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Hi Johnny-Jack,

Thanks for your input. I always appreciate your input to things. I have deleted the post now but what you say there actually rings true for what me and my T came to the conclusion of by email this afternoon. I am unique. We are unique. My system is unique. We do not fit under a diagnostic category of DID just like everyone else does. No one does. He isn't claiming to know all the answers and perhaps someone who kept telling me answers would actually become quite oppressive and not very therapeutic? After all, how can he know all the answers about my system when we have only met 4 times. I treat my alters as seperate people. Alice has her own cuddly toys, and her own box. Poppi has her own clothes. As does Jason. They all have their own diaries. But in doing so we recognise how each of us has had our own little functions in life and altogether we make a fantastic team, even if I do say so myself! What you are commenting on is what tylas is referring to with her therapist so I can't comment on that, but what I can say is this post was born out of confusion with my T and a fear of mine that he was invalidating everyone in the system but me. But I was wrong. We were just slightly missing each other's points, I think!

Bourbon

I have just re-read this thread and other people's responses again.

Borg - thanks. I think being a worrier I will always have little bouts of worry over whether I'm doing the right thing and have "the right" therapist. I'm positive though that this therapist isn't some surface skimmer. A quick fixer with good old plasters/bandaids. We are both just getting used to each others style of speaking.

Tylas - Remembering DID is only a label is very important, thanks for putting it in such a clear way for me. DID is a label, but my life and my experiences are my life. My therapist and yours differ in the way that your T keeps you present and not dissociating, whereas if I go spinning off into a trance state he will allow me to be there. It was what I need to do to protect myself and I don't think he's keen on making me be somewhere I don't want to be. That is how we ended up discussing claws of squirrels and sticky pads on frogs feet!! He doesn't enforce switches, he doesn't ask certain people to come out, but he does ask if anyone is close and if they force their way out then he will engage with them. Finally, I don't think it's about me feeling special cause I have multiple personalities. It's just having been in the NHS system for so long that is flooded with invalidations, I'm sensitive to signs of invalidation so perhaps start to see it where it isn't.

Brandic - I indeed was showing some sarcasm and thanks for trying to clear that up. I realise this sarcasm may be somewhat disrespectful which is why I have taken the post down now it has been resolved. I go to some far fetched places when trying to work out confusion in my mind. I'm the first one to admit that I have black and white thinking and sometimes cannot just stick with the grey.

Bourbon

I am so glad things are resolved for you!

I needed to learn how to be present and grounded. While the Core was not out for almost my whole life - and until a few days ago, I am not sure I was ever NOT severely dissociated and was present. It seemed like a foreign thing to me and I was not even sure what it meant.