Last night I lost my keys in the office. It was a silly ordeal – they were hanging right where I last put them – but it took me awhile to remember where that was. I had a little help finding them, and I am really thankful that Mr. Janitor Man was so very kind. He was patient with me, looking everywhere with me while I retraced my steps of the evening. We looked under couches, in between cushions, under … [Read more...]
Not Getting to Be Your True Self – But Whose Life is it Anyway?
Do you get to be your real self? I’ve been wondering what else I could teach about Dissociative Identity Disorder, using an episode of United States of Tara as the example. Then I remembered the last minute of a show about Buck and his emotional pain. And I thought more of how very painful and how very real that heartbreak is for Buck. Throughout this season two, Tara has struggled with the fact … [Read more...]
Who Really Did It? Re: Teen Dating Abuse
The advertising for General Hospital's segment on teen violence / teen dating abuse** caught my attention. I decided I would check out this "Must See Week!" since the topic is such an important one, especially after all the media coverage of the Chris Brown / Rhianna abusive incident. Today's teenagers do need to know about domestic violence issues, and I was hoping that General Hospital would do the topic … [Read more...]
Dual Mask – A Picture of Dissociative Identity Disorder
Here is the next picture in the series about DID artwork. Dual Mask Even the title of this painting indicates Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID / MPD). Masks are a common metaphor used by the dissociative survivor. In this picture, where are the masks? What are the masks covering? What does the “real” person, or the rest of the person look like? Where are the others in the system? Are they … [Read more...]
Remembering Annemaria
There is a young woman who will always be precious to me. I haven’t spoken to her in years, but she forever changed my life. Just in being herself, Annemaria gave me my very first introduction to Dissociative Disorders. She changed my life. Absolutely and completely. This date – October 23rd -- had specific meaning for her. And every year on this date, I specifically think of her. The story … [Read more...]