Telling the difference...

So for the past week, when going to bed and half asleep, I’ve been hearing new internal voices. Distinctly young guys, and they’re not very friendly. The weird part is I am fairly aware and ‘awake’ and am able to have conversations with them, but the conversations are nonsensical and often I can’t remember them later.

There has been a incident where a part I know exists spoke and the ones I’m questioning responded, but I’m still half convinced these are just hypnagogic hallucinations or even dreams that I just happen to be somewhat lucid for.

Another twist in the tale: just last night, after hearing one of these voices again and talking briefly, I had a nightmare about trauma - even though I had taken my anti nightmare medication (I know the meds aren’t foolproof, but until now they’d been working really well). I have a weird hunch it’s related to these possible parts.

We have had parts reveal themselves in dreams (and later show themselves in the waking world), and these same parts used said dreams to get my (host) attention, but the voices before falling completely asleep are new. If these are really parts, I cannot afford to make further contact — not to be mean to them, but I feel like they’d be a roadblock we can’t afford right now (attempting to finish college; we have to get this degree to be able to leave our abusive home).

Has this happened to anyone else? How did you figure out if they were real?

- Wolf

It is "real" in the sense that, it did happen in your head.

In here we sometimes make the experience of dreaming about trauma (in a "coded" way or in a "raw" way) or about what happens in the Innerword. We can also, sometimes, "fish" the alter having a nightmare, out of the nightmare, and place them in safety. Though it does not always work.

We also met hidden parts/fragments through dreaming. It seems that when we sleep, our defensive walls are lower and hidden parts/fragments/memories can more easily surface.

It is sometimes difficult to find the difference between what is objectively real and what is subjectively real. What happend in the physical world, and what we constructed in our head to help us understand / give meaning to, what happend in the physical world / our emotions.

We know that it is not easy to put all the puzzle pieces together. So instead of trying to think it through on the spot, we write everything down: identity of the part/fragment who is dreaming/remembering the episode; what happens in the episode; who is involved; the feelings of the part/fragment during the remembrence, after, about it; what it makes other parts/fragments feel about it. We care about the emotions felt right now through anchoring techniques, relaxation, validation of the emotions.

The emotions are not wrong. The memories around them might be a fantasy to make the emotions more bearable, though. Or might be factual memories. Sort them out is not the first emergency. The first emergency is, caring for the emotions, and accepting/welcoming them and the parts/fragments carrying said emotions.

We listen to our many thoughts and opinions, even when we disagree with them. They all come from our past trauma and do their best to help. They might not be the best ideas or opinions for the here and now, but they mean well in their way. So, we listen, say "thank you for your input" and we all sit together trying to find the best way to act in this here and now situation - different from the there and then situation.

No part/fragment is ever "wrong" in their opinions - they simply draw logical conclusions depending on what they think is the situation at hand. If we explain that, yes, if we are in the situation A, their conclusion is right - but we happen to be in situation B or C or D, which is different. What do they think about this new situation?

We do our best to treat each-others like scared children needing parental care and love - or like team-mates on a soccer field, who need to learn to play together in order to score a goal. Nobody is right, nobody is wrong, we all can learn from each-others' opinions, insights, experiences.

Or, as we sometimes word it: "I'll make you happy because your serotonin is my serotonin" (since we share the same brain).

It is not easy, but it is worth it.

Hope I was of help.

__
Aragorn.

ArbreMonde wrote:We care about the emotions felt right now through anchoring techniques, relaxation, validation of the emotions.

The emotions are not wrong. The memories around them might be a fantasy to make the emotions more bearable, though. Or might be factual memories. Sort them out is not the first emergency. The first emergency is, caring for the emotions, and accepting/welcoming them and the parts/fragments carrying said emotions.

We listen to our many thoughts and opinions, even when we disagree with them. They all come from our past trauma and do their best to help. They might not be the best ideas or opinions for the here and now, but they mean well in their way. So, we listen, say "thank you for your input" and we all sit together trying to find the best way to act in this here and now situation - different from the there and then situation.

No part/fragment is ever "wrong" in their opinions - they simply draw logical conclusions depending on what they think is the situation at hand. If we explain that, yes, if we are in the situation A, their conclusion is right - but we happen to be in situation B or C or D, which is different. What do they think about this new situation?

Aragorn.

This is so wise, Aragorn. Thank you for stating it so clearly. It's very helpful for what we're going through right now with our T (and many other situations, as well).