United States of Tara

Hey all,

Just a minor question - we've heard about the United States of Tara series before and have only just started watching it. But we were wondering if there's actually anything about childhood trauma having led to D.I.D. in the portrayed Tara's case? Only seen two episodes so can't judge yet, but her alters so far seem very outgoing and brash (we actually have to be able to watch it 'cause we're easily triggered by these things), so I was wondering if that even comes up in the series. Especially since she is shown to have a sister who seems to be just fine mentally.

Regards, Dimensional and co

ummm...we'se never seed it so we don't knows.

but i knows that different yucky stuffs can affect peoples different ways. like even if her sister wented through the same kinda stuffs when they was kids, it don't mean that her sister had to have lotsa problems.


~lissabeth~

Aw, thanks for your reply Lissabeth ^^

And you're right about that, her sister doesn't have to have a lot of problems even if they did go through the same things.

I watched about 8-10 episodes. They were implying that it was something from too late in her life to have caused DID, but then again, it's TV, so. ~Shrugs~

And yeah. ._.; Even at my most obvious, nobody in here is ANYWHERE NEAR that... yeah.

That's weird, although I've seen people develop something DID-like due to things later in life.. and even though the amnesia and things can be genuine, it still feels less genuine to me.. the alters are so outspoken, and lol at them changing dress and make-up and stuff every time they switch. As if that would happen. Ah well, guess publicity's not too terrible, but people might get the wrong image.

In the beginning of the show they implied that it had been caused by something later in life, but during the third season they gave a very explicit reason that could have caused it from early in her life. It's fairly triggering and a spoiler, so I'm not going to say anything.

Well, we have the first two seasons now, and already found we can only watch if we're feeling strong enough.. but we'll get the third season too since we do want to know how it ends!

Dimensional wrote:That's weird, although I've seen people develop something DID-like due to things later in life.. and even though the amnesia and things can be genuine, it still feels less genuine to me.. the alters are so outspoken, and lol at them changing dress and make-up and stuff every time they switch. As if that would happen. Ah well, guess publicity's not too terrible, but people might get the wrong image.

~Tilts head~ How can one tell if that's what one has vs the actual disorder?

Still trying to figure out if I'm quite right about matters due to feeling that what was endured during early childhood was not enough to cause the disorder. Even if I DID randomly decide I was a boy at age 5. The biggest split/trauma I know of seems to have been from age 15.

There are lots of little hints throughout the series, and a really big one near the end that
gives you a good idea of what happened.

It's a good series, I found it good discussion material (I would watch it with my mom and
she'd ask questions and I'd debunk any hollywood theories or extremes for her, so she could
get an idea of what it was like and dispel the myths).

It was definitely triggering while I had DID though, so make sure you are safe before
you watch it. My whole system loved to watch it together, but I wasn't able to watch it
everyday, only when I was strong enough.

Tara's DID is not typical (apparently only 5% of those with DID present like her) and no one's
DID is "less severe" or "more severe" than anyone else's, it just is what it is.
If your DID doesn't appear to be like Tara's it doesn't mean that you don't have it, just
that your system is different.
Personally my system was very much like Tara's, minus the displays in public and the rapid clothing change (although I did have about four different sets of clothing), so even though
it was a bit exaggerated the show was very much like my experience.

It would probably have been more helpful if they explained more clearly to the general public
that not everyone with DID presents the way Tara does, and placed a trigger warning
on the show.

I own all three seasons and have watched them all multiple times, Tara does have childhood trama physical and sexual and a alter who refects her abuser. Hes a teenaged boy and he is a real jerk. I love the show. I used to steam it on my phone and computer. Her sister does not seem to recall the childhood trama which could be an indication she has blocked it out without forming alters. She also didnt go to private school with tara maybe her parents sent her there as per trying to hide and make up for the abuse. They never really explain it fully. But tara had another trama forming her alter T. While at private school.