Coping with rapid switching

Hi all,

How do you deal with rapid switching? Do you have or know of any techniques to delay or control it? I'm thinking in certain circumstances, like being in public, it may be difficult to take time off. For these situations, what's the best way to handle rapid switching?

Thanks

PS, I don't have DID myself, but learning and trying to help my gf...

Every alt has triggers that gets them to switch. They probably have turn offs too. For example, the brat gets put off by loud noise and confrontation. I don't recommend it, but I'm just putting that out there. Mainly, the switch happens whether I know it or want it. Maybe your gf is different.

This is also known as a "revolving door" crisis. The person is overwhelmed, and the remedy is to stop the overwhelm. Whatever is going on, slow it down. Take deep breaths. Disengage. Stop talking. Say you have a headache (which is almost certainly true) and need to take a short break. Drink some water. Leave the room. I go to the bathroom or somewhere else that is quiet and private and sit there a while. Or I sit in my vehicle and wait until it passes (it is not safe to drive in this state).

Use grounding and and orienting and safe place skills. There are many books about this, for trauma survivors (not just DID).

AltCtrlDel wrote:Every alt has triggers that gets them to switch. They probably have turn offs too. For example, the brat gets put off by loud noise and confrontation. I don't recommend it, but I'm just putting that out there. Mainly, the switch happens whether I know it or want it. Maybe your gf is different.

Thanks for you post. So you're suggesting that there could be "counter-triggers"? When this happens she has a hard time thinking and staying focused. She doesn't know who is trying to switch; it's a general confused state where even speaking takes effort. Since she doesn't know who's about to come out, if that's even what's going on, I'm not sure how a counter trigger would work. I guess once she learns more about who is "fighting" to come forward she may figure out something to counter (calm?) the part... Thanks.

Una+ wrote:This is also known as a "revolving door" crisis. The person is overwhelmed, and the remedy is to stop the overwhelm. Whatever is going on, slow it down. Take deep breaths. Disengage. Stop talking. Say you have a headache (which is almost certainly true) and need to take a short break. Drink some water. Leave the room. I go to the bathroom or somewhere else that is quiet and private and sit there a while. Or I sit in my vehicle and wait until it passes (it is not safe to drive in this state).

Thank you Una. Yes, trying to calm her down and get her to save energy is what I usually suggest. In moments like this it's difficult for her to think rationally, but she's getting much better. A lot of times the loss of control itself is what fuels the increased stress level and thus the likelihood of switching.

Other than isolating yourself and waiting, is there something else you do? Do you focus on something specific? Do you try to calm yourself? Slow down the breathing? What goes through your mind at that point?

Una+ wrote:Use grounding and and orienting and safe place skills. There are many books about this, for trauma survivors (not just DID).

This is something we're still working on. Right now her safe place is home, which a lot of times can be quite far. If she thinks it's feasible to drive she usually just goes home.

Do you have some resources about grounding techniques you recommend?

Thanks.

For me it's basically preventing some triggers.
I learnt with time that when I'm in a very crowded place, I tend to switch (not to an alter especifically).
Some alters have their "own" triggers, for example when I'm in an apparently scary situation Chris or Christine tend to take control...
So it's basically avoiding the triggers, but I switch anyway...
Tom

A grounding technique which has always helped me is holding my pulse on my throat. It slows the blood flow, which has a sedating effect, and feeling the pulse helps regulate pulse, breathing, and blood pressure, which lessens anxiety.

LanaDelRey: Ideally, yes, but most times it's not possible or she's in a place where she's normally not triggered and it still happens. Haven't found a pattern yet.

AltCtrlDel: Thanks, I'll pass it along.

peedidhe wrote:Right now her safe place is home, which a lot of times can be quite far.

That's not what I meant by "safe place" as a grounding skill. I was referring to a self-hypnosis technique. It starts with reflection while in a time and place of safety, to identify a memory of an actual safe place or create an imaginary safe place. Then you practice going there in your mind. Then you can use it when stressed, to calm down and as an alternative to switching.

My safe place is a tropical lagoon.

There are many good books that describe this technique and many others like it. Here is one of them:

8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery: Take-Charge Strategies to Empower Your Healing by Babette Rothschild

You might go on Amazon and look through the list of "other books bought by people who bought this book".

Una+ wrote:That's not what I meant by "safe place" as a grounding skill. I was referring to a self-hypnosis technique.

Sorry, I didn't explain properly. I know what you meant with a "safe place". The problem in her case is that the ANP and one EP are resistant to the idea of a "safe place". They mostly downplay it as silly, or would rather not try it. I brought it up a few times, but haven't pushed harder.

My theory is that it has to do with their conditioning. She told me that when she was a child, the abuser would keep telling her to go to different places (in her mind) or imagine being this or that. I can't know for sure, but the idea of finding an inner safe place may be triggering in and of itself.

For now, her "safe place" is an actual physical place. A lot of times it helps if I'm around as well, but that's not always possible. I will continue to bring it up, but for now, as long as there's resistance, I think it's best to find other ways.