Bringing out the alters?

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to successfully bring out the alters. My partner's alters suggested that the reason she can't call on them most of the time is because she doesn't fully open herself to it, and so far they can only come out if I call them or if my partner is under stress.

Are there any visualisation techniques or anything else that might help?

Thank you.

usually this takes time and patience to be worked on, as alters, especially in the beginning, are often only used to coming out when triggered by something.

meditation can help with this. working on communication, writing, speaking, anything, can help with this. increasing your knowledge and awareness about everything, the alters, the system, yourself (i know you don't have it, but i'm speaking in terms of your partner) can help with this. visualizing and focusing on an alter's name, image, what you want to say to them, etc., can help with this. having safety/comfort/identity objects for alters can help with this (like a favorite piece of clothing that they like/prefer, or a favorite piece of jewelry, or even putting the hair in their preferred hairstyle, or carrying a keychain or stuffed animal they like, or something like that). listening to songs they like (but not triggering them in a bad way) can help with this.


here are some threads that might be helpful/of interest to you:

-- Advice? (deals with contacting and communicating with alters): http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic99713.html

-- Learning sign language (to help alters who have trouble communication through verbal and written forms): http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic98734.html

-- Is this normal in the DID world? (discusses depersonalization and the difficulties in recognizing a switch): http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic97249.html

-- When do you switch? : http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic98641.html

-- Switching at will: http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic97732.html

-- Co-consciousness & Co-hosting? : http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic99350.html

-- Just dropping by a question of two (discusses how to bring up hearing voice in therapy, accepting your alters/parts, and how to communicate/work with them): http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic102596.html

-- How to gain control? (discusses how to accept, communicate, share, and work with alters): http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic101946.html

-- How aware are other personalities (aware) of each other?: http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic96030.html




and these threads might also help you.

this thread has resource websites along with organized threads from this forum (the threads above were taken from this thread) that discuss discovery experiences, communicating with alters, all about alters, about inner worlds, conflicts within the system, doubt/denial issues, therapy issues, relationship stuff, how to help alters safely express themselves and cope with things (angry alters, depressed alters, etc), and much more:
-- DDNOS/DID Resources: http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic100829.html


this thread focuses more on the "causes" of DID, DID development, switching/co-consciousness/co-hosting (what they are and can be like), doubt/denial, and has two good threads, already listed above, about communicating/understanding/accepting/working with alters:
-- For all who question how they have DID/think their's is odd: http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic104081.html



hope you find this place helpful.


- cassie (age ?)

TTomboy gave you a lot of good info. It really does take a while to get comfortable with your system and even know who is there. my SO definitely wanted to push things as fast as possible, and this I can assure you, is the worst thing you can do. It has to be their timing, pace, readiness, acceptance. Journaling helps the most for me. Meditating helped a little, but sometimes that would make things worse. Very true that usually alters come out with triggering and you are unaware it's happening, so that's what takes some time. Identifyiing with a little is usually the easiest to bring out because play is fun!! I learned out to bring my little out with stuffed animals first, and then going to toy dept at store, just learning to be happy and fun. The other alter I was able to bring out and idenify with was a very strong protector- identifying when that one was out. But bringing them out and communicating is putting the cart before the horse. The first is accepting the DID, then you have to really identify what's triggering you before you can even begin to figure out who is there and when they are out. Everyone is different and every system is different. Be supportive like you are. books are great, the forum is great- all those resources are wonderful for learning tools of discovery. It takes time and an endless amount of patience - from both of you!

It's partially also a process of compliance. If an alter is resistant or uncomfortable, then transitions usually are in their ball court and effort to 'bring them out' will only drive them away.

I ve found a buddhist meditation that brings out the alters and that really worked for me. It s not for every day cause it s intense.

At first it seems complex, but you can take all your time readin the steps through and followin them.

It helps me. If you re interested, feel free to PM me and I ll let you know the specifics.

Love

Nina11