Posted by Dinah on April 9, 2004, at 20:34:26
In reply to Re: Multiple Personality: A shameful, nonexistent dx?, posted by shadows721 on April 9, 2004, at 2:34:56
I too find that the stigma is incredible. And I find myself ashamed of what is probably DD-NOS, not DID, though I've never been formally diagnosed. I've been informally diagnosed, I suppose, by my therapist. No amnesia, complete co-consciousness.
I don't tell *anyone*, and am relatively ashamed to admit it here. My therapist knows, my pdoc doesn't, the EMDR therapist had to (but really didn't get it *at all* which was ok, she didn't need to), my husband and family don't know. If they did, they'd likely think I was nuts, and I'm not. People just don't understand. They really don't. I'm afraid my husband would be afraid of leaving me alone with my son. While the truth is that it's no big deal. Both my ego states have posted here, and I doubt anyone could tell the difference. Both my ego states have spoken and interacted with my family and acquaintances and no one but my therapist can tell the difference. There are no different names or different lives. It's really just not a big deal. Not for me anyway. I'm sure that if I lost time or found myself doing frightening things, it would be a way bigger deal. But I don't.
I briefly tried to be an ego state activist, but unfortunately I haven't the fortitude to be an activist. I run into a little ignorance and prejudice and I fold.
I prefer "ego state" to "alter" because the word "alter" seems to imply that there is a core and then there are alters, and that really isn't the case with me. Or if it is, I have no idea which is which.
And I suspect you're right about people wanting demand performances. And you're right that that is abusive. I am sooooo glad my therapist reacts as matter of factly as I do. He never asks to speak to some other part of me, or does anything that makes me feel like I'm anything but a perfectly normal human being.
poster:Dinah
thread:334109
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040409/msgs/334685.html