Share your experience anyone?

I am not a Multiple, but I was married to one for 15 years until she died recently. I have a degree in Physics and Math from the University of California and have taught in junior high school. I spent almost every day with my wife for 15 years. Being Multiple is a very real condition. I am absolutely certain of that and will debate it with anyone. Multiplicity is as real as anything I know. I was trained as a scientist. I observed my wife for 15 years. She and all of her "insiders" as we called them, were very real.

But it is NOT a disorder. I believe this very strongly. My wife had 72 individual personalities. She had emotional problems, but they were not because she was a Multiple. Her problems were caused by her experiences as a child. I worked with each individual in her system and she was able to overcome many of her problems.

If a person who is not multiple were experiencing emotional distress because of something in their past, a therapist would work with that individual in overcoming that distress. To say that a Multiple must integrate and that will solve the problems is totally wrong. I had a wonderful and rich life with my wife and all of her "insiders". The only problem that would ever come up would be if there is not communication among everyone. My wife had very good communication and was very co-conscious. I worked on that with her very much. We had absolutely NO problems due to her being a Multiple.

Therapy for a Multiple should focus on communication first and then on the emotional problems of the individuals. Once you get past the idea that it is possible for different minds to be in one body, the therapy would be pretty much the same for multiples and non-multiples. However, it is important to know how each persons system works in order to be effective.

I would encourage everyone to learn as much as possible about Multiplicity/Plurality. There are many websites available. This is a good start. http://healthymultiplicity.com/

The human brain is an amazing organ. There is so much we do not know about it. I find it hard to understand how some people can say that they are certain that Multiplicity does not exist. I would ask them how they know that with absolute certainty. I would also ask them to watch Chapter 11 of the "Ascent of Man" called "Knowledge or Certainty" with Dr. Jacob Bronowski. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqOfqBoafTc

Much more research needs to be done, but the most important thing is to get Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Therapists, and the general public aware and familiar with Multiplicity. It is strange only because it is unfamiliar. For me it is is completely natural. It is an amazing aspect of our amazing brain.

I would like to add that it was not that long ago that homosexuality was considered a disorder that had to be "cured". I would ask that everyone please stay open to the idea that Multiplicity is not a disorder.

I do hope that those who read this see a view of Multiplicity one might not "typically" see. I an one member of a Multiple group, but I am not one voice.

We, to our knowledge, have always been a multiple group. When we first came "out" to our sister, there was not one single positive web site in which a positive view was available. Then she happened on to one site that had links to more positive sites, but even then (2003) there was extremely limited information and friendships available (of a positive nature). Now the Internet has hundred's of links and information available to show a more complete picture of Multiplicity; one that is not the typical medical model.

My sister, that I spoke of earlier, often goes on rigorous hikes. We live in the Rocky Mountains, and it's quite a common activity. Several years ago, on one of her regular group hikes, a scientist, from a local University, had spoken of discussing, with a colleague of hers, doing fMRI's of Multiples to start more extensive research, and hopefully start spreading a brighter light on Multiplicity. A few years after that a psychologist was going to do an `expose for NPR, again to start some earnest research into Multiplicity. Both of these opportunities were lost to the lack of funding available to them.

Research into Multiplicity would finally give credence to Multiplicity, a way of life for us, not necessarily a disorder. But something to be embraced and looked at more keenly instead of dismissing it as a mental defect, make believe, false memories or planted by psychiatrists. We ourselves are mostly "out" but the majority of the Multiple community remain in hiding. They fear the repercussions that could hurtle their world into chaos. What professor, facing Tenure, would like their employers to learn they are Multiple? What parents would wish to put their children in reach of social services because society saw them as unfit parents? What church or club member would wish their multiplicity known, when their own leader(s) might steer others away from them in fear they would "contaminate" the other members? The possible negative outcomes are endless.

As mentioned earlier, we have been Multiple as far back as anyone can remember. We also know that both our biological mother and maternal grandmother were Multiple. Additionally we have a fairly extensive abusive background. We also know of Multiple groups who have no abusive background.

The brain is astonishing in it's yet to be discovered abilities. To explore the biological traits and social aspects, would to our minds, give way to yet undiscovered exploration. The research possibilities are nearly endless. We personally would love to see the unfunded opportunities we spoke of earlier. NPR is well respected and has a huge audience. fMRI's also are a documented and well respected research tool.

Information could also be uncovered to assist individuals in learning to communicate and work together instead of against one another. They could learn of other tools to assist in their journey, and most of all, allow them to see that being who they are is an acceptable and positive way to lead your lives. Not something to be embarrassed or fearful of. It could even lead to the eventual protection of being Multiple, so that others did not have to live in fear of being discovered, thereby allowing us to show the multitudes of individual who are Multiple and how many of us hold important positions in society, functioning quite well.

Dear all,

thank you so much for your contributions! This is amazing stuff and I think you are all making great points which i am very happy to communicate in my presentation.

I also would like to repond to some of the things that have been said but will do so in another thread, since this one is for collecting experiences.

I'm just looking up 'plural pride' now and am excited!

Am a researcher and artist with DID. Undiagnosed, but have been diagnosed as borderline...maybe, but I don't think so. I have been involved with at least three people with DID, the third confirmed one is my current fiancee.

Her horrible treatment of me in the beginning of our relationship derailed mine, but it was not until last Christmas that I really recognized it as DID (I feel really stupid, as I've been around it before). She is extremely paranoid and antisocial, so she won't trust nor talk to anyone but me. AFAIK, her alters are also antisocial and only like to talk to me directly; on November 5th I met the alter who may be the one who suffered most (but is relatively calm when talking to me; she is 7 years old).

It is very hard being DID but even harder to watch someone you love suffer from it. She is younger than me (much), and still struggling to get through school. I try to be there for her whenever she needs me, and have successfully been able to help her facilitate a co-conscious connection between one of her alters (a young, sweet one) and her primary/front. I have told her that it might just be a long road to healing, but I think she understands that; it's just frustrating to her because she wants to be in a profession that requires a singular.

Anyway, what would I tell the mental health profession about DID? That it is real. I have seen it more than once in different people from coast to coast. I've felt it more than once myself. There simply must be more neurological research on this affliction, including MRIs of the brain before/during/after switching, and more research devoted to memory and the neurons involved. I know there's some, but not nearly enough.