Regressing / Losing Progress?

We saw our T yesterday and while it was another pretty good, difficult session, she brought up something that has made me sort of worried a little.

She reminded me that we used to have more communications via our journal, and maybe just more communications in general. Like back in December / January, we had more parts writing in the journal. Not a lot, maybe only once or twice, but they were there.

Now it's mainly just myself and V2 who write in there, I think.

And I realize that I've stopped talking with our helper Rebecca. I used to 'consult' with her every morning, even if there was nothing to really discuss, and now I realize tht hasn't happened in weeks.

It's like I'm starting to forget progress we've made, and starting to lose touch with others in the system, while at the same time lamenting the lack of communications etc.

Is this normal? I know healing / progress is not a linear thing, but I don't like the idea that we're going backwards and forgetting how to do things we figured out just a couple months ago.

-Violet (1)

Hi Violet,

Same here. In my case it's because of stress; the walls between parts are back. On the other hand, 'new' memories and insights seem clear and trustworthy. So there's less communication, but more awareness, if I'm still making sense:) I think I'm protecting myself from the feelings that come with the memories, haven't cried in a while as well. Maybe you're making a lot of progress in therapy and your brain is giving you a slight break?

But maybe this isn't always the reason! Are you busy, lately, more than earlier? Or maybe things changed in your life? Etc

Thanks for the response!

V1 has definitely been under more stress lately. Our T thinks she keeps taking on more and more responsibilities and is overloading herself.

We're trying to do a better job of dividing up the stuff between her and me, so she'll have less things to worry about. And trying to make communication more of a priority so it doesn't get forgotten again.

I think she kinda said it a bit wrong, it's not as much that she forgot how to do it, more that she's been forgetting that it needs to be done.

Anyways we're trying to make it a daily routine, to just ask if anyone wants to talk or journal or whatever.

-V2

What im going tjrew now but i dont feel like im losing profress even if in a way thats a possibility that im not comfortable with admitting. I neever want to go back to not knowing about DID and all the pain it took to get to this point innmy life.


But that's exavtly what happened. But new parts and new memories popped up.


Thats when I realized...im still progressing im just exploring different areas of parts or alts. So it may seem like regression but you sorta have to be in a certain state to come into contact with xertain alts.


My theory is rhey need a similar emotional state theybwere in when they were created ,to be uncovered.



Maybe im wrong but for me it seems like when im srressed to the max and feel like im knocking on deaths door...thats when a new memory or alt pops up.


But what pokes holes in my theory is that some of my alts. Wernt born in hard emotional states . im feeling feelings ive never felt before. Lol


And then the sky clears and I feel ok for a while.


I

please remind yourself that you are not a machine.
its not like turning "communication" to level 3 and then running on that level until you turn it up to level 4 some day.
we don't always meet with your outside world friends as regularly as you used to. relationship dynamics shift. they might shift somewhere else in the future.
Mike used to support me all the time, telling me what to do. we rarely speak now, because we don't need to, I manage well enough without extra help.
sometimes it is depression or something else that makes us withdraw. then it is a sign, pointing us to something important. that means it has an important role. there might be another problem you need to solve that gets in the way of better communication.
relax. observe. notice. and be curious about what you find.
regression, if you insist on calling it that, is part of a forward process, not actually a going backwards.