Through the years, some of the most popular articles of the Discussing Dissociation blog has been about compulsive hoarding. Compulsive Hoarding and Dissociative Disorders Land of the Free? I can’t explain their popularity on this blog, other than the way a rash of television programs have increased the awareness of the complications about hoarding. However, hoarding issues are typically … [Read more...]
Picturing the Healing Process for Dissociative Identity Disorder
This set of picture-postcards demonstrates a passage through time for a trauma survivor with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID / MPD). These pictures show different phases of the dissociative healing process, and illustrate how healing occurs. Notice that they move from a more shattered, painful, chaotic place to a calmer, structured, organized place. Where there is originally nothing but a fragmented … [Read more...]
10 Benefits of Being Multiple
Are there any benefits to being multiple? In the typical process of trauma therapy, your therapist and the dissociative trauma survivor will spend a great deal of time talking about how difficult it is to be multiple -- and it is difficult, no doubt about it. For the typical multiple, there were years and years of pain and horror and abuse requiring the need to split over and over into a number of … [Read more...]
Emotional Intensity, Safety and Memory Work
Here is a quote from my article "Overcoming Instability Issues and Unsuccessful Memory Work": "If you cannot speak, in your normal voice, discussing your trauma memories from the safety of the here-and-now while still connected in the present, then don't even try to address your memories. It is too soon." It has come to my attention that I need to expand on these statements. A. Your … [Read more...]
Acronyms As a Way to Bridge Communication
Acronyms are some of my favorite writing exercises. I am repeatedly impressed with the amount and quality of helpful information that can surface through the use of acronyms. Acronyms are helpful when you get stuck. They are also particularly helpful when addressing a topic head-on or “with logic” is getting you nowhere. Sometimes, it is better to take a more gentle, roundabout, less direct approach. Let the … [Read more...]