Hello shadowangel2 - welcome to the group. You will find this group is a great help and has a variety of ways with dealing with parts/insiders and it really is trial and error to see what works specifically for you and your system. Also, are you in therapy as your therapist may be able to also recommend ways of reaching in.

You have made the first step by admitting they are there and also offering protection and safety which is huge! Maybe you can try writing in a journal and addressing them this way? Also, if you are aware they are children, you may want to have coloring books, crayons or things of this nature available as they may express themselves differently than what you may expect (as children).

I have somewhat the same issue as mine only talk to my T. However, I do see activity time to time with coloring, drawing, etc. from some of them!

Again welcome and we are all here to try and support each other in our healing process!!

I think all this is so hard in the beginning. But as one or two get to know you and you know them - word will get around inside(you probably wont hear this) and more people will introduce themselves. In the early times when I was in and out of the hospital like a revolving door - the staff gave me sheets of paper. It had different questions on it like - what s is your name? Do you know how old you are? What is your job in the system? What do you need to help you feel better? Things like this. As I began to listen inside and I didnt hear a voice - it came to me like a thought - they would maybe give me a little information. Of course some of them dont want to do this because they don't trust. A good T is the key and a lot of time and patience. Good luck.

Thank you share for your reply as I think I can use a few of the things you had written to try and help myself in getting in touch and also what information is in my thoughts that don't really make sense or a connection to me! For a long time I just thought my thoughts were so "f" up and didn't have any idea that it was "insiders" giving me information sometimes! Thanks again as every little bit helps :)

thank you all for your advice! I will try these and see if any work. yall are so kind! and to myscootch yes I am in therapy but have just started seeing a new one who is more knowledgeable.

I have a hard time also letting my alters feel safe... because I am suicidal... and I am also bipolar... and that doesn't help anything... I have to stay aware of the possibility of suicide and the steps of it occurring ... so I would imagine that this does not cause a secure atmosphere for them... so from all the postings that I have read tells me that I need to maintain a secure, safe environment for myself and others... I have done better since I started acknowledging my alters and offering what safety I can... sometimes it Is most difficult... but I am learning bit by bit and piece by piece... as I do not have a therapist that will even admit that I have DID.... she just shrugged it off and she wants to work on what she wants to work on... and the bad thing about that is... she is the only one at the clinic I can see... so perhaps in the future I can seek out a specific therapist for us... and until then... I am learning loads from peeps there.... the best information that I have come across!!!!

We got a book at the library about stranger danger and safe touching. It was big pictures with captions. We made copies of them and let the littles color them. Knowing that it was ok to tell was a revelation to them, and knowing that the bigs in the group supported their right to tell helped them feel safe.

I just want to concur with everything that has been said. I think it is important to remember that they themselves can scare each other into not telling the world (us) about themselves. They do this through a variety of strategies including abusive behaviour such as self harm and threatening suicide. Many of us have littles (I havent met a person with DID who doesnt have littles) so doing things like stephanie suggested and even getting a few small toys into the house in which only they can play with helps them feel like someone is wanting to meet their needs. Sometimes even finding a wide variety of music from childrens music to music that is however old you are allows them to make a connection with something that is familiar/enjoyable..