Attachment disorder

From a page on a UK psychotherapists' community website (link below), there is this:

Does your client who suffers from DID/MPD also

experience great difficulty in developing trust
experience chaos in the transference relationship with you
have relationship problems in general
have a terror of abandonment and sense of emptiness and alienation
frequently feel overwhelmed by emotions, or else numb to feelings
have a very insecure sense of self and self-worth
have an almost continuous sense of anxiety, when not numb
lose the sense of ongoing relationship with you the moment she leaves you,
and perhaps often want to phone you to make contact?

The common factor behind all these symptoms is likely to be an attachment disorder. (Bowlby, 1969)

For me, currently, the answer to all these questions is no. During the couple of years around the time of my DID crisis diagnosis I did frequently feel overwhelmed by emotions, or else numb to feelings. Who wouldn't? I don't post this to come off as superior to anyone; my characteristic behavior reflects that I do have a serious attachment disorder but it is other than the one that is reflected above. Are you wondering what characteristic behavior? I often do not acknowledge thanks and almost never acknowledge praise. I usually do not interact one-on-one in PMs. I am civil, friendly, open, and approachable but only up to a point. I do not have great difficulty establishing trust but only rarely do I make friends or get attached. My life experience has been that attachment leads to too much hurt.

I am sure that, unlike me, many posters here will identify with the above list of difficulties in their therapy. As a group, the DID Forum really stands out in that way. This thread, and perhaps the web page linked below, could be helpful to you and your therapist.

TAG: DID/MPD clients - Difficult to work with?

I relate to a lot of these symptoms. Mostly internally, though. I'm exceptionally good at divorcing my inner thoughts and feelings from the way I end up behaving. Most of my therapists have really enjoyed working with me -- but I feel like I've only truly gotten beneficial help from one. I don't even make a conscious effort to conceal or suppress my emotions. It just happens.

The only time I truly get the help I want is when I've gone into crisis. :/

Una+ wrote:From a page on a UK psychotherapists' community website (link below), there is this:

Does your client who suffers from DID/MPD also

experience great difficulty in developing trust
experience chaos in the transference relationship with you
have relationship problems in general
have a terror of abandonment and sense of emptiness and alienation
frequently feel overwhelmed by emotions, or else numb to feelings
have a very insecure sense of self and self-worth
have an almost continuous sense of anxiety, when not numb
lose the sense of ongoing relationship with you the moment she leaves you,
and perhaps often want to phone you to make contact?

The common factor behind all these symptoms is likely to be an attachment disorder. (Bowlby, 1969)

I could identify with a lot of these. Somehow this makes me feel better.

Viewed as one whole we do not fit that description but seen individually at least one of us does. To a T. Poor honey.

ooo - a lot of that sounds like me. I've gone on to read more of the article

The parents’ failure to protect the child from abuse and the parents’ tendency to detach from emotional involvement with the child, increases the likelihood of dissociation in the child as a way of coping with traumatic experiences.

Oh yes, mum was depressed and because I was little and 'safe' in a cot/playpen etc went to protect my sister who needed her more.

Am having a laugh at some of the things it says, such as phone you often....I don't do it, but sometimes they want us to email when our T goes away/misses a session, just to say we're still here.