Pushed back, passenger seat, and co-consciousness...same?

Ok, so my husband says a lot that he has only been "taken over" or "blacked out" twice, in his life, that he can remember. He says that the rest of the time he is "pushed back" or in the passenger seat. He says that he is aware of what's going on, but is powerless to stop it. He's "compelled" to do these things or feels possessed and just taken along. Is this the same as co-consciousness? Does a switch generally mean that the person is unaware of their actions and that the previous host goes away inside? One time we were having a conversation and his entire demeanor was different, it wasn't a drastic switch, but definitely different. He knew there was someone there, but he was still aware of our conversation and what was said. I actually knew that I was talking to someone else because he said that I looked different to him and when I said I was his wife, his response was "are you"? So, of course I knew it wasn't him. But, when my husband came back up front, he said he didn't understand how he was able to be aware of everything that was going and still converse with me while pushed back.

ok, so I went on and on up there, sorry, lol. But, yeah, I'd like to know if my husband is actually experiencing switching, or if he's co-conscious with the others.

I think that your statement is correct. I have felt myself get "pushed back" and feel as though I am looking at myself look through my own eyes. Almost as if my dream world has taken new power and become manifest in the real. A "real" hallucination.

That's the feel of co-conscienceness if you asked me. I would know, that's exactly how it feels when Frank takes over.

I would agree with Bates. That sounds like being co-conscious, at least that is definitely how I would experience it. It is bizzarre, but it happens more often than losing time completely. (at least it does now.)

He's experiencing co-consciousness the way you write it. Co-consciousness doesn't imply that there's no switching though, just that there's no or not much amnesia when a switch occurs and he's still around "near the surface", aware of what's going on, just not quite able to control his body's actions and helplessly watching for the most part. Maybe he's even able to regain control in between while an alters has most of the control, so that he can "chip in" in the conversation. Still, if someone is this co-conscious from the start, it's often harder to differ alters from one another and to know for sure what the alter is saying and what he is saying.
From reading your posts I gather that's the issue you're dealing with too. I know I shouldn't say this, but sometimes, it really does make things easier to be more obviously split. Still, both has his pros and cons. If he'd just be willing to put enough energy in overthinking daily-life situations in which he somehow didn't feel quite in control, he'd have the potential to come there faster than when the split is heavier filled with amnesia. But, he'd have to put his attention on it himself, and if he thinks it's bad enough that he has DID and doesn't want to pay too much attention to it more than that, it won't get better and he won't know more .

Thanks you all- I thought that this may be co-consciousness but I wasn't sure if this was considered switching where the alter takes over and in control. But now I understand that switching can happen with or without amnesia.

Dimensional- That is my frustration as well. It's very difficult to tell the difference between most of the alters and when the switching occurs.I think that, in our case, it would be "easier" if I could tell them a part because I accept that they are there, but it is difficult not knowing if the things that are said and done feelings and actions of his own or the others.

i try to see it as; all parts are me. i'm always "me". sometimes i am aware of another part or alter taking over. it may only be for a short time, and then forgotten. sometimes i can't remember anything that happened during a certain time period. it makes it hard to let anyone get to know me because i never know which part of me they are going to see. i may not remember things they told me, or say something i wouldn't normally say if triggered and not even know it. it's hard because you can't control it. we can try to influence another alter, or "part of ourself" but can't control it. their fears and anger, "or not" is too deep seeded according to their own separate life experiences. different parts have different memories and triggers. to me, co-conscience is when i am aware of another part, and what they went through. it also lets me see more of the whole picture of what happened and why i feel the way i do. i never let any part off the hook for doing wrong. i must hold "everyone" responsible for their actions, or i won't get better myself. hope that makes sense. i often wonder if people on the outside know me better than i know myself.

We have a few terms because sometimes it feels different. Sometimes we get "yanked inside" sometimes we're "riding shotgun" but co-consciousness feels a little different with each alter for me. Sometimes it's like looking through fogged glass and other times we feel like we're looking over their shoulder.

This is one area of my life that is so hard to live with. Some days will go out and feel ok, then when i speak am looking at the situation and feeling inside like hang on, no thats not what i want but having a mischievious part is not good. Also am finding that what one part of me thinks will help me feel better does nt always go along with what my more vulnerable younger parts want and so on. The worst of it is ,as has been said here already is when the parts are so close together in age or experiences differentiating. I am getting better and also better at beginning to let each part have their time out safely at home. Co consciousness is a horrid thing for me still, especially in therapy, when the change happens, i know, hear what is said but by the time i leave, have no idea what we talked about. So many sessions feel lost to me because of it. My t tells me, its ok but it does nt feel it, an hour and i dont know what we talked about.

Mostly it feels like somedays i can cope, others i hide at home esp when stressed as i know someone will come out when its not a good time. Esp my stutterer. When totally unsure of myself they take over and they struggle so much in any social setting and i can nt do anything to help it would seem, even down to trying to take over. It wont happen and it feels so vulnerable and upsetting.

Anyhow, did nt mean to hijack the post , it is an interesting question and for me i call it the change, or being hijacked because that is what it feels like.

go well

jorja
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