What Happens When You Integrate *Trigger*

I know that DID is caused by the personality part of the brains, the neurons don't connect properly, so when you integrate, what happens to the neurons, does anything really change neurologically?

sev0n, I bet you have an answer somewhere.

Hee Hee.... How did you know that of the few threads I read here, I would be drawn to this one!

Dr. Daniel Siegel has many of those answers. Granted he does not work with Dissociative Disorders, but integration of course happens with everyone. The book the Developing Mind is a gem when it comes to understanding this. Siegel has a lot of free youtube videos on the net, and he sells a great one called the Neurobiology of we, for those that like to listen instead of read. The Trauma and Dissociation wiki has a page in progress on integration. I believe it's awaiting an expert to add and review it, but still what I have read there is pretty solid. A lot of others people have also taken Siegel's teachings and summarized them, which you could find on the net with a search. Just off the top of my head, let's see what I can do to answer this GIANT question!

I know that DID is caused by the personality part of the brains, the neurons don't connect properly, so when you integrate, what happens to the neurons, does anything really change neurologically?

Daniel would tell you that this is the total key to happiness in all humans. All humans need to work on mindful integration throughout life. He explains the 9 domains of integration that all humans should strive for. The final step is Budist-like, and I know most of us will settle for far less that that.

It's important to understand that Memory Integration is a separate process from State integration. They each are one of the 9 steps, that all humans must work on. Of course if you have OSDD (formerly DDNOS) or DID then you have far bigger hurdles, but still it's all the same process.

Daniel's first step is the Integration of Consciousness - which is in the case of those of us that suffered trauma - We are influenced by our past trauma! Without this step of integration we will remain dissociated - fuzzy headed and ill.

His 2nd and 3rd steps talk about mindfully bringing different parts of the brain into the whole process of integration. The particulars are fascinating, but unnecessary to understand. What is necessary is that you must be consciously aware that all of you needs to integrate and invite all of you to do such. Seigel calls this mindfulness.

The 4th step is memory integration. Our early childhood trauma is stored as implicit - only memory. We need to get those little buggers processed through the Hippopotamus so they go to where they need to be and become Explicit memory. This in the case of those with trauma needs to be done with a Therapist. Without trauma memory storage as explicit is a natural and normal process.

The 5th step is Narrative Integration - In this step one will integrate/link to make a narrative story of their life.

Finally the 6th step is State integration, which of course is the integration of alters, or those without alters, the integration of self states. This is not killing off or removing alters, it is linking them together so they have better communication and functionality. As you put forward in your question, you understand that all human personality is made up of parts. In the first few years of life the normal process if for those parts to link/integrate and function well together. If abuse happens, and this normal process is interrupted, then we have to get our head together (pardon the pun) and be smart, and learn how to do this process that is so easily done as a child with proper care.

The 7th, 8th, and 9th steps are important to obtain intimate mental health.

Now beyond Siegel and diving into DID specifically..... looking at the ISSTD 2011 Guidelines


Final Fusion - This is the point where alters will experience themselves as joining together. This is a different process than integration. Kluft reports that this step is important. Those that do not obtain this step are open to regressing and then having Covert (Florid) DID, and PTSD if stressed.

I hope this helps!

Parden the typos and such. I have no patience for proofing. I use to come back later to fix it, but that ability to do such has been shortened. So deal with it.

Interesting to read, but I don t grasp the difference between fusion and integration?
How do you know which is which?

Love
Minnie

According to Dr. Richard Kluft, in the 2012 ISSTD Document:
http://www.isst-d.org/downloads/GUIDELI ... ED2011.pdf - See page 144

(This is a must read document for anyone interested in DID and current concentric knowledge.)

Phase II of Therapy:

"As traumatic experiences are integrated, the alternate identities may
experience themselves as less and less separate and distinct. Spontaneous
and/or facilitated fusions among alternate identities may occur as well.
Facilitated fusions often involve “fusion rituals.” These therapeutic cere-
monies usually involve imagery or hypnosis and “are perceived by some
. . . patients as crucial rites of passage from the subjective sense of divided-
ness to the subjective sense of unity” (Kluft, as quoted in R. P. Kluft, 1993a, p.
119). The patient’s experience is that alternate identities join together with
an image of joining together or becoming unified. “[These rituals] merely
formalize the subjective experience of the work that therapy has already
accomplished” (R. P. Kluft, 1993a, p. 120).

Fusion rituals are useful when, as a result of psychotherapeutic work,
separateness no longer serves any meaningful function for the patient’s
intrapsychic and environmental adaptation. At this point, if the patient is
no longer narcissistically invested in maintaining the particular separateness,
fusion is ready to occur. However, clinicians should not
attempt to press for fusion before the patient is clinically ready for this.
Premature attempts at
fusion may cause significant distress for the DID patient or, alternatively, a
superficial compliance wherein the alternate identities in question attempt
to please the therapist by seeming to disappear. Premature fusion attempts
can also occur when the therapist and patient collude to avoid particularly
difficult therapy material."

sev0n, I expected that you would take it upon yourself to answer this question because you despise misinformation on the subject.

Also by Hippopotamus, I assume you meant Hippocampus?

So, in short, if alters are co-conscious that is the first step completed? Then you invite all the alters to integrate. Then you process the trauma through therapy. Then you make a timeline including the 'missing memories that were sectioned off. Then you increase communication and over time the connections between the neurons that make up the alters, become more numerous, quite literally 'bridging the gap'. And then the alters unite through a visualization and if that isn't done the work can be undone?

I hope I understood that correctly...

Thank you for the information. And please correct me if I understood incorrectly.

Also by Hippopotamus, I assume you meant Hippocampus?

I do! I am lost not being able to come back and edit a post later. I just don't have the patience to proofread at the moment I write something.

If all the alters that know of each other are coconscious, that is a big first step - yes.

What you have is what I believe that Kluft and Seigel are saying. The "rewiring" in the brain occurs when we are mindful and aware of a process. Calmly understanding this and accepting it is a good start. Work quietly and alone often, and be fully aware. When you are quiet, be mindful of what you want to happen. Let go of any fear and miseducation. If you allow the brain and mind to do this, then the brain and mind will go in the natural progression of integration, healing and happiness.

From all theory I've heard I've not heard of anyone claiming that we can actually see the neurological difference in DID vs non-DID in regards to personality structuring, merely that we have theory stating what we believe is happening. To answer your question: in regards to current theory, yes there will be neurological differences pre integration/fusion and after. There is no way currently to see this though so that is theory. At least from what I've understood.

Again! I applaud your answer Lifelong! Impressive!


What a breath of fresh air! You make my heart sing!!!!

Thanks again Sev0n, that's really nice of you