mpd or did

[beginning108]

are there anyone who are having "different personalities" for different parts of their lives? it is being suggested by my therapist, and starting to notice myself and this is good! it's like i can feel or heal...i'm not crazy, just reporting, i'm rather a balancing type primarily. just wanted to hear from anyone who has pieces of themselves that don't have anythign to do with one another other than making up the whole and...thanks...

 

[ForeverFighting]

I had parts. I call it a low-grade DID, because I didn't lose time or anything. I knew about some of my parts, but others surprised me. I wrote a little about it in a post a while back here: https://malesurvivor.org/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=26;t=000330#000007

DID was just a child's way of keeping his mind, his "self" safe. Each part is basically a bottle of unreleased emotions, and as those parts get to talk, to tell their stories and feel everything, they become less powerful. They become more like tools than individuals. My parts still surface from time to time, but they don't control me.

You're not alone.

 

[sonlite]

beginning108 -

I have considered myself to be dissociative for years. I have been able to identify some distinct parts of myself which affect how I view the world, myself and my experiences. Like foreverfighting, I do not lose time because of being completely taken over by an alter. It has taken some practice to be alert enough to recognize when I am thinking and behaving in a way which would fit 'a part' vs. thinking and behaving as my whole self. I have done such things as have talks in the car to my parts and have written letters to some. Or like whenever I get a craving for chocolate cream filled donuts, I know that an inner-child part of me is needing some attention and to be listened to. Foreverfighting described it well as he said "Each part is basically a bottle of unreleased emotions..." And so my first steps were to welcome those parts and accept that the parts had to be allowed by me to tell their stories. The best book on this which I have read is "The Stranger in the Mirror" by Marlene Steinberg. It does a good job of explaining the range of dissociative experiences, and some tips on dealing w/ it. I also recommend reading "Getting Through the Day" by Nancy Napier.
The best advice I can offer is three tips:

1. educate yourself.
2. be kind to your self.
3. competent therapy.

* since dissocation is misunderstood and often mis-diagnosed I recommend going to the International Society for the Study of Dissociation www.issd.org. has a list of therapists.

Good Luck and know that you're not alone.