrections
How do you get diagnosed with DID and how long did it take you all to get a proper diagnosis?
Got diagnosed at age 22, had been in and out of the mental health system for one thing or another since I was 10 (though I don’t remember much of this lol but been putting bits and peices together to find things out recently)
Who names your alters, or do they tell you their names?
Pritty much everyone seemed to form with a name, the few who didn’t picked their own after a while.
I've heard that you have to have undergone years of extremely traumatic abuse to develop DID - so did most of you manage to get the abusers into prison after your psychiatrist found out?
I have very little memory prior to the age of 15... I think I know what happened, though I don’t feel able to put it into words, but obviously due to the lack of memories and the limited external evidence there would be little point in trying to gain a conviction. The abuse I went through as a teenager though I did try to get the abusers convicted but – well it was unsuccessful basically
How do you manage to login to your account to type messages from your different alter-egos?
I generally leave the forum on “remember me” so very rarely have to actually log in... but basically every account we have on every website has the same password to make things easier
Has anyone ever 'recovered' completely from DID or is it a life long disorder a bit like schizophrenia?
Recover... well some do integrate and others work towards co-consiousness (we are aiming for the latter) everyone in the system will always exist but the idea is to make day to day life doable and to make the system functional by “normal” standards (or something like that)
Some of you sound you have it extremely badly (like having alters that actually write on this forum, or alters that harm you badly) so how do you function in everyday life, like school/work etc??
Erm, with a lot of notes written all over the place to keep track of everything... I don’t work nor study at the moment as was just unable to keep on top of everything. But generally we function fairly well, most of the time the teens are fairly good at managing to do whatever needs doing and the littles try their best too. Until recently my partner was about most of the time to help out with things, but been living alone for a few weeks now and it’s so much harder but sure it’s just a case of adapting
Just wondering, because when I have been unable to function properly (different illness altogether), I've been involuntarily dumped in a hospital ward - does this not happen to you guys?
Probably does happen to many, i’ve managed to avoid that so far though (only been hospitalised once and that was for an ED)
hate to ruin the half way deent moods yall got going here.. and bugsy your welcome for the answers..
---------- we feel hopeless, worthless and not worht the waste of oxygen lately. we are pissed off that its sunday and work week starts tomorrow.. we hate hate hate hate work.. hate our boss, hate dealing with guests and pretending life is good and happy and ****.. nothing is godod and happy.. swirling storm clouds follow us EVERYwhere and it does nothing but be storming, raining, thundering and be windy inside.. we are miserable.. i swear if i could kill us somehow without hurting aly and michael and other family i would find a way to do it. i wont attempt so no worries.. i may cut but nothing more.. hiding took2 xanax and our celexaso its starting to make us sleepy but got i just really feeli like dying right now. SADIE
How do you get diagnosed with DID and how long did it take you all to get a proper diagnosis?
You get diagnosed by a psychiatrist, usually over a period of time. We were in the MH system from age 12 to present day (20) and were diagnosed at 15.
Who names your alters, or do they tell you their names?
Everyone inside already had names when they made themselves known, others have changed their names because their original ones were given to them by abusers or were quite horrible.
I've heard that you have to have undergone years of extremely traumatic abuse to develop DID - so did most of you manage to get the abusers into prison after your psychiatrist found out?
We were abused from infancy till age 14, by numerous people. The majority of which are still a threat to us. It really isn't as simple as just getting them into prison. The emotional and psychological strain through making a statement (telling your ENTIRE) story, plus going to trial etc, is terrifying.
How do you manage to login to your account to type messages from your different alter-egos?
We don't let our youngsters write here, so whoever types is generally privy to information like logins.
Has anyone ever 'recovered' completely from DID or is it a life long disorder a bit like schizophrenia?
It depends on the individual. People do integrate their parts and live as a whole, but we (and the majority of DIDers we know) prefer to work toward cooperation and a sense of togetherness among ourselves.
Some of you sound you have it extremely badly (like having alters that actually write on this forum, or alters that harm you badly) so how do you function in everyday life, like school/work etc?? We have alters that have caused harm requiring a 3-digit number of stitches, it definitely impacts on everyday life, we currently aren't working or studying but will be next year. Seeing our therapist provides us with support and an outlet, but doesn't erase the difficulties.
We suppose it's like any other disorder, you develop different techniques and strategies to keep you grounded and moving forward.
I've been involuntarily dumped in a hospital ward - does this not happen to you guys?
We've been in and out of hospital since we were 12.
The hospital we are connected with at the moment is very good with us, with groups, great therapists and staff, they are caring and supportive.
Wow.. I was just reading bits of this thread (obviously not all 254 pages of it!!) and it's fascinating. I had no idea dissociative distress/disorder was such a (relatively) common illness - I thought there were only a very few documented cases. I also heard its existence was disputed by mental health professionals (I'm probably wrong there.)
