Blocking A Bad Alter *trigger warning*

I'm not entirely sure why I am out but I'm glad I am. I need help with how I can block another alter from sending me bad images.

See, Danny lives in the forest and he only comes out when Jo is disciplining an animal. He likes to hurt animals. He also likes to send us, and Jo, gruesome images of animals being tortured, from him kicking them to them being cut open. It's sad, cause he's only seven. He shouldn't think that way.

But it's worse during this time of the year. It's so intense and scary and horrible that it makes me really depressed and I cry all the time. The only time I get relief is if I'm out.

How do I get him to stop? Or block him out? I know the others want to as well. - Theresa

I don't have DID but I've heard of people restraining some alters with chains or locking them up and then trying this method called "integration". I hope someone with experience can help you out!

The best way to do things in situations like this isn't to try to restrain or block them, in my opinion, because it doesn't really solve things, and could make them worse. Lots of times when people do things like to animals, it's because they are feeling powerless in other ways (perhaps in relationships with other people. i.e. parents, partner, etc.) so they show power over other people/creatures that they are able to. If you are seeing a therapist, it might help to bring up the fact that he shows you the images (since it doesn't seem to be in a 'warning' or 'helping' way, so it's a bit more complicated) and see if the T can help you guys solve it, and have him stop showing them.

Duke is like that to an extent in a way, also. So we ourselves are dealing with it, though it doesn't happen as often with us since i'm mostly able to stop/control him. That and/or he just has a hard time taking over in the first place. But either way, i can understand where you are coming from.

I agree, I am not sure blocking him is the best thing to do. Talking to him would probably be more effective. There has to be some agreement you can come to. This is definitely a therapy situation. I hope it works out well for you.

The most I've been able to do so far is come to an agreement with my husband that if I get mad at the animals, I just walk away. I'm not sure how to help those on the inside, though, so I'll definitely talk to my therapist about it. I know I had a lost of black outs last night and Paul said every one of them came out to get a break from this Danny boy's mental tormenting, cause apparently it's harder to hear him when they are out.

Thank you all, darlings. I will attempt more to communicate with him. At the moment there is only one who can get near him and she doesn't talk, that and she is an animal so I fear her going near him to begin with. The most I've been able to do over the years is create animals in his domain to keep him occupied until there is a time we can get him help. I know that may only encourage him but for the longest time it was working and he never came out to harm a real animal. Over the last few years it has worked less and less and now he it sending us these dreadful images.

It is during the holidays it is the worst, so I do know it is rooted during this time. His actions upsets all of us, the children and Theresa especially, and it's been part of the reason Jo is less functional this time of the year though she has never realized it. I will try to explain to them that they can't actually block him out and should try to distract themselves. I just worry of the habit they are all forming, myself included, of coming out just to get away. I'm sure Jo doesn't even remember the majority of the day and night yesterday. I do feel guilty for that.

Thank you, darlings, for letting me talk some of this out. With comforting the others I hardly have anyone to talk to about it myself, though I tried last night with Jo's husband, but sadly he doesn't entirely understand.

Nadia

Blocking or restraining an alter is never a good solution, and never a permanent solution. However, it can be a necessary solution at times, and can be a temporary solution.

Sending him animals is promoting his behaviour. This, while it may keep him "peaceful", will not help you overall. He must find healthy ways to express himself, and his behaviour must be understood before it can be ceased. If you are not yet in therapy, I suggest getting yourself into therapy as soon as possible. If you are in therapy, I suggest making Danny the priority and focus in therapy.

Try to ask Danny why he hurts animals, what he gets out of it, what purpose it serves to him, why he wants to do it, etc. Ask why he sends those images to others, what he means by it, what purpose those images serve, etc. Try to understand his point of view and what causes his behaviour. The more you know and understand, the better you will be able to help him and figure out this situation.

I doubt Danny cares about the impact his images and actions have, but you could try reasoning with him and explaining why you would like him to at least stop sharing the images.

Do you think if Danny found safe ways to express himself (even if it is "through" someone else up front/in control), the images at least would stop?

Danny sounds very similar to one of our young alters, Cassidy. She is 8, yet has the tendencies of a serial killer, and can be extremely "dark". This thread, while short, is about her and might be helpful to you: http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic94943.html

(Now that I think of it, this should be a in the Resource thread. I shall have to edit that at some point).

I hope that you are able to figure this out soon. In the meantime, try to ignore his images as much as possible, and use distraction techniques, as well as calming and grounding techniques that might help you and Theresa. Perhaps listen to happy or calming music, or look at and remind yourself of happy pictures/images. Remember, no storm lasts forever. This one will eventually pass.

~Rain