Multiple Personalities Support Group

Dissociative identity disorder is a diagnosis described as the existence in an individual of two or more distinct identities or personalities, each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment. At least two of these personalities are considered to routinely take control of the individual's behavior, and there is also some associated memory loss,...

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nohelpnow 01/22/2011

I am currently in therapy with a pdoc who says I do NOT have DIDs though I dissociate REALLY well. She says I have "States of mind" that can take over and need to be integrated.

This is the possible TRIGGER-
One state of mind I do notice and become concerned about is the suicidal one. At that time I am very childlike. Giggly and playful. It's fun to be there. This state of mind cannot stop by itself.
Another, more mature one who can think logically and see consequences is the only way to stop her by calling pdoc and going into the hospital.

I know this all sounds very strange. Just needed a place to put it. Sorry if I've bothered anyone.

deleted_user 01/22/2011

Just wanted to put this out there, don't mean to be disrespectful to your pdoc or anything...not my intention just throwing out this thought.
Reading your post, my first thought was it's a matter of perspective really isn't it...I mean a state of mind (especially the way you described it) and a seperate personality...they seem very similar to me.
Like if 2 people looked at a tree for example, one might say oh, it's a tree...the other however might say oh, it's an orange tree. They are both right - it is an orange tree but it is also just a tree. It's a matter of perspective.
I hope this makes sense. Maybe I'm totally not understanding what you were trying to explain. Sorry if I've got the wrong end of the stick.

I guess the important thing though is working out how to help both...is there a reason why that state of mind feels suicidal?
Glad you do have another though that is able to see what is going on and takes actions to prevent anything happening.

nohelpnow 01/23/2011

I like your idea of different perspectives. Makes sense to me.

I'm an incest survivor who was abused over years by two brothers.
The suicidal one comes up when I'm overwhelmed. I'm not sure why she's suicidal, maybe thinking dying is easier.
Don't really know.

CariadsAngel 01/23/2011

I think technically the difference between 'states' and 'alters' ('states' being DIDNOS - a dissociative disorder 'not otherwise specified' and 'alters' being full DID) is whether the other parts of you are completely separate and take full control of you sometimes leaving you unaware of what's happening or whether they are just like a more exaggerated form of moods...there is some room for interpretation in this though and the amnesia of the time when the other parts are in control is something that can change in DID too because alters can become co-conscious which is where they learn to share awareness and NOT block each other out completely. This often comes with healing and as the alters learn to work together more but can be naturally occurring in some systems.

I think as Kirsty100 said, the difference is in perspective and labels. It can be affirming to have a label but working with what you actually experience and healing is more important.

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