Everyone dissociates to some degree. For example, daydreaming would be on one end of the spectrum, and there are many degrees in between, like derealization and depersonalization, etc, all the way up to DID. It's not as rare as most people think it is (usually fed by the media like movies, etc). It could be that there are few documented cases, but not everyone with DID has their case broadcast and exposed to the public. It's a very controversial diagnosis, but there have been cases where alters have different eye color, facial structure, speech patterns, brain waves, etc.
I have a few questions, I'd love it if someone could clarify for me (Obv. they will be different for everyone): How do you get diagnosed with DID and how long did it take you all to get a proper diagnosis?
I was diagnosed with DID in late 2007, when I was about seventeen. I had to go through tests and observations, etc, to rule out other possibilities, because this diagnosis is not given lightly. In the diagnostic criteria, and in books on DID, the general concensus is that it can't be diagnosed until the psychiatrist has observed two distinct identities that routinely "take over" the body. Once I began answering the questions about my dissociative experiences, it was only a few months before a diagnosis, but I got three opinions on it. They all confirmed it.
Who names your alters, or do they tell you their names?
Well, I find their names written out and once I found a name carved into my skin. I don't name them.
I've heard that you have to have undergone years of extremely traumatic abuse to develop DID - so did most of you manage to get the abusers into prison after your psychiatrist found out?
That's the general idea, yes, but it doesn't necessarily always have to be abuse, but obviously it's severe if you subconsciously split off parts of yourself to protect your mind and essentially survive. A lot of reseearch says it develops before the age of seven, because at that point a child's mind no longer has the flexibility to dissociate to that degree when faced with a traumatic experience. And it's not as easy as that about getting abusers into prison. There are processes you have to go through and many people choose not to do so, which is perfectly fine, and if they're an adult when they disclose abuse, their rights of not telling should be respected.
Surely it would be in their interest to get these people locked up so they cant hurt other kids? (it sounds like they deserve to be anyway)
Again, once a certain time period has passed, forensic evidence can no longer be there and it becomes a he-said,she-said thing. The abusers legally have rights as well and their privacy can't be invaded without a fair bit of proof.
How do you manage to login to your account to type messages from your different alter-egos?
They are not referred to as alter-egos. They are alters, or parts, etc. As for me, I don't sign out of this site.
Has anyone ever 'recovered' completely from DID or is it a life long disorder a bit like schizophrenia?
There have been cases of integration, etc. Nothing else to add to that.
Some of you sound you have it extremely badly (like having alters that actually write on this forum, or alters that harm you badly) so how do you function in everyday life, like school/work etc??
Are you implying that if someone's alters don't write on this forum that they don't 'have it extremely badly"? If so, not everyone's alters write on here, etc. It can be "extremely bad" and not be on the internet. I function and learn to deal with the loss of time and have alters that help at school. Sometimes it's very disjointed, etc.
Just wondering, because when I have been unable to function properly (different illness altogether), I've been involuntarily dumped in a hospital ward - does this not happen to you guys??
Yes, it does happen to us too.
I'm just being curious because I never came across anyone with this disorder before, and I have spent large portions of my teenage years in hospital so i've seen a fair amount of people suffering mental illnesses!
You may just not ave noticed. It's not like the movies where all these alters come out and introduce themselves, and they don't always dress differently or whatever. The changed can also be very subtle. It's a somewhat covert disorder to avoid detection, if that makes sense.
Thank you if anyone does answer - and sorry if the questions are too personal. -Bugsy
Bugsy: I'm rather embarrassed to answer as I only recently found out about the dissociation (ever since my boyfriend of about a year and a half told me, I started finding stuff on the internet, winding up on the freeway without knowing how I got there, getting black spots,...) I was diagnosed with PTSD because I dissociate, I cut, I hear voices & I was molested, harrassed & raped at various points in my life. I'm pretty sure it's something DID-ish I'm struggling with though.
How do you get diagnosed with DID and how long did it take you all to get a proper diagnosis?
I didn't get diagnosed. The psych I visited once said I had PTSD and I should get therapy, so yeah.
Who names your alters, or do they tell you their names?
They name themselves. I believe I have Lynx, I have Maria, I have Willow, I have Salida,... They're all names I gave myself at some point in my life who have developed to semi-identities. They all use my real name when they write stuff though. Me seeing how "I" named "myself" in the past can give me an overview of what happened though.
I've heard that you have to have undergone years of extremely traumatic abuse to develop DID - so did most of you manage to get the abusers into prison after your psychiatrist found out?
I didn't. I don't want to go through interviews and stuff, I don't want my whole past to be questioned as I can't remember half of it,... I still have a long way to go + my e-mails, which could have served as proof, are filled with lies so I'm stuck.
Surely it would be in their interest to get these people locked up so they cant hurt other kids? (it sounds like they deserve to be anyway)
I want my rapist in jail but there's not a lot I can do. I want my mum to pay for what she did to me too, but she'll pay by not being able to spend time with her grandchildren. It's in their best interest NOT to leave them at hers.
How do you manage to login to your account to type messages from your different alter-egos?
