Hi, hi hi — how are you today?
I’m feeling a bit silly, as you can see in the picture, and I’m trying out something new today.
I’ve made a new little contact form with a few questions, and I’d like to use that, so I can hear more from you! You don’t have to use this form, but hey — I’m proud of it, so I’m putting it right here at the top of the page. 🙂
How is this blog about Dissociative Identity Disorder working for you?
[contact-form-7 id=”6194″ title=”How Is This Blog Working For You”]
Even my life gets far too crazy sometimes. I’m sure most of you can relate to that feeling.
Sometimes I think I should be writing for soap operas instead of writing for a blog! It seems I have more than enough weird life material to submit to “Days of Our Lives”! Feel free to check out some of the stories and links on my About Me Page if you don’t know what I’m referring to.
Maybe I could get a job on a soap opera’s creative writing team….
But no, no, no. Wait. Wait. I’m supposed to be a blogger.
A mental health blogger.
More specifically, I’m a clinically-trained, mental health professional blogger who writes about Dissociative Identity Disorder, trauma, abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, mind control, and all sorts of life issues and treatment issues relative to Dissociative Disorders.
And I blog about these topics because as a Clinical Social Worker, I started working with people with DID (then called MPD – Multiple Personality Disorder) in the 1980’s. That’s a very long time ago! I’ve met hundreds of dissociative trauma survivors, and learned a whole lot from each and every one of you. (Thank you for that.)
So here’s the thing.
I’ve had to make some major life changes in order to shift a whole list of things around in my life. Don’t really want to go into all that right now, but needless to say, the part of my life-plan that matters to you is that I will be busy on updating this blog in the upcoming months.
I have been thinking about this for quite some time, and I have a zillion new ideas, and lots of hopes and plans to implement some very much needed changes. I want to improve the educational options for all DID survivors, and to make this blog more of an active resource in lots of ways.
So that’s a lot of talk without many specifics.
Right.
Because I’m not quite ready to spill the beans yet. 🙂
Needless to say, I’ve already been working on e-books, and more videos, and revamping my approach to this blog.
Why?
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Because Discussing Dissociation has had well over a million views, and it is high time to recognize it as the valuable resource that it is.
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Because hundreds — sometimes thousands — of you come here every single day to read, whether I’m writing or not, and that kind of loyalty deserves respect and consideration.
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Because there is oodles and gobs to say about Dissociative Identity Disorder, how to recognize it, how to treat it, how to help the people who suffer with it, and how to live with it in an effective, manageable way.
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Because you all have asked me, repeatedly, over and over, again and again, to present more, to write more, to provide community support, to cover more topics, to explain this, to expand on that, etc, etc, etc.
Okay.
I hear you.
You’re here, and reading. And you want or need a little more than articles to read.
I can do that.
And here’s the plan.
To expand Discussing Dissociation in such a way that it is even more informative, helpful, interesting, challenging, encouraging, fun, supportive….
So here’s my commitment to you, and all DID trauma survivors, their loved ones, and their mental health professionals:
Yes, I’m willing to put the time into developing this resource.
Yes, I’ve got the information many of you are looking for.
So okay. Let’s do this thing.
And my Dissoci-ACTION Questions for you are:
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What would you like to see here at Discussing Dissociation?
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Would you be willing to join an email newsletter and receive emails from me?
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Would you be interested in having videos and podcasts covering a multitude of topics?
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Would you be interested in workbooks, e-books, and other “you CAN do this at home” materials?
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Would you be interested, as a clinical therapist, to learn more about how to work in the field of Dissociative Disorders?
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Would any of you be willing to pay for some of the specialized resources I can provide, and to contribute financially to the costs of building such an expansive resource?
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Would you be interested in developing a greater sense of community around this blog, in some way or fashion? (I’m still thinking on the “how-to” specifics about that one).
Does any of that interest you?
Because it definitely interests me. And I’m hoping the sounds of that interests many of you.
SO…. if you have thoughts and comments, or ideas and suggestions, I’d be happy to hear from you.
Feel free to write a comment in the normal way at the bottom of the page, or use the contact form inserted at the top of the page.
The first place to start is my hearing from you.
Please let me know what you think — how could this blog work for you???
As always, I wish you the best in your healing journey.
