DID or DD NOS

I am trying to find information about my particular dissociation experience. My therapist hasn't defined it for me, and I don't know if she can. When I have a traumatic flashback or other stressful situations I can regress to where I think I am 6 or other ages, but always answer to my name, not other names. These experiences happen for hours at a time, sometimes even a day or more. I recall things that happened at the age I think I am. I have no memory of what happens during these times and my therapist is reluctant to share the information with me. Is there a name for this type of dissociation?

Thanks,
Beth

With so little information it's hard to say it could be regression or being stuck in a flashback because that can cause you to lose touch with the present or it could be switching to an alternate identity. I would not be able to trust a T that wouldn't share information about what happened to me in a blackout (your memory loss)

I just read your other post.

dissociative-disorder/topic208850.html

I would advise getting a T that has more experience and knowledge about complex trauma and DID. Because its possible they are reluctant to share what's happening and to help you understand it because they don't understand themselves.

I agree with NyxX, it is hard to imagine a therapeutic reason for keeping that information from you. Perhaps there is but you need to know why this is beneficial for you and your system.

As far as DID or DDNOS/OSDD it really doesn't matter so much as the therapeutic course is relatively the same. Other than helping reduce episodes where there is amnesia.

You need a new T I think. However, Ts learn from their patients - that is what an experienced T is, so as you look, see if you can develop with this T. You might need their support for reasons you havent disclosed here.

I think the kind of system, where everyone is you, but in different ages or moods etc. is called OSDD 1a. OSDD 1b is system, where parts are very different from each other, have their own names, ages, genders, interests etc. DID systems are.. I'm not sure, but I think like OSDD 1b systems, but with memory loss between parts. I don't know if DID systems are ever all just versions of yourself, but they are more differentiated. During a flash back, how I have understood it, you always change in to that person who you were, when the actual trauma happened. But I don't think it matters what is the official name to your symptoms, the important thing is to have someone who knows how to treat you with the kind of problems you have, what ever they are called.

There is also a different way to think what is OSDD and what is DID, and that is that in OSDD you have one ANP type of part, so someone who seems normal and acts normally, and multiple emotional parts, the ones who maybe don't have so good understanding about reality and who hold trauma memories. I think professionals think about these things differently, because I have heard about a system, which only has ANP type parts, but they are diagnosed as OSDD 1b system.. So it depends on the one who is making the diagnose also what they think is most important symptom or something like that.

I don't know what I have either, if you think about it from the first point of view, I have OSDD, and if you think about it from the second point of view I would have DID. In the end it doesn't matter, but I would still want to have a clear answer also.

The difference between OSDD and DID is largely academic and it doesn't really matter in terms of treatment. There arguments I've seen about broadening the definition for DID so that's its more encompassing and getting rid of the others.

NyxX wrote:The difference between OSDD and DID is largely academic and it doesn't really matter in terms of treatment. There arguments I've seen about broadening the definition for DID so that's its more encompassing and getting rid of the others.

That seems to be how my T thinks of it, and he's very immersed in the world of treating and training others to treat DID. If parts are less differentiated, then there's usually more communication and cooperation, and those are usually initial goals of treatment anyway. And if there's less amnesia, that makes daily functioning easier, and also usually means one has more access to figuring out how their system works, which also helps treatment progress. But the treatment itself is the same.

Recurrent identity alteration with amnesia is DID.

NyxX is right, there is not a huge difference between DID and OSDD (in DSM-5, DDNOS in DSM-IV). Many experts lump them together into major dissociative disorder.

At a minimum, this T needs to obtain expert supervision and other professional resources. A good place to start is the ISSTD website isst-d.org.

Here is the post from the other forum.

BethMae wrote:I dissociate. I lose time. It happens frequently. My aunt (whom I live with) and my therapist have both witnessed it. My therapist says that I believe that I am a child again, the age that I was abused, which varies from time to time. I have complete amnesia in these instances. The last time it happened I lost 8 hours. This is strange to me because these "child like" people in me answer to my name, have knowledge of things from that time period, and do not know who my therapist is. I cannot find any other instances of this occurring in others with DD-NOS. My therapist said that it does happen with other survivors of extreme abuse, and when pressed further, she said that I am the only client she has that has this particular issue. Is it possible that I am just on the edge of having DID? Thoughts?

NyxX wrote:With so little information it's hard to say it could be regression or being stuck in a flashback because that can cause you to lose touch with the present or it could be switching to an alternate identity. I would not be able to trust a T that wouldn't share information about what happened to me in a blackout (your memory loss)

I have two therapists, my main therapist, and then there is my DBT therapist. I can ask my DBT therapist what her opinion is, but I don't want to step on any toes. My main therapist doesn't share what happens when I'm dissociated because she doesn't want to trigger me. The other day I insisted that she share and when she did I had an immediate flashback, so that's why she doesn't usually do it. I did ask her to bring in a book that has information on my disorder, because I need to know, I just have this obsession over knowing what happens when I'm not aware, and what the diagnosis is.