Hello / introduction

Hi,

This is my first post here, and probably also my first post on a BB forum in at least half a decade. I remember standard practice back then was to make an introduction post of some sort but I was unsure of where to post one. I hope this is alright.

My introduction to the mental health system was in 6th grade, I was 11 years old. I was hospitalized for a few days then sent to therapy. Rinse and repeat for the next 7 years. Spent most of my teenage years hospitalized, going to therapy, getting sent to a different therapist or treatment program because I was "too complicated to handle," and then getting lost somewhere in between unanswered phone calls and inactive emails.

Right now I am officially diagnosed with acute complex PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, and autism. On top of the CPTSD diagnosis, I was diagnosed with DID (you have to be diagnosed with CPTSD to have a DID diagnosis here), but I don't know what happened to my medical files since then. These diagnoses happened just before covid, and since then mental healthcare has been literally impossible to access where I live unless you are actively in an inpatient facility. Mental healthcare is so bad here that it's been declared an official crisis.

So I'm currently completely unable to afford therapy or access any mental health resources. My healthcare covers maybe a few sessions for regular therapy, certainly not any specialists. That being said through a lot and I mean A LOT of work on myself, meditation, self reflection, healing in general, I've been the best I have ever been in regards to my DID over the past year.

We currently have clear communication with five or six alters now out of over 20-25, I think. A year ago it was maybe two or three at most. Some of them have better rapport with others who don't talk as much, so it's been like an endless game of telephone, but in comparison to the weeks-long blackouts it's been the best year of my life.

This got significantly longer than I intended but tl;dr, I am in a place now in my recovery where I am comfortable engaging in online forums for self improvement. I am glad to be here. :)

- J & A

Hello and welcome! Congratulations on doing lots of work by yourself, it's very complicated!

If you want additional ressources, including self-help books, including some specific for DID, you'll find the list of ressources in my signature.

Hope you'll find this forum helpful!

Hi and welcome to the board.

Wow that sounds like a lot to deal with. We have autism too as well as some other neurological/immune system issues. I'm not sure what Schizoaffective disorder is?

Our mental health services are not good here either and in patient services frankly terrifying so we've done much of our own work too. We found this board really helpful in understanding our system and finding ways to function together.

Lily

ArbreMonde wrote:Hello and welcome! Congratulations on doing lots of work by yourself, it's very complicated!

If you want additional ressources, including self-help books, including some specific for DID, you'll find the list of ressources in my signature.

Hope you'll find this forum helpful!

Thank you very much. I will be sure to take a look.

TheTriForce wrote:Hi and welcome to the board.

Wow that sounds like a lot to deal with. We have autism too as well as some other neurological/immune system issues. I'm not sure what Schizoaffective disorder is?

Our mental health services are not good here either and in patient services frankly terrifying so we've done much of our own work too. We found this board really helpful in understanding our system and finding ways to function together.

Lily

Schizoaffective disorder is, simplified, a diagnosis that covers both schizophrenia and mood disorders. I am diagnosed with schizoaffective bipolar type.

My experience with inpatient services varies, I do not blame you. Good to hear your positive thoughts on the forum, though.

Hello and welcome to the forums. Sorry we're late with saying our welcomes. We're Theta (as a whole) though...this is mostly Violette right now given that two of our other alters are very close to the surface.

Hope you are having a good day.

The V's

Hey nice to meet y'all sounds like you've come a long way. This place is great for community we have made some good friends on here hope you find your tribe here. There are two pinned posts for littles to interact on. Its for littles only, middles are allowed to write for littles that can't, one is a happy space and the other is for anything that would need a trigerwarning or could be upsetting.

-- Fri May 03, 2024 11:09 am --

Hey nice to meet y'all sounds like you've come a long way. This place is great for community we have made some good friends on here hope you find your tribe here. There are two pinned posts for littles to interact on. Its for littles only, middles are allowed to write for littles that can't, one is a happy space and the other is for anything that would need a trigerwarning or could be upsetting.

Eliseahorse wrote:Hey nice to meet y'all sounds like you've come a long way. This place is great for community we have made some good friends on here hope you find your tribe here. There are two pinned posts for littles to interact on. Its for littles only, middles are allowed to write for littles that can't, one is a happy space and the other is for anything that would need a trigerwarning or could be upsetting.

-- Fri May 03, 2024 11:09 am --

Hey nice to meet y'all sounds like you've come a long way. This place is great for community we have made some good friends on here hope you find your tribe here. There are two pinned posts for littles to interact on. Its for littles only, middles are allowed to write for littles that can't, one is a happy space and the other is for anything that would need a trigerwarning or could be upsetting.

Thank you for the welcome. It's wonderful to hear so many good things about this forum. I will certainly take a look.