Many dissociative trauma survivors have issues with time. Sometimes the past sneaks up into the present. Sometimes the present disappears. Sometimes there are two time zones (or more) occurring at the same time. Sometimes there are huge gaps in time. Sometimes time stands still. It can be confusing to say the least. Have you ever had a flashback from some year gone by overwhelm your current … [Read more...]
Denial — Does it help? Or does it hurt?
To any dissociative trauma survivor weighing heavy in denial.... Denial.... SO important for your years of survival.... SO very very crucial for maintaining your education, functionality, employment... Denial.... important, so very powerful... covers up the amnesia What time loss? Has anyone lost time? Denial... covers up the pain covers up the horror covers up the … [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...]
Using the Internal Landscape to Increase Internal Communication
Trauma survivors with Dissociative Identity Disorder have an internal world – an internal landscape that is visible, tangible, and very real for the different internal parts. No one on the outside can see this internal world – it is within the mind of the DID person and it belongs totally and completely to them. Many times, this internal landscape is an internalized replica of what happened in the outside … [Read more...]
Being Kind to Your Internal System
Hey hello - How are you today? Thanks for coming back and reading more of the Discussing Dissociation blog. It's exciting to see the number of site viewers growing each week - I think you all must be spreading the news! I appreciate all of you who have already become regular readers, and thanks for telling your friends. As a follow-up to yesterday's post about giving- making- creating- providing new and … [Read more...]