I hope you have already recorded your score for the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) before reading this follow-up blog. If you haven't yet taken the DES, please do so before reading any further. Information about the DES can be found here: How Dissociative Are You? Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) To explain the scoring of the DES, I’m going to quote some material from Dr. Colin Ross’s … [Read more...]
How Dissociative Are You?
Dissociative Identity Disorder How dissociative are you? Do you know what it is? Does dissociation feel familiar to you? Have you ever floated above yourself? Have you ever felt like more than one person? Have you ever separated from your body? Do you wonder if you have a dissociative disorder? Do you wonder if you are more dissociative than average? Learning about dissociation, being … [Read more...]
10 Life-Lessons I’ve Learned from Multiples, part 2
To continue the previous post, here are five more life-lessons I’ve learned from my years working with those with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID/MPD). By their life example, multiples have shown me: 6. Spiritual Strength even Under Persecution Most survivors with DID and long-term severe abuse have had various religious / spiritual connotations mixed in with that abuse, creating a version of … [Read more...]
10 Life-Lessons I’ve Learned from Multiples, part 1
No, I'm not a multiple. I do not have multiple personalities. I do not have Dissociative Identity Disorder. But I know multiples very well. I am a trauma therapist who has worked almost exclusively with people with dissociative disorders. I met my first DID survivor 30 years ago. Since then, I have met more multiples than I can count, and I have spent hours and hours and hours each week -- and most … [Read more...]
What if you don’t like being Multiple?
This week, the readers here have posted a wide variety of reactions to the idea that being multiple could have benefits. If you haven't yet read all the comments on that blog, please do so. They are very interesting. When people have DID/MPD, they have experienced life as a multiple since their childhood. It is their norm - basically the only way of life they know. Multiples typically have not experienced … [Read more...]