Inner Child Work - Does it work with DID?

My Therapist had me doing Inner Child work before my diagnosis of DD-NOS. Does it still help? She had me read Bradshaw's Homecoming and the book had me make tapes to listen to. First there were various reactions and the body movements. Then it was all happy reactions and now (last 3 times I listened including today) sad or mad reactions and body movements. I have no clue if its the same alter or different ones.

This might sound really dumb.... but

If it works... how? I can see if there are no alters, but it now seems confusing.


I asked this in another thread but should have started a new one, so here it si.

Hmmmm... no answers. I almost have to take that as it does not work?

Adapted Inner Child work...

Here is what I did today!

I tried making a safe place they would all enjoy. It's red brick play place. The inside has mats to wrestle on, a cafe where they can eat and we can all talk, a doll room, a toy room, the middle is a high glass garden room with a swing set and there is a bedroom upstairs for all of them. I listened to my inner child tapes and changed them to relate to my inner people instead of a "inner child".

For the first time I really connected with the tapes!!!!! Finally!

The inner child book has me write with my left hand, writing letters to myself. But I did not feel that they were really from any of the inner people.

I am anxious to get some dolls to play with! I LOVE dolls. I have 3 girls and none of them like them. They say they are scary. They watch too many horror movies. I go to town tomorrow and plan to get a couple. I might even stop along the way and swing on the swing at the park.

tylas,
there are many on here that have inner children but are referred to as littles. I have one for sure, 2 maybe. I have bought one doll for me and one was given. T's say a safe place should be made for them and time to play. I am still learning about myself and this all I can offer now.

"there are many on here that have inner children but are referred to as littles. I have one for sure, 2 maybe. I have bought one doll for me and one was given. T's say a safe place should be made for them and time to play. I am still learning about myself and this all I can offer now."

Thanks!

My confusion is all those that work on their "inner child" that are not DD-NOS and DID. Perhaps each little and alter has its own "inner child"? It's still confusing. I really have so much to learn too!!!


I got to town today and got 3 dolls!!! I had my 3 teen girls and 3 of their friends with me, and I thought twice, but I really wanted them so I got them! They are adorable!!!!

I can never find a clear difference between having a child alter and an inner child, since people tend to have different ideas on what an inner child actually is. From what I've read, I guess an inner child is supposed to be more of a feeling that comes over you, from some unmet need... like how some adults get overly excited when they see toys or something (like with your dolls... happy you got those, by the way ). Child alters are separate enough from you that they can take over your body, have separate thoughts, etc. You might be able to feel what the alters feel, though, so that can be a little confusing.

Of course, some professionals will label what I would call an alter, an inner child... so... And I've heard of some people being told they just had an inner child, but then when older ones were also found, they were then relabeled alters. So, yeah... I don't think there's a clear line, and everyone just has their own definition. I hate when that happens.

I've heard inner child work can be similar to helping a child alter, but I'm not sure if that's true.

tylas wrote:The inner child book has me write with my left hand, writing letters to myself. But I did not feel that they were really from any of the inner people.

Yeah, if we go by what I consider an inner child to be, that would be why you didn't feel like it came from the others (because the others are more separate than an inner child). If you're writing to an inner child, it's really writing to the child version of yourself, and taking care of any unmet needs that he/she currently has. To have a letter from a child alter, they would have to write it themselves (or have someone help them do it)... it's not just writing to yourself.

Thanks Canolime!

The tapes and book for the "inner child' or "self" as I think its called today do exactly what you said.

They have you go back in time and become the parent of yourself. They have you give yourself the stepping stones you needed to become a normal, happy adult. Then quickly, once you do that - Your baby becomes your toddler, your toddler becomes your 5 year old, your 5 year old becomes your school age self and then the school age self becomes your adolescent self, then that one becomes you. They have you say goodby to your biological parents and replace them with the wise, kind, adult you.

It does make sense that each alter could benefit from these skills.

What I have done now is to do the work, but I have altered it. Instead of saying my infant self, I say it to any alters that might be in that age range, etc... Instead of them all becoming me, which would be far too fast for one with DID or DD-NOS, I have them all go to our safe house.

That seems to be working. I listen to this tape at least once a day. Its great and since I made it, I can customize it to fit what is needed.