Number of Alters?

PsiWraith, do you actually hear a voice in your head that sounds different than your own? When she DOES take over, do you know what is going on or do you lose time? Does she try to tell you to do things or say things that your own personality would not do or say? How is she different from you? How is she the like you? DID is very rare and psychiatrists/psychologists are very suspicious of anyone who claims to have this disorder. Did you have some severe trauma in your childhood that might have caused this? Please don't answer if you don't want to expose these things about yourself or you can send me a private message if you like. I have always had a fascination with DID. I don't mean to pry.

KansasCatlover,

Hello, again. Thanks for answering my questions about Chirs (Eve). If it is okay to ask, are you dx DID?. Just wondering because you said you have always had a fasination w/ DID.

PsiWraith,
KCL has asked some very good questions. I will say this. What you describe sounds farmiliar to me because of some of my own experiences and i have been dx DID. But i am no expert.

Has your pdoc made any dx at all? It usually takes time for the DID dx. For me, there were several before the DID dx was made.

Also, i wonder how schooled you current doc is with DID. Some health care professionals don't believe it exists at all.

best wishes to you,
stolen

Here is another good support forum which has helped me greatly. You might find info there as well.

http://www.needid.bizland.com/

no, stolen, I am not dx with DID. My education is in the field of psychology so, naturally, DID piques my interest.

Usualy it's more like a thought that I didn't think that originated in the aproxoment "area" where Katiln is (if that makes sense) but when she's realy serious about something belive me she comes across nice and clear. An "almoast" voice.

And yes, I can definatly say that Katiln is not me. Diffrent manurisms, attitudes, everything. Thats why we can have some fasinating discussions. Two diffrent points of view on the same subject. Although there are those odd times when we actualy agree on something...^_^
No, no lost time, I'm well aware of Katlins actions when shes doing stuff. It's sort of like we switch...She comes out where I am normaly, and I kindof take a back seat, going where she usualy is, but I'm still aware of things.
Trama? Hum...sorry, nothing comes to mind...is that a bad sign or something? My mom slamed my head on the pointed end of a coffie table once when she was swinging me by my feet. Does that count? Or do you mean emotional trama?

No, the good doctor says I'm totaly fine and normal, even with the odd news of Katlins exsistance.

That either means I'm crazy, or she is...

PsiWraith,

From everything i have read and understand, DID is almost always (if not always) the result of some sort of trauma that occured. This is why alters are created in the first place -- to endure the trauma that the person cannot or so the person does not have too. Many times, the person has blocked out the trauma and cannot remember it happening (usually, there are alters who remember it).

The trauma is usually physical, sexual, emotional or a combination of these.

If you don't mind my asking, how old are you and how long have you been aware of katlin? Did she just suddenly appear one day? Does she ever make you do things you don't want to do -- like self harm or causing harm to others? Get you into trouble, etc? Cause distress in your life?

I have recently read about another disorder where internalized companions are created. My understanding is that this disorder is different and seperate from DID because it does not invovle dissociation but it can mimic and look like DID. I've only read two articles about it so i am not very familiar with it at all, or how reputable the author is or how it is seen by the pysch community at large.

Are you on any medications at all?

Sorry, don't mean to be nosey but just trying to help you figure things out if possible.



best wishes,
stolen

PsiWraith,

Feel i should clarify. In most cases, the trauma is some sort of repeated abuse the person suffered - usually, physical, sexual, or emotional (or combo of these).

stolen

That's kay. Nosey is good. I like nosey.

I'm 18.
About 2-3 years, and no, she didn't just appear, It's just that I never bothered to ask her about herself. (Up until then I'd just thought of her as another part of myself...imagine my shock when I found out she was female!)

No. She doesn't "make" me do anything, but she does make suggestions about what she would do in my shoes. (to which I usualy respond "well then you come out here and do it..." ^_^)

SELF INJURY?! AHHH! I faint at the mere thought of pain. lol
Sides, I'm actualy pretty upbeet most of the time. I'm actualy not that worried about this even...It'd just be nice to know if I have it, know what I mean?

As far as meds, I'm assuming you mean for psych reasons, in which case the answer is nope. (I do take some pills but they are for things like a lack of calcium and stuff...nothing for behavour...)

Well if that's true then only Katlin would know if I'd exp'ed any trama, right?

PsiWraith,

Well, you probably would have an inkling that your childhood was dysfunctional or rough in some way - even though you may not remember the actual abuse.

I remember certain bits and pieces of incidences but have totally blocked out others (I know about them because others in my family have said they happened). But, i know my family was dysfunctional and my childhood was rough (How could i not know when me and my siblings were eventually taken out of the home).

It sounds like katlin is under your control. For me, it seems the opposite. My alters have taken control of my body and have done things i could not prevent or stop. Sometimes, i can reason with them, though. Other times, not.

I'm glad you are not worried and seem to being doing okay with it. As long as she is not causing you distress, then i guess it is not a disorder by definition.

I'm curious, though, why you went to see the psych doc in the first place, if you don't mind sharing.

Wishing you the best,
stolen

Funny story actualy. I told a teacher that I didn't worry about death because belived I would live as long as I wanted to (because I belive your lifespan is determined by your attitude twards life / how strong of a will to live you have). She told my parents and together they deturmined that I was "In denial about my own mortality" and strongly insisted on professional help and sense I was under 18 at the time, guess who had to see a shrink. 9_9

Anyhoo, it only took two visits for her to realize I was fine and told my parents there was nothing crazy about unorthidox belief systems and that I was totaly normal. But, I kindof liked talking to someone who couldn't tell the info I was sharing with her, so I kept the visits going.