How do I know my alters are real?

well cassandra should know we're real now because she's missing like, almost a week now, and i've been out alone, and no one else has really been here (i did see dallas this morning though!), and it's been quiet and lonely, so if that doesn't prove stuff i dunno what does.


- cassie (age ?)

1. because they have feelings that are not mine
2. because they have a consistent, recurrent pattern of thoughts, feelings, interests, behaviors that are not mine.
3. because they have distinct and consistent ways of moving and speaking.
4. because my skill sets vary wildly.
5. because I see evidence of their presence that cannot be logically explained by any other circumstance
6. because we write each other notes
7. because I have been diagnosed by a competent, experienced clinician
8. because I want to be normal so bad, why would I ever make up something I have to work so hard to hide?
9. because I am alive. and that is a miracle. and these are my scars. proof that I survived.
10. because of the conversations in my head. We are me.

but, how do i know that I am real?

Hornet339 wrote:
1. I can spend hours argueing with my denial alter about weather they are real or not. I doubt that I could argue that long with somebody who isn't real.

Oh lordy there was lots in this list - it actually made me laugh out loud with recognition especially the one above. We have a grown up in here that is adamant we are making everything up, which is totally ironic because I know she can see all the littles. She thinks everybody is being naughty and if we would behave better then all would be well. She is now hurt because I have written this, she just wants to be helpful, now I am feeling guilty for standing up to her by writing this. Damn.....and so it goes on.

I know alters are real because I am one. If I wasn't real I wouldn't be typing this and you wouldn't be reading this. So if you're reading this then at least I exist. I don't know if YOU exist but that's your problem not mine.

Sometimes Host thinks we are not real which is pretty stupid. Who sits around trying to convince themselves they don't have alters EXCEPT people with DID???

Iain

IainEtc wrote:
Sometimes Host thinks we are not real which is pretty stupid. Who sits around trying to convince themselves they don't have alters EXCEPT people with DID???

Iain

The recognition on this thread is huge some of it has made me cringe but the complete identification with some of it has made me laugh quite hard. Thank you IainEtc for the above statement my eyes have watered with laughter. Humour is such a precious things especially when a lot of the time things are pretty tricky.

I know one of my alters is real as she has just met my dog for the first time. The dog behaved entirely differently and was looking for me. She was mighty relieved to see me back.

IainEtc wrote: Who sits around trying to convince themselves they don't have alters EXCEPT people with DID???

Iain

we like it.

1. Different music tastes
2. They react differently to situations
3. Teach me about stuff i learned in class
4. They talk differently
5. have different coping mechanisms
Those would be the ones that stick out to me the most. Denial is always hard but i hope one day i can let it go and not worry.

So when we were in college Host was flunking and stopped going to class and waited to be kicked out. When he finally gave up some alters went to classes and wrote papers and made GREAT grades. Host didn't remember ever being in class! But he got his name on the diploma

Iain