How would you describe a dissociative trauma survivor’s brain?
What are some words or phrases that describe what happens in a DID trauma survivor’s brain?
These questions were asked to the DID survivors who participate in the Discussing Dissociation Community Forum (DDCF). The DDCF group came up with a long lists of words, more than could ever fit on this quilt.
One of the goals and purposes of this creative exercise was to show that dissociative survivors are not so different from other people.
A kind and compassionate dissociative survivor, known as Live United, created this entire idea, and created this unique DID Artwork. Live United used their talents and abilities to design and stitch a handmade quilt showing descriptions of the dissociative brain.
It’s pretty awesome, hey?!
This lovely Quilted Artwork was on display An Infinite Mind’s Conference, Sept 2019, at the “One Day Regional Healing Together Conference” in Boston, Massachusetts. It was also donated for the P4 DID Conference, Aug 28-30, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona.
The words used are:
I am because we are
people,
brave,
unique,
lost children,
multi focused,
scared,
individuals,
inner strength,
misunderstood,
survivors,
human,
triggered,
organized,
male,
female,
determination,
dissociation,
talented,
hurting,
abused,
self critical,
one body,
complex,
compassionate,
facing adversity,
perseverance,
multi layered,
independent,
unique psychological responses,
automatic,
creative,
loyal,
intelligent,
adaptive,
challenging,
Live United.
That’s a lot of descriptive words!
If you are dissociative person, do you recognize yourself in those list of descriptions?
If you are a non-dissociative person, do you see how many similarities there are between you and a dissociative person?
It’s true, the dissociative person is uniquely different from the non-multiple person in a variety of ways. However, there are many beautiful qualities in all people, including dissociative people.
What words would YOU add to the list?
How would you describe the dissociative brain?
Unique DID ARTWORK
Does Live United’s creative quilt inspire you?
What ARTWORK do you create to describe dissociation?
What art forms do you use to process how DID feels?
Using creative, artful, expression to show what DID means to you, and to show how you experience dissociation in your life can be a helpful and therapeutic exercise. It can help you feel better about who you are, add to your positive self esteem, and celebrate personal growth. Recognizing your strengths and the resourcefulness of dissociation can add up to something that feels good.
Unique DID COURAGE
It took heaps of courage for Live United to donate “The Dissociative Brain Quilt” to be on full display at busy conferences, for people around the world to see.
Could you do that? Could you create something about your way of life (one that is labelled a mental health disorder), overcome any fears or stigma or insecurities you might feel, and present a personal Artwork to be shown in public place?
Could you risk feeling criticized? Could you wipe away worries of being judged? Could you overcome the fears of not being “good enough”?
Could you be so vulnerable as to share your system’s art about DID in public to rooms full of strangers?
Presenting artwork in a public venue takes a lot of courage. It takes a lot of personal strength. It takes a lot of personal confidence. Live United — I think you’re awesome! You did a great job!
I hope that seeing this example of a dissociative person doing something creative, something positive, something beautiful, something courageous is inspiring for you as well.
Oh, but wait a minute.
Speaking of the dissociative brain….
Have you heard about Dr. Amezcua-Patino’s Presentation at P4 DID Conference?
How Brain Science Informs Therapy Practices in Trauma Clients
P4 DID Conference
Saturday, Aug 29, 2020
9 am
Some of Dr Patino’s teaching topics include:
- How to use NeuroScience in Counseling
- Recent research on Trauma and the Brain related to PTSD and DID.
- What we know about DID in the structure and function of the Brain.
- Where can we gather the information other than MRIs, Pet Scans, QEEG to inform diagnosis?
- What are Neuropsychiatric tests?
- What you know about the person who took the Cambridge cognitive assessment.
Interested in learning more?
Register for the P4 DID Conference TODAY!
Unique DID Forum Community
Are you interested in interacting with dissociative people who think in ways similar to you and your DID brain?
Do you want to be around people who can relate to living life as a plural person with a plural-minded brain? Are you tired of feeling alone, and different from everyone else?
If our friendly DID Forum Community sounds like a place where you wanna be, YOU are invited to join the DDCF Community today.
It’s a good DID forum, it really is.
DDCF is full of good people. Our group members get along, and we have quality discussions without conflict or drama or mess. We just talk with each other.
DDCF is open, available all day and night, and our friendly members are busy chatting with each other, receiving support and interaction from the safety of their own homes.
What would you be willing to contribute as a DDCF Community Forum Member? How would participating in a DID Forum improve your healing? What could you learn? What insights will you gain?
How would you grow? What relationships could you build, inside and out?
Click HERE for more information about joining our group TODAY.
I wish you the best in your healing journey, and I look forward to seeing more of your artwork too!
Warmly,
Kathy
Copyright © 2008-2020 Kathy Broady MSW and Discussing Dissociation
Some important words are missing
Self-hatred, invisible , abandoned, Shameful, overwhelming fear, suicidal, and Controlled. Can you think of any other ones?
Here is the complete list of words. People suggest for the quilt
Distinctive Orbitofrontal control system
Unique Psychophysiological responses
Trans-diagnostic Phenomenon
Cortico-Limbic Disconnection
Thalamus Diversity
Collaboration, survivor
Multi-faceted, multiple layers
forever adapting, inner strength
Creative, Complex
Multi focused
am because we are.
lovable ,complicated, many talented , sadness easy to upset confrontational. confused I’m sure loss of memory feeling crazy childlike .
