Yes, it’s true.  While the world was struggling and groaning and moaning under the pressures of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, those of us here at Discussing Dissociation have had a fabulous year.  At least I have, and I most definitely want to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and THANK YOU for your part in that. 

You — those of you who faithfully read and participate at DD — you have contributed to the ever building list of resources that we are developing for you and your system.  Or for you and your clients.  Or for you and your loved one.  YOU have been awesome, and thanks to you, and your interests, and your contributions to the positive nature of this tribe, we are pulling in more and more incredible opportunities for more and more people.

All of our forum communities are growing.  

More and more and more people are coming to the blog.

More and more and more folks are reaching out for Consultations with either Laura or myself.

More and more and more folks are writing in to Awesome Email Alex and asking great questions.

More and more and more folks are adding to the ever developing resources here at Discussing Dissociation. 

The community here is full of incredible people.  You’ve been kind. You’ve been inquisitive.  You’ve been patient.  You’ve been excited.   You have been fun.  You have been genuine.  It’s so very good for my heart and soul to be surrounded by such good people, and thank you for being here.  Thank you.  And please stay.  Because we ain’t done growing yet!

 

   Do you need to learn more about Dissociative Identity Disorder?

 

Just like this picture of puzzle pieces trailing into a very long line of sparkly colorful puzzle pieces, the sparkly, colorful ideas and resources we are developing here at DD will continue to grow.  And grow.  And grow.  We have a very long list of projects already in the works. 

For example, did you know that we are working on formatting the Discussing Dissociation blog into E-BOOKS?

Or that we are working on formatting the Discussing Dissociation blog into a hand-held book?

Or that we will soon be starting Group Zoom Consultations for Mental Health Professionals who want to learn more and more about how to treat DID?

Or that we are already building a library of Video Resources for Information and Education? 

Or that we are already looking at plans for P4 TWO ?!

 

 

Some of the Discussing Dissociation Highlights of 2020

• The BEST EVENT EVER — the P4 DID Conference 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona
• The OPENING of the DDEF — The Educational Forum where Kathy and Laura teach about DID
• The OPENING of SSPA — the Spouse and Partner Support Forum
• The SECOND YEAR anniversary of DDCF — the DID Community Forum 
• The genuine CONNECTION, Care, and RESPECT that is growing within the DD Community.

 

 

The P4 DID Conference

Oh, those ever-changing Covid-19 restrictions, mass gathering limitations, and travel complications made it extremely difficult to plan for our Phoenix Arizona LIVE EVENT.  But even as difficult as it was, we had a live event that was AWESOME.  We maintained our social distance, and we ZOOMED it with hundreds of folks world-wide.   Yep, our little P4 Conference reached hundreds of people all around the world.

How AMAZING is THAT?! !!

YES!!  The P4 DID Conference Handouts ARE FINALLY READY!

But … they are so huge.  Pages and pages of information, all fancied up with some of the incredible P4 Conference art contributions.  In fact, the size of the handouts file is so huge that I’ve had a little trouble figuring out how to send them out.  I gotta figure out how to hand out the handouts!

We are problem-solving this minor detail and for all the P4 Attendees — please know we will have them available for your viewing soon.   I will say that the DDEF (Educational Forum) Members have had an early sneaky peek into the P4 Handouts, and all the feedback has been positive.  That’s fantastic because this creative little resource was a lot of work to put together.   

Oh, and while I’m here, I want to make a special shout out to Dedra from MetroNBI for many, many, many hours of hard work of help and assistance in designing and create such a fabulous resource.  You will LOVE THIS when you see it.  It’s pretty amazing.  THANK YOU!

 

Also, just for fun, I want to share one of the P4 Art Videos with you.

Hyperbolic Knitting and the DID Healing Process.

Just like the process of making any art project, did you know that KNITTING could be an incredibly useful way to pay attention to your inside world, a time to  think about your healing, and a way to increase internal communication with your system insiders?  While knitting, even the colors, the shapes, and the designs of the knitted creations can have powerful meaning to you and your system people.   

Hyperbolic knitting.  Who knew?!

The number of creative ways that dissociative folks can interact with their system people never ends. 

What’s the moral of this story?   If  you want to find ways to reach YOUR people, you can do it.

