Phases of therapy for DID

I stumbled across this last night and found it very interesting. If I have seen anything like this before I've blocked it out. This website http://www.minddisorders.com/Del-Fi/Dissociative-identity-disorder.html#b says that there are typically several stages of psychotherapy (talking therapy) for DID:

An initial phase for uncovering and "mapping" the patient's alters
A phase of treating the traumatic memories and "fusing" the alters
And a phase of consolidating the patient's newly integrated personality

Most therapists who treat multiples, or DID patients, recommend further treatment after personality integration, on the grounds that the patient has not learned the social skills that most people acquire in adolescence and early adult life.

I feel that with my last therapist we worked through initial phase (it took 3 years due to trust issues). WIth my current therapist we're in the treating memories stage. It gives us an indication of what we can expect to come which is insightful and thought it may interest others too.

Interesting.

This is te exact drill I've been going through over 3 years of conventional therapy and 1 1/2 with a trauma therapist. Fusion does not seem like a likely outcome of therapy for me but my System has made huge strides towards integration.

the patient has not learned the social skills that most people acquire in adolescence and early adult life

It never ceases to amaze me how similar people with trauma based DID are; I made this exact same comment to my therapist. At the age of 53 I find myself questioning, unsure of how to handle things I have done for as long as I can remember. All of my old rules of behavior are out the window and I don't have the operating instructions for my new brain. It's like trying to fly the Space Shuttle without the flight manual.

[The primary identity] uses the name the patient was born with and tends to be quiet, dependent, depressed and guilt-ridden.

Interesting. That's how I entered therapy (when I was able to front - that and terrified!). Jane is still like that.

We are in the second phase. I feel that integration is close, that some of the lines that separate us are fading, that their feelings are starting to feel like mine. For some of us at least. Like ninchen feels like my 'inner child' vs an alter sometimes. They front less and less often, and often there's silence in my head, like I'm alone! (crazy!). I am learning social skills already I think (but am definitely very far behind others my age!)

[The primary identity] uses the name the patient was born with and tends to be quiet, dependent, depressed and guilt-ridden.

This is interesting. That is exactly how I was, and now slowly as more feelings are shared and the more the I learn about the whole of me, or all of us, the more grounded, whole and rounded I feel.

They front less and less often, and often there's silence in my head, like I'm alone! (crazy!).

I long for silence! I am also in stage 2 but am trying to work with A, a part who is very abusive, talks all the time and seemingly doesn't want to share memories or let other parts do so either.

With me, my T told us that phase 1 was also about stabilising, creating safety and teaching self regulation skills, as well as discovering all the alters/parts, but each therapist and client is different.

With me, my T told us that phase 1 was also about stabilising, creating safety and teaching self regulation skills, as well as discovering all the alters/parts, but each therapist and client is different.

Here too; Like that is all imperative for going any further.

matryoshkadoll wrote:my T told us that phase 1 was also about stabilising, creating safety and teaching self regulation skills

This was a huge part of my first two years of cognitive therapy. My male and female alters had a bloody battle for control of the body. She was angry about having been suppressed for 35 years and wanted to live life. I was terrified she was going to take over. After we found some balance, the flashbacks and time/memory loss began. I was diagnosed as separate personalities and began psychodynamic trauma therapy.