As wild as it feels, this month is the 15th anniversary of Discussing Dissociation. 

What would you do, if you knew you had 15 years to teach about dissociation and DID?

Yes, that’s amazing to me.  FIFTEEN YEARS.   

I had no idea, way back in 2008, where this journey would go.   I don’t know that I even expected to still be here and writing, 15 years later.   But yep… even though I don’t have as much writing time as I once did, I am still here, and yep!  Still writing!   And you — you’re still here reading!   That warms my heart, and thank you. 

Our fifteen years together…

Oh my goodness.  Where to start about 15 years?   

There’s so much more to this story than I can ever put in a single blog article.   The road has been long… I’ve moved from one country to another, and back again.   MY challenges have been many….  and yet, I’ve learned a lot about YOU during this time as well.  And you’ve taught me lots during these years.  I could write more about the resources that have been developed here over time, but really, I’d rather write more about what I’ve seen in you.   

So for YOU — the community of trauma survivors and trauma support folks who come here to this blog — let me share what my experience has been with you.    

Truths You Have Shown Me 

I learned that you are caring.
 
You are a compassionate community, willing to reach out to others who understand the same kinds of pain and heartbreak.  You’re eager to help other trauma survivors, show many kindnesses to children, take good care of your animal-pals, and are open for a variety of lovely, positive friendships.  I see so much support offered from you to your dissociative peers who may also be struggling.

I learned that you have amazing resilience.

And strength.  And inner beauty.  And an ability to move forward, even while carrying heavy hearts and painful memories.  Hard knocks don’t stop you.  Even though your healing path is difficult, you dig in and do it.  Your determination to improve the quality of your life, both inside and out, is truly inspirational.

I learned that you are inquisitive, and interested, and invested.

You are willing to learn, read, and grow.  You’ve had so many questions, and searched for so many answers.  Your extensive quests for healing information have been staggeringly impressive.  (And, by the way, there’s no way on earth I could ever write enough to keep up with the number of questions you have!  I’ll keep trying, so keep sending in those requests.) (Oh, and PS:  If you really need to know something ASAP, please consider a consultation!  It’s a much quicker, more effective way to get your specific questions answered.)

I learned that you are kind people.

That the biggest group of trauma survivors I know are people who really just want to have a good life, be okay, feel comfortable, and live peacefully.  Most dissociative people I know don’t want to be hurters of others.  The need for conflict and abuse is no longer necessary!  Most people I know are more invested in having their own safe life, getting away from trauma, not being trapped in violence, and being helpful to others.

I learned that you are committed to your healing.

Your dedication to meeting your system of internal people and hearing their stories is essential, even though painful at time.  Your commitment to your ongoing therapy sessions, or ongoing consultations, or ongoing support groups has been highly commendable.  Your dedication for safety, to find comfort for your pain, and to experience healthy lives is precious to see. 

I learned that you want to speak out!

Watching you grow into a community with a bigger voice, with a bigger vision, with a bigger reach — knowing you can be proud of who you are and what you stand for — has been awesome to witness.  This has happened more and more, and is an ever-growing process.  Your courage to share openly about DID is there — it’s happening! 

I learned that if I create a place of community and support, you will come.

Many of you have been part of the DDCF forum community for years, writing hundreds, if not thousands of posts.  Many of you have attended our P4 Conferences and Retreats, dedicating days and weeks of your life to come together and learn about living your best life as a dissociative person.  And our Zoom Groups — wow. Those have become incredible conversations, again, there to help increase understanding, and gain support and friendship.  You are not alone as a dissociative person.  You have many resources here!

I learned that’s it’s been worth it!

It’s been worth it to create this blog, to reach out to dissociative souls who are hurting and healing, to find ways to hear you and to stand with.  It’s not been easy.  Definitely not easy for you, and by no means has it been a picnic on this side either.  But… worthwhile.  And rewarding.  Meaningful.  Heartfelt.  And even fun.  Yep, one of the best things I’ve seen is how much fun you are.

A Grateful Group

Over the American Thanksgiving weekend, our forum community held another group zoom.  We do those Group Zooms from time to time and we talk, and talk, and talk for hours.  We laugh, cry, share stories, hold heart-pain, encourage, giggle about our goofiness, etc etc.  Amazing groups.  (If you’re interested in sharing that kind of experience, consider joining DDCF.)  One of the pre-group questions for the Grateful Group Zoom was to send in a song that spoke about what you are grateful for — music that shared your heart.

The following song was completely brand new to me, but it was sent in as a song that explained the acceptance and open-heart of Discussing Dissociation — how the DD community growing here has been accepting, kind, and willing to help so many of the groups of pain-filled-people who are already mentioned in this song. Powerful dedication, if you ask me.  It is an honor to think of the DD Community as a place where this kind of healing and acceptance can happen.

I share that song with you today, in case you hear yourself in this song.  And maybe, if you are looking for a place of community where you can join in…. Consider becoming part of what we are doing here at Discussing Dissociation.   

Plowshare Prayer — written and performed by a trauma survivor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hey Kathy — what will the next fifteen years include?

• No doubt, more DD articles… 

• And of course, an ongoing, supportive forum community. 

• More DID-inspired retreats, absolutely.

• P4 Retreat: TEXAS 2024.   Oct 14-24, 2024

• Small Group Intensives are starting.

• More videos, more teachings, more education, more learnings.

• Ongoing consultations.

• More questions answered, with even more questions asked.

• In 15 more years… who knows where we’ll be???!!

Are we really going to have another 15 years?

Hmmmmm, that sounds like lots of time, sitting here in 2023, but you know…. maybe just maybe 2038 will arrive before we know it.   I wouldn’t have guessed in 2008 that I’d be writing this in 2023, so you know… I’m guessing that another fifteen years will fly by before we know it.  So, yes!  Let’s do it!

What can you do to make that happen?

Stay connected!  Stay involved!  Keep learning!  Keep teaching!  Keep sharing!  Keep caring!  There is a LOT more to this story — that’s what I know for sure.

But most of all, for these past 15 years, thank you.   Thank you for being here.  Thank you for reading.  Thank you for participating.  Thank you for commenting.  Thank you for telling your friends and loved ones.  Thank you for standing in the gap.  Thank you for supporting the work we are doing together to create a healthier, safer world.   What YOU are doing matters too.   Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

I wouldn’t be here doing this, if you weren’t over there doing your part.   :).  Teamwork, hey?   So thank you for keeping this site alive and well.   You’re so much more important than you know.

As always, and for at least another 15 years, I wish you the very best in your healing journey.

Warmly,

Kathy

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