Warmly,
Kathy
Copyright © 2008-2018 Kathy Broady MSW and Discussing Dissociation
I’m interested in videos. I would like to see some of this in a book or workshop that maybe would run for two days covering the most helpful points helping with awareness and management strategies. Be good to take these around the country. There is very little available in regards to DID. Maybe it could follow the structure of the blue knot foundations who hold information days for survivors. I would pay to attend.
I’m interested in videos. I would like to see some of this in a book or workshop that maybe would run for two days covering the most helpful points helping with awareness and management strategies. Be good to take these around the country. There is very little available in regards to DID. Maybe it could follow the structure of the blue knot foundations who hold information days for survivors. I would pay to attend.
Hello Lee,
Thank you for your comment, and what an interesting idea you have suggested! I have not worked with the Blue Knot Foundation, but that is certainly an idea that is very worth considering. I honestly should do a little more research into that resource, thank you. I sincerely appreciate your thoughts.
Yes, of course, I would be absolutely open and willing to do workshops, and training, etc. I agree – there is a lot that needs to be done in terms of teaching, advocating for, consulting, increasing awareness about DID, etc etc. You’ve got some great ideas, hmmmmmm (thinking, thinking!). Feel free to contact the Client Care team if you have any more of these fantastic ideas! I am willing to do a presentation / workshop wherever one can be arranged!
Thanks for reading here at Discussing Dissociation, and maybe one day I will get to see you at a workshop! Because yes of course, I can say a whole lot more by voice, and explain things differently by voice, and things can reach a different level of explanation that way. No doubt.
Thanks again — glad you commented!
Cheers!
Kathy
Yes to all above.
On another topic and I’m sorry, but most people have no idea how even the simplest things can be impossible and draining.
I had to go, duty and friendship wise to a funeral to show support for this friend st church. Two hour drive each way and. Non stop noise inside. I kept explaining exactly when where why and all and every time I thought it was sooothed over another shove more crowding from inside and I start over explaining. Then add to that the frantic urge to go home? Question there of where said home was? Anyway urge to go home hide or pull off the road and cower until grownups arrived.
Made it thank God but I’m worn out
Hi Glenn,
Wow … you have captured the chaos and struggle with everyday life with DID. What an epic journey. I am not surprised that you are worn out. Take good care and do some extra soothing, self-nurturing this week.
ME+WE
05/04/2018
Thank you so much Kathy for all you do for us! I’e only just discovered you a few weeks ago but I love coming here to find stuff out! It’s so reassuring that someone “gets us!!!”
I was wondering if there’s any way we could have some sort of chat with each other??? A place to talk??? Don’t know if that would be possible but I know that I am feeling very alone and isolated 😭😭 Theray is very hard and throws me off balance sometimes. Be good just to chat to someone who knows where I’m coming from.
But seriously thankyou so much for al that you do for us 😀🎈
I like this blog, though I wish there were more posts to be able to talk about things more. There are so many resources here though, so I just appreciate everything you’ve done. It challenges me but also informs me of so much. I think it’s pretty great!
On to answering your questions, though I’m not sure you’re still collecting responses…
1. I/we think you are doing a fantastic job of providing interesting information on DID, so I wouldn’t change anything there.
2. I already receive emails, so yes. I think they’re great.
3. I think podcasts would be cool. Maybe discussions with other professionals in the field?
4. Um I think short worksheets or homework to try that goes along with your posts would be cool, but that’s a lot of work! Do you think this is possible?
5. I would pay a monthly fee to receive info that was more informative or practical in nature plus if there wasn’t more variety like for littles. Like $10 a month or something.
6. I think it would be cool to have a community forum available. Again though, that’s a lot of work. And hard to make be successful. Not wanting to discourage though, I think it would be a beautiful thing and I’d be willing to be a part of it!
Thank you for caring enough to ask and consider these questions. It makes us feel special and important!
It sounds like you are sincere about expanding this already excellent service. I and my alters hope so. We stumbled in here a few days ago and have spent quite a bit of time reading comments and articles. We are little apprehensive about getting hopes up too much because you disappeared for about five years even though you came back.
At this point some of my younger parts are feeling a bit raw. I recently ended a four-year relationship with a therapist after she began to show some personality changes that were not conducive to allowing my more timid and shamed parts to emerge.
After some reflection, I wonder if she might have DID herself. She is a good person overall and I hope she is all right, but we are very sad about this loss.
The last comment says, “June 5, 2016.” Is that right?
Thank you so much for providing this resource and working so hard to make it even better! Your posts and the comments from other people like me have really helped me make sense of being a dissociative trauma survivor.