My alters use different sites, I guess. I have never found anything strange on one of the accounts I was using in the past, which I had been using for quite a while. I find different stuff on different sites. With the same usernames, which I often don't remember having registered on on those sites.
Has anyone ever 'recovered' completely from DID or is it a life long disorder a bit like schizophrenia?
I have read that by intense therapy you can get some of your memories back. I think complete recovery is possbile but it takes a lot of time & energy.
Some of you sound you have it extremely badly (like having alters that actually write on this forum, or alters that harm you badly) so how do you function in everyday life, like school/work etc??
Luckily the harmer is me, not one of my alters. My alters can either be extremely deceitful/hurtful towards others but they won't hurt me. And I don't function. The only way I can function is by having alters who can serve a cash desk. I mean all of them. I had to drop out of university due to my psychological condition at that time.
Just wondering, because when I have been unable to function properly (different illness altogether), I've been involuntarily dumped in a hospital ward - does this not happen to you guys?? I'm trying to avoid it but it happens to some.
I'm just being curious because I never came across anyone with this disorder before, and I have spent large portions of my teenage years in hospital so i've seen a fair amount of people suffering mental illnesses! It's OK to be curious
Last edited by lynx : 06-09-2010 at 04:41 PM.
RYL FAMILY
Jo (Newlife) is my daughter
Kat (Katnovia) is my sister
ok. anything specific going on or are you just stressed out because of whats goin on?
The host is distressed and was becoming a danger to us all, so I had to take over. The body is in a bad way and I'm a bit scared about it, but sure it will be ok
A thousand mile journey starts with the first step
Join Date: Oct 2009
I am currently:
Well if you have done as much as you can then, then that's all you can do, don't try to push yourself any further.
I'm playing the Sims 2 Pets, trying to turn my Sims into werewolves xD I love fantastical creatures. Head hasn't been hurting as much, but we've got the paracetamol on standby in case another migraine breaks out.
depression is eating us alive lately.. and foe me that is saying alot as usually im usually just pissed and angry ..but i dont even want to harm which is usually what i resort to..
i just wish we could die and fade out of existance without hurting hubby and daughter.. and everyone just go on with happy lives w.o us.
took 2 xanax and celexa so we will sleep soon im sure. sleep is all we can do cause the other is irrational and not logical or helpful to anyone but god how we wish it was. soryy SADIE
On another website we were just told that we had a "fantasy version of DID" shouldn't upset me this much but it does... What does "fantasy version" even mean?
How do you get diagnosed with DID and how long did it take you all to get a proper diagnosis?
I have Complex PTSD rather than DID. Official medical diagnosis is 'depression plus'. Psychotherapeutically [I'm in private psychotherapy] I'm treated as a survivor of complex relational trauma, and with associated personality splits.
Who names your alters, or do they tell you their names?
I named them, or rather, my subconscious did. Currently the naming issue is less needed. I have a child state, and an internalised abuser/bully state. And me. The name of the bully/abuser state is the name of one of the girls who bullied-abused me. The names are derivatives also of my birth name.
I've heard that you have to have undergone years of extremely traumatic abuse to develop DID - so did most of you manage to get the abusers into prison after your psychiatrist found out?
Mine started with a traumatic birth followed by medically then needed isolation from my parents, then emotional abuse at home - which included witnessing domestic violence, alongside severe and chronic abusive bullying for many years at school, by many of my peer group - this included physical assault. Therefore the prison situation isn't really relevant in my case.
Surely it would be in their interest to get these people locked up so they cant hurt other kids? (it sounds like they deserve to be anyway)
See above.
How do you manage to login to your account to type messages from your different alter-egos?
n/a, as I don't lose time. I just lose It. And myself.
Some of you sound you have it extremely badly (like having alters that actually write on this forum, or alters that harm you badly) so how do you function in everyday life, like school/work etc??
With a lot of good therapy, medical support, and reasonable adjustments at work under the DDA.
I've never harmed myself badly physically. Emotionally is another matter though.
Just wondering, because when I have been unable to function properly (different illness altogether), I've been involuntarily dumped in a hospital ward - does this not happen to you guys??
My treatment team actively works to keep me out of the hospital situation, even when I was very unwell, by maximising support, and if necessary, adjusting medication. I'm also open to complementary medicine, and that helps a lot, too.
Last edited by Stellata : 07-09-2010 at 06:12 PM.
Reason: Clarifying.
^ Selena's right, Sadie. You are here for a reason.
---
Sorry I don't have a lot of support to give right now. I just got discharged from IP yet again. While there, I was not taken seriously about the DID (aparently in the state of Missouri they don't even believe in it), and was given the diagnosis of Bipolar disorder w/ psychosis. I am now heavily medicated, incorrectly diagnosed and on the verge of tears. What in the hell is wrong with me (us)?
My name is Matt, and I am a boy. Feel free to PM me :)
I have learned that the world is not a safe place. Not at all. But there are so many people who love me and want to keep me safe. And that is enough.
