waking up alters/dissociated ego states

I was wondering if it's possible for dissociated ego states to be triggered by alcohol or drug abuse or is it just trauma that awakens the alters? thanks.

I find I am less inhibited by drugs and booze so possibly yes. I'm not sure it can cause them to be formed per say but maybe facilitates their ability to "come out"? Awakening of something there in the background?
Sam

There is some speculation in the professional literature that alcohol and drugs can be triggers for switching. However, I think they have reversed cause and effect. Alcohol and many drugs produce dissociative symptoms in people who do not have a dissociative disorder. On the other hand many people with a dissociative disorder try to self-medicate with alcohol and/or drugs and this does seem to work, up to a point. In all the DID memoirs I have read where drugs and alcohol are a prominent problem, first the person switches then the alter who comes out tries to self-medicate.

So a rule of thumb is that this self medicating increases certain dissociative symptoms but decreases the switching activity and internal communication of alters or dissociated ego states.

and internal communication of alters or dissociated ego states.

Would you support the notion that specific alters have a stronger ability to come out and then stay out when under the influence? That is is harder to switch back, if you will?

Sam

Sam @SamsLand wrote:Would you support the notion that specific alters have a stronger ability to come out and then stay out when under the influence? That is is harder to switch back, if you will?

I would support the notion that in a particular system some alters may be empowered in this way. However, it does not work this way in my system and I cannot recall reading about any systems in which it does work this way.

Now I'm really scared. What if I don't have a dissociative disorder and I just f------ up my brain with drugs and alcohol. I had many symptoms before using though and WAS self-medicating but it got soooo much worse after drugs but I also went through a lot of trauma throughout that time as well but now I'm afraid I don't have a dissociative disorder but its just from drugs....its been 2 years and I'm clean and sober so could it still be that? I also had many tests done of my brain and there's no damage at all its actually very healthy looking.

Ashley, the drug and alcohol effects are transient. I think your therapist's diagnosis is correct.

I am dissociative, but I am not sure to what extent. I do switch to a little part at times, but am co conscious in the back ground, but unable to act,but I remember. I think. I also have a mean voice that talks to me. I don't know what that all means.

I do find that under the influence of certain rec. drug my little part almost always comes out. I don't know why. If that were the only time I would dismiss it, but sometimes I actually think it is freeing for her to be allowed to come out and cry or play. Maybe the drug supresses the dominant, intellectual part so she is allowed out?? I don't know. i don't do drugs often. what is also a little interesting to me is that when I was put under to have my wisdom teeth removed they say I cried and struggled. When I awoke I was sobbing but did not know why. I don't know what to make of this. Our brains are complex. Drinking is different, it just makes me sleepy.

thanks everyonef or your posts-Una, that is extremely reassuring. As much as I HATE having a dissociative disorder I'd be far more upset if it were irriversable effects because of what I've done to myself. I guess it make sense though bc I've had so many problems way before drugs were even introduced...thanks very much

Littlevine -

I dislike anything that affects my thinking. Medication prevents our interernal communication, both alcohol and medication make us vulnerable by not being able to think straight. Being vulnerable triggers our protector out. She's hypervigilant and will run/fight first and think about whether it was necessary later!

During a time of extreme stress I had to undergo a painful medical procedure. Neither me or our protector could cope with having to allow somebody to hurt us whilst not fighting back, we were both at breaking point before this event, so we had no choice but to let the other one take it. She had a weird physical reaction, kind of an almost "fit" that wasn't, screamed and cried, and the whole experience was distressing and traumatizing.

Maybe something like these scenarios happened to you with your dental procedure. X