Thanks for the words on this side, Live United! Interesting words….increasing my vocabulary!!
MissyMing
03/12/20
OMG … I just looked at this article and the associated questions.
Does Live United’s creative quilt inspire you?
Live United inspires, teaches and leaves me in awe all of the time. The quilt is brilliant! Well done Live United.
What ARTWORK do you create to describe dissociation?
I have drawn a map of my inside world and I let my insiders do their own creative endeavors. Not exactly describing dissociation but being uniquely creative in expressing themselves. There have been some times when my insiders have expressed what they are feeling or how they see the inside world through their drawings. I have a young artist friend who comes and does creative expression with me. We are working together on an idea for a piece that will express my inside world. I am excited about the project as much because she is so excited.
What art forms do you use to process how DID feels?
Well, my little ones are all about crayons, beads, stickers and glue. I add in pen and ink, pastels, markers and pencils. It is as much about just releasing our creative energy as it is actually trying to do art. It is very soothing and cathartic for us all.
03/04/20
Hi Scout and MissyMing. Wanting to jump in here to tell Scout that I am 65 years old and was diagnosed just 6 years ago although I was in therapy back in the 70s and 80s. I have never met another multiple face-to-face (well, that I know of). I have found great comfort in being able to connect with folks here because they really know and understand what I am talking about. You know — that kind of understanding that does not take a whole lot of explaining on my part. I have a couple of trusted face-to-face friends that speak with some of my insiders but that is it. I am not afraid to say I am DID but I do not announce it either if you know what I mean. And, I have come to really appreciate how close a connection and community that I can feel online here. Take me and MissyMing for example. I feel that we have really connected over the past couple of years and have had some far more deep and meaningful discussions that I ever have with my face-to-face friends.
03/04/20
Yup, Me+We! What you have poured into me is very precious to me and has carried me through some tough spots…..I always look forward to reading what you have to say to whomever!
MissyMing
03/05/20
This online stuff is great and fine especially for people who are remote
I know young people like this
But I’m 60 and was diagnosed in the 70’s when people were with people in person
Connecting with outside people in person is the only way I have managed to survive
But I haven’t seen a actual mpd person or people in person since the early 90’
I can’t even find therapists who believe in it
I live in San Francisco Bay Area of California
We hope you find someone, Scout…..true – online “fitting in” is great….but it also feels important to have someone “face to face” who understands and isn’t “scared” of you…we have acquaintances that we can only go “so far” with and it isn’t easy to keep up with remembering “how much” we have told to “who”…..different people have different thresh-holds of how much they can handle….if we get “scattered” (i.e. – a too trusting, babbling young part bubbles up) and we mix people up – we have seen them shut down on us and then there is Internal chaos because that person is no longer “safe”….. and we have lost a “potential” “friend”……
Feeling “different” and “alone” is HARD, really HARD….but we keep telling ourselves ” I AM who I am…and I AM where I am….” and we keep going forward as best as we can… REFUSING to feel shame in it – we ARE who we ARE….We choose to look at it from the angle of them having missed a chance to “learn and understand” and to have a really “unique” friend……
Hang in there, Scout…..
MissyMing
02/18/20
I wanted this quilt to represent the people here on the blog and the form. So we put out the question. so much input was given back. We wish we had room for all the words that were used.
This quilt was inspired by all of you here on the form in the blog. I really felt it was important for people to see even though we are multiples we still can act and behave like singletons on some levels in our life.
We aren’t seeing all the words you talked about on the blog side….is it just on the forum side?….Or is it just our weird computer again…..
MissyMing
02/11/20
I wish I had some artwork abilities – Live United’s quilt is AWESOME!!….I used to have some art abilities….but don’t know where they all went…..must still be there somewhere….but I AM making an attempt to be more “public” with who we are…..It IS scary…but we are taking whatever steps we can…
Our counselor is teaching a class for a “Master’s in Psychology” group….she has asked us to be a voice for dissociation….to describe how dissociation impacts our lives – and how they can better “understand” us…..she says she can describe what it is like from an Outsider’s perspective – things that she has heard and learned…. but I will be a voice for those who “live” it….
I will be in one class as one who has dissociation with trauma memory still blocked off (other than “flashes”)…..another person will be in the class at another time as one who has experienced trauma but does not have dissociation…..we thought about having both of us on the same panel….but I still struggle with “denial” at times and was afraid “I” would get all “messed up”….if you know what I mean…..They would be asking me questions as well…which will be more helpful in keeping me “on track”….otherwise it would feel like a gazillion directions we could come from….different ones wanting to give “their” perspective….. WAY too overwhelming!….
It is nothing like a huge conference like what Live United was brave enough to do….it is only a small group in her class…but she says they WANT to “hear” me – which is HUGE!….It is SCARY…but a HUGE step forward for me….I hope things go well and we can be a “heard” voice….that they will “understand” and I will NOT just be someone who has “problems”…..Our counselor has also promised to “be there” for us….to “watch out” for us as we take this step…..we hope we can make her “proud” of us and that we help the students in her class……
The class will be soon….we hope things go well (i.e. – we don’t chicken out before-hand – or she changes her mind)….and we are truly “heard”…..and that we are a “good” voice for all of us – if you know what we mean…..
MissyMing
02/09/20
Unique resonates!