I guess one thing that is really hard is having a partner who is committed and loving but who feels really alone. I have a great care team, and online support, but she doesn’t have that. Do you know of any online resources for partner of those of us with DiD? Or have you considered doing any webinars for partners, where they could post questions that anyone participating could see & hear answered?
Thanks again for all you do!
Hey Everyone —
I am getting such GREAT feedback from so many of you — PLEASE do keep sending in your thoughts and ideas.
The comment box above sends information to me privately, as opposed to the comment section here that is visible on a public level.
As you saw in my post earlier today, I am working with a professional Blogging Coach and I’m on my way to hiring a web-tech IT person to do the things that are just far too complicated for me to do on a computer level.
SO…. while I am building and expanding our blog here, please, by all means, let me know what you think!
Thanks,
Kathy
please have dates added to each post. so when reading blogs or other info. this way i will know if its recent or old. maybe even a shearch button. So we can look for bloggers by name or date. its hard if you see something and you want to go back and look at a post. other then that you are doing an amazing Job.
We want to no some more things.
1. How do you learn to trust outside pepol?
2. If it did be 100 or 200 years ago and we had DId wuld we of been lockt up in a hospitol or somthing bad? Like what do the history of DID treat ment be?
3. We want to no more about how you learned how to help pepol with DID over the years. Like what it was like for you, and how did you learn.
I have been reading here for quite some time now, and sharing my thoughts and reflections on what you have written with my therapist. I have been nervous about commenting, particularly as I have been working hard on external safety, but I felt this was the right time for me to stop…lurking. I really want you to know that I truly value this blog and I’m so appreciative of the time you have already put into it. Thank you, Kathy. That being said, I am so excited about your ideas to expand and develop Discussing Dissociation.
I am interested in joining an email newsletter and receiving emails from you. I am particularly interested in the videos, podcasts, workbooks, e-books and other such materials. I know that I learn best when I have access to a variety of mediums. I would like to see information on emotions and how to manage them, particularly deep hurt and anger. I would also like to know about how to cope in everyday situations. To be honest, I feel so different from other people and I’m so scared of being rejected for having DID. More than anything, I want people to see me and not simply issues. I would be willing to pay for these resources, although I would have to be careful. I am not able to work at the moment, so I am relying on state benefits. I think it would wonderful to have more of a community here but I am interested to know what security measures would be put in place. Being able to share with others, who understand better where I’m at, would be a real gift but safety has to be priority.
Theres lots of lots of things we want to learn about. Like how we got DID and what happens in some bodys brain. And about how to help other people under stand DID. And mabye write some for outside people on how they can help people with DID. And we like home work. Lots and lots of home work. And about how to talk inside. And how to go to sleep at night when everybody inside is talking and being loud. And about finding the inside people that is hiding. And a jillion other things.
First of all, despite the stuff I am going through and the times I have lashed out a bit here and there, I really want to say I come to this blog often trying to discover what I can to try and help myself in-between my therapy sessions.
Second, is it has been extremely helpful to me as the information provided thus far has been not only helpful but a huge tool in my own healing process. Most blogs that say they cover DID, seem to be writing out of the books that I have read. What I mean by this is all of them have the definition of DID and than proceed to say the same things over and over from blog to blog about healing but never seem to specify things that a person can actually do which I find more of this information on this blog and it is helpful.
Third, is I am very grateful for you Kathy for responding to some of my questions that I have posted.
So here goes for my responses to your inquiry:
And my questions for you are:
What would you like to see here at Discussing Dissociation?
I would like to see information on what a person can do each day to try and help themselves. It is hard having a session or two a week and than trying to understand things you have never had before and putting them into action/practice/homework in between sessions.
Also, like above, maybe there are smaller things people can do. I have bought so many workbooks it isn’t funny. However, when I try to work in them I find they are so overwhelming and pretty much the same in text of what works which I usually get frustrated because it is way too much to deal with the explanations and than have to try and figure everything out that is going on with yourself. For example, on your blog I have seen little things that have been helpful and at this point I don’t require a lengthy, over explanation of every move make. It makes it way too complicated when you are already complicated throughout your being!
Would you be willing to join an email newsletter and receive emails from me? Yes
Would you be interested in having videos and podcasts covering a multitude of topics? Yes
Would you be interested in workbooks, e-books, and other “you CAN do this at home” materials? Definitely – YES
Would you be interested, as a clinical therapist, to learn more about how to work in the field of Dissociative Disorders? N/A
Would any of you be willing to pay for some of the specialized resources I can provide, and to contribute financially to the costs of building such an expansive resource? I would really like to say, Yes, however I don’t have enough income to pay for this service.