 

 

 

Yep, it’s already DDCF’s 2-year anniversary!  

 

WOW.  ALREADY TWO YEARS!!!

I have to say to to say that once again, I am thoroughly pleased and thrilled at the way our DID Forum Community has grown together.  I am so very very proud of the DDCF Community.  STILL, very very proud of this group.

We have the best people at this forum.  The very very best.

I’m proud of how well our Community members interact with each other. 

I’m thrilled with how well the Community members share openly with each other. 

I’m amazed at how committed folks have been to making this Community a wonderful place.

It’s not perfect — we have a few bumps every now and then — can’t say we’re not real people, because we are.  BUT, we work it out, and we reach out to each other, and we do really well at getting along.  I can see real friendships developing, and real connections being made between folks. 

Where else can you go to find a group of dissociative folks who really and truly understand what life is like as a dissociative system of people struggling through life?   I’m sure there are a few other options out there in the world, but this one is a really good one.

 

 

 

For you who have not yet joined in, YOU are welcome too!  If our Forum Community sounds like a place where you wanna be, YOU are invited to join our DDCF Community for our third year, the fourth year, and beyond.

DDCF is open, available all day and night, and our friendly members are still chatting with each other.   What would you be willing to contribute as a DDCF Community Forum Member?

Click HERE for more information about joining our group TODAY.

 

 

What is DDEF — The Educational Forum ?

 

DDEF, the Discussing Dissociation Educational Forum, aka, the Educational Forum, is a separate, stand-alone forum designated for dissociative survivors where both Kathy and Laura teach about DID.  We ask questions, of course, but we also answer questions, and answer a lot of them.   You do not have to be a member of DDCF to be a member of DDEF.  Yes, most people are members of both forums, because the benefits and are different for each forum, but that is not required.

Laura and I participate with the discussions, we provide educational videos, sound clips, and various learning materials for dissociative survivors to apply to their own healing.  Of course, we encourage a whole lot of system work, and teach how to do that.   

Monthly subscriptions for DDEF Forum are available.  Please contact Alex for more information.

 

 

 

SSPA — the Spouse and Partner Support Forum

 

At Discussing Dissociation, we have been receiving many, many requests for a Support Forum for spouses, partners, friends, loved ones of dissociative survivors.   So….. we did something about that.

In November 2020, we opened the SSPA — a forum designated for exactly that.  A place for spouses and partners to gather together and gain a little more support and understanding of DID, and a place to talk with other spouses who struggle with some of the same difficulties. 

 

This forum is new, and needs more members!   

Are YOU a spouse looking for others who understand what YOUR life is like living with a dissociative person?   JOIN US TODAY!

 

 

The genuine CONNECTION, CARE, and RESPECT that is growing within the DD Community.

THIS is the BEST achievement of 2020. 

 

Laura and I have been watching this happen ever so slowly, month by month, and it is absolutely wonderful.  It brings the unexpected magic to what is happening here, and lets all of us have a warm spot growing around us. It’s a little bit surprising, considering we’re an online community, but it’s really true.

The dissociative survivors who participate actively with the DD Communities are genuinely building a solid support system around themselves.  A real one.  Not just a fake one — a real one. 

Yep, the deepening, genuine, and very real connections that are growing more and more between the Discussing Dissociation Forum Members has become a truly heart-warming experience.  We are truly building a COMMUNITY that cares for each other.  A community that understands each other.  A community that supports each other.   There is a genuine level of friendship and bonding that has happened between us.

It’s seeing the connections grow between folks.  It’s meeting the other members of the forum in a safe and private way.  It’s the interaction between us, the excitement we feel as a community to be together. 

Along with that, is the fact that some of the most exciting changes that have happened this year have come while watching the personal growth and personal gains made in the individual lives of the people we have met.  We’ve witnessed some amazing personal achievements, and what an honor that has been. 

 

 

THANK YOU for making 2020 one of the best years, despite all its pandemic troubles.  I truly appreciate YOU, and I look forward to getting to know you better in 2021. 

 

For fun, someone sent me an image of encouragement.  How fun is that?!

Thanks for reading. AND participating!

I wish you the very best in your healing journey. 

Warmly,

Kathy

 

 

Copyright © 2008-2021 Kathy Broady MSW and Discussing Dissociation