DID AWARENESS DAY

March 5

Thankfully, more and more people, worldwide, are becoming aware of DID: Dissociative Identity Disorder. Even so, there are many many more people to educate and teach. So many more folks who don’t yet understand.

Last year, at Discussing Dissociation, we held a group zoom on DID Awareness Day 2021 and talked about our thoughts and goals. We challenged each other for what we could each do to increase awareness in the world — appropriate awareness, accurate information, healthy presentations — about DID and the truth about it.

Did we do it? Did this group of dissociative survivors make an impact on the world?

In my opinion, the DID community at Discussing Dissociation and the DDCF Community Forum group have accomplished some incredible goals this past year in increasing accurate and appropriate awareness about DID. The groups here have been actively telling the world, and teaching more and more people.

Some of the accomplishments we’ve seen here are:

- In forums and blogs, the creation of more and more written materials, available for anyone to read.

- TRibe, Tangled Web, NH and a variety of other dissociative systems have authored numerous articles written with deep sensitivity and clear understanding of what DID is, how healing looks, and some of the best ways to approach system communication.

- Several of our community members have been teaching and presenting DID education at local groups for therapists, university students, and church groups.

- We held P4² — an international conference loaded with information about DID. Sooo many dissociative survivors contributed to the array of materials, artwork, and educational videos presented in Chicago.

- One of our nearest and dearest community members has been interviewed by the media, and had the courage to present her life story as a dissociative trauma survivor who was freed from sex trafficking in a news article available worldwide.

- Live United and her therapist have written a book sharing information about trauma, healing, and recovery. They also participated in videos that were a great addition to the P4² DID Conference materials.

- TRibe has written, recorded, and presented an ever growing array of musical selections that both comforts dissociative survivors and teaches about DID.

- Other community members have emailed dozens and dozens of people — including politicians, community leaders, legal advisors, megachurch pastors — advocating for awareness and resources for DID and sex trafficking.

- Hundreds of conversations have occurred on an individual basis, answering any number of questions about DID.

- Amazing graphics, art creations, photographs, pictures, drawings, videos, and other visual descriptions of dissociation and DID have been created and shared on this site, in the forums, at conferences, and on social media.

Do you see why I am so incredibly proud of the dissociative community here at Discussion Dissociation?!!

We have really good people here. Amazing people here.

The DD survivors are people who are invested in their healing, in their recovery, in their safety, in the safety of their children and loved ones. The DD group members are totally invested in learning how to have happy productive lives, and to being the best person they can be, and to helping those nearest to them. With gusto, strength and determination, they start their healing work at home, and making their own areas, their own systems, their own families, and their own homes a better place.

We have dissociative people who are courageously determined to make the world a better place by treating both inside and outside people with kindness and respect, by not carrying out the abuse they experienced, by improving their own corners of the world, by not backing down to abuser groups. Fighting for freedom and safety helps! Each and every person who gains safety from abuse helps and encourages others to follow that same path, allowing more and more light to shine in our world.

The DD community members have not been willing to turn a blind eye to injustices, inaccuracies or untruths. Instead, they feel strong, prepared and capable of speaking out and tackling misinformation with legitimate facts and helpful education. They have bared their souls and shared their own life stories. This community of people is completely devoted to teaching others accurate and helping information about dissociation, and building appropriate resources.

This is a group of warriors. DID survivors who don’t back down.

I’m telling you — they are an amazing group of people. I have learned so much by standing with.

What will YOU do this year to increase DID awareness?

Be courageous! Share the news about DID, and have the confidence to teach those around you. There is no doubt in my mind that the DD community is having a solid, resounding, long-lasting impact on the world. Yes, yes, yes — together, we can make a difference.

Join in — you’re welcome here.

I wish you the very best in your healing journey.

Warmly,

Kathy