Hotmail!
This mailbox on the side of the road is clever.
Silly. Ridiculous. Funny.
What a nice way to get your mail each day. It’s big enough for mail, and probably waterproof too. And certainly creative.
This Hotmail Mailbox made me giggle so I had to share it, just for fun.
You might think there could not be any parallels with Dissociative Identity Disorder in this picture but a few thoughts have come to mind for me. I took it on as a personal challenge. How could I not find some significant way to make this ridiculous picture fit into this oh so educational blog and the DID theme?!! I had to do it justice, yes?
So here are my efforts:
1. Email.
Most of us out here in the blog world enjoy getting fun emails so okay, that’s generic to a lot of people, but of course, it’s always good to get nice mail. And it really is okay to lump the dissociative community in with the normal, regular, everyday world. So really, that’s already two parallels in one. 
😆
2. Creativity.
Every single dissociative person I have ever met has been a creative person, and there are dozens of ways to be creative. Most people think of the artistic abilities, or musical talents, or being able to sew or cook or build. All these areas are definitely creative.
But DID survivors are creative within themselves. They are immensely creative in the ways they have made their own unique selves, their internal worlds, and their systems of people.
DID’ers have created numerous different people, all with different voices, and mannerisms, and facial expressions, and words of expression, and hand writings, and hair styles, and fashion preferences, and and and.
It’s really not easy to think of being so many different people all at once, and developing all those lives with all their separate interests, etc.
You all know I understand the beginnings of splitting, but these thoughts are further down the track than the traumatic starting places of being plural people.
My point is, I don’t think many “singletons” could purposefully design, create and develop as many characters if they wanted too. Some of the most famous Hollywood actors and actresses have barely been able to do this, but even many of them look like the same character over and over, just in a different story and new setting. DID survivors are much more creative than that.
3. Concrete literal thinking.
Most DID survivors have at least a few littles in their system who have very concrete thoughts. “Hot Mail” — with a microwave as the mailbox — is an example of concrete thinking.
Another example of concrete thinking is this: saying “It’s raining cats and dogs” and the little one in the DID system runs to the window, looking for kittens and puppies.
It can be difficult and complicated to remember this when speaking with adult trauma survivors.
Many times, the other person simply assumes the trauma survivor understands abstract thought, and typically, there will be many in the system that do, of course. However, there will be others in the system that still think in very concrete terms, and this can sneak up into more everyday conversations than you might expect. Metaphors, figures of speech, and slang phrases should be used with a grain of salt (ha ha ha). Or, remember to consider the literal meaning of what you are saying, and then check your communication difficulties. This could be having a significant impact.
4. Sense of humor.
And yes, many dissociative trauma survivors have a great sense of humor.
Between the moments of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts, there are always some other ones in the system that are particularly funny and good at making people smile and laugh. It’s a great talent to have, especially while living a life full of pain, and I give these parts a big round of applause.
With all silliness aside…
- What do you see in these pictures that relate to Dissociative Identity Disorder?
- What fun thoughts do you have?
- What examples of clever, creative, concrete thinking have you seen?
I hope you are having a better day!
Warmly,
Kathy
Copyright © 2008-2017 Kathy Broady MSW and Discussing Dissociation
kiyacat says
September 23, 2013 at 5:52 pmSpeaking of email, the one I have for you doesn’t work anymore. I’ve had 2 things get returned. 🙁
Kiyacat
Pilgrim says
September 23, 2013 at 6:06 pmMmmm…hm. Really, Broady, youre just weird. Thats my only thought Im having here.
M.
kiyacat says
September 23, 2013 at 9:37 pmYep. Really reaching lol. The strawberries were weird, but I could see the point. I tried to email in a feather x5 like the strawberries. But this one… I’m just not there. Oh well
Kc
Kathy Broady says
September 23, 2013 at 9:51 pmhiya kiyacat 🙂
Oh, I’m just being silly. 🙂
I’m looking forward to seeing your feather picture.
Thanks for reading!
Warmly,
Kathy
kiyacat says
September 23, 2013 at 11:09 pm😛 grin
peoplepuzzlepieces says
September 23, 2013 at 6:56 pmInteresting perspective as always Kathy. The first thing that jumped out at me is the way that the tires are all stacked on top of each other. You can see similarities and differences between them as there are similarities and differences between our insiders. You can imagine the tires are all working together to prop up the mailbox as our insiders try to work together to keep this life on track and propped up. But the system is strained and crumbling, tipping and wobbling so that a sturdy stick is needed to help hold up the entire thing. Therapy and plain hard work are needed to help steady the system.
In the picture there are trees and shrubs and grass, all kinds of greenery in the background. Perhaps those are representative of other insiders that aren’t on board yet with the purpose of building a strong system. Some might be too small, some may be too gnarled, and some might yet be in the darker shade and completely unaware that there is a new job to do.
That’s my interpretation.
Kathy Broady says
September 23, 2013 at 7:03 pmPPP —
Love those ideas!! Great metaphors, great ideas, very interesting thoughts.
Well said…
And you see, Pilgrim? I’m not so weird. 😉
lol,
Enjoy:)
Kathy
Rainbowoftears says
March 7, 2017 at 10:12 amThis is a really terrific comment. We could see what you were talking about with the tires and the light and shadows.
Rainbow
Dianne says
December 8, 2016 at 1:54 pmFirst thought was: “That’s our Host” she thinks inside the a box with no windows, so we live in a dark place and she can not see us. We have lots of mail for her to hear but she is all wobbly and wearen out. She needs to open the door and let in some light. Right?
Dianne says
December 8, 2016 at 1:56 pmFirst thought was: “That’s our Host” she thinks inside the a box with no windows, so we live in a dark place and she can not see us. We have lots of mail for her to hear but she is all wobbly and wearen out. She needs to open the door and let in some light. Right? P.S. The pictures really help everyone to understand. I really like them. Thanks Kathy!
All the Jill People says
August 27, 2017 at 11:41 pmHave many thoughts all at once here.
The box, oh my goodness! We compartmentalize everything! As soon as something hits, we analyze it, sort it out, take, taking extreme care as to what goes in which box.
For example: someone outside of the system disappears and refuses to write or contact us. We take that and sort every possible reason for this. We sort out emotions, and visions if applicable to as to triggers. Some emotions get put in boxes to be buried deep. Very quickly things get placed into many boxes.
Also we have boxed insiders. Almost like a prison.. locked away in some dark “box” waiting for someone to help them out. We are still working on that. That is a definite
“hot” topic” and it seems to take enormous time.
The tires, so.. there is the bottom smushed up tire that caught our attention. It represents some of the probably strongest people in our system. The ones holding the brunt of the weight. Some insiders view these parts as pathetic. Yet, when viewed like this.. can see the strength in them.
The background images.. very lighted leafs, a tree, or pole that stands out, shadows, and darkness, all make up one picture.
So, we can see lots of aspects of our system here.
Concrete and literal thinking..
ha ha ha! Hmmmm didn’t we just have this conversation???? Lol!!!!
Speaking of email.. say that you are not going to write means exactly that..
oh, there a bug? Ugh! I’m not eating that now!
It isn’t 7pm. It’s 12 minutes after.
Ha ha ha!