Would you be interested in developing a greater sense of community around this blog, in some way or fashion? (I’m still thinking on the “how-to” specifics about that one). Yes
Does any of that interest you? Yes
To add to your questions, Kathy, just a suggestion, maybe you can add things that other DID’ers do, go through, what works, experiences through therapy – like what they actually go through inside, their thoughts as they are going through the process of healing, mainly the stuff all the books really do not discuss. Most books that are by professionals seem to be more about their clinical observations and most from folks who have gone through the process seem to leave out a lot. Why I write this is there are so many falsities out here, it is hard to believe a lot of stuff and I have found some online support groups have free range and no one really seems to discuss what I consider important issues on healing but more their insiders talking to each other, acting out, hating their T or loving their T, etc. I guess I would like to know what they feel like going through the healing phases, difficulties and challenges they faced, what their thoughts actually were, etc. Maybe this is too much but thought I would just ask as other than my T’s word (and sometimes she tells me she isn;t even sure) I personally feel it would be beneficial to hear from “REAL DID’ers” without all the drama, attention seeking behaviors.
At any rate, I hope this helps you in your research and thank you again – 🙂
You do have so much experience and insight to offer those of us suffering. There just isn’t enough support available for the vast majority of us. So many of your articles are such good reads, and I am grateful to be able to come here. I would love to see new stuff. I would love something more interactive.. Guess I feel like you have been gone so much afraid to hope you will truly be back.
I support you if you are coming back. You have a lot to offer.
kk
First of all, this was the very first blog I read after being diagnosed 3 years ago with DID, that actually made sense. I would come here several times a day, maybe for an answer, or some validation, or simply for another person, other than my therapist, that would say, “This is normal, and you are going to be okay.” I was a little disappointed when you stopped blogging as much, BUT I am thankful you are reorganizing! I support the ideas you have shared, and look forward to what is ahead for you, this blog, and those of us who follow. You know, as well as those of us who are survivors, that it can be very lonely at times. Even when we have an incredible therapist, support system, spiritual beliefs, etc., it can be a lonely, difficult place.
Thank you for your continued belief, support, knowledge, and care for those of us who have suffered, and survived…may God bless you and your work.
In answer to all of your questions, my anser is yes, a big yes! I am interested. Podcasts, videos, I’d even be willing to guest blog for you!
You can email me xx
That fact that you ARE a clinical mental health professional blogger that specifically helps those with D.I.D., for ME on THIS BLOG? I AM SO GRATEFUL that you have this blog, DON’T EVER QUIT because there are NOT that many individuals that will help those with D.I.D. like me and I NEED to be assured that SOMEONE IS out there to turn too and I am sure I speak for MANY other individuals that have D.I.D. too. Kathy YOU are VERY IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE and supportive to us all. You cannot even find many Medical people in clinics doing therapy that will help us out. Some, but by far not very many and in Wis where I am from specifically Madison, there is hardly anyone BECAUSE most medical professionals believe it’s too contraversial? to deal with, in other words for many, D.I.D. doesn’t exist, yet it does, they just do not want to work with us. Anyway, please don’t stop being there for the many voices that need to be heard. It is horrible for some to have D.I.D. for me it’s terror to live with. THANK YOU KATHY BROADY for being there dear. We need you STAY KATHY, and Blessings this Easter!
I would really like to see more about not just DID but the other dissociative disorders and how they present. And just ideas how to deal with them. 🙂
We love thie things you write and you videos! We cant wait to see what you do with the blog.:) we have lots of things we want to learn about but right now we got to leave for school so we will write about it later.
Rylie
My answers to every one of your questions is YES! I love your website. I came across it a year ago and have referred my therapist and a few friends to it as well. I would pay to use this site and its resources, and having an online community that I could give and receive support would be outstanding! (There is no community support places we can go around where we live and the isolation of it gets to me sometimes).
I will think on topics to ask about. One topic that you have already asked (I cant remember the name of the post) was about seeing your insiders outside. In the post you said you had answers to the question posed. I would love to hear them.
We hope the very best for you. You do some incredible work on this site, I hope you know how much your work matters. I’m excited to see what’s coming!
Ditto, everything the Collective said.