Longest and alter has been out?

Sorry if this has been asked before. I was wondering the longest amount of time (that you are aware of) that an alter has run been out. What was it like coming back? Do you have any recollection of what happened as that alter?

If you mean a single alter being out consecutively I don't know since I don't know which would have been out when I don't remember. I have (consecutive) years I don't remember but the longest I know that one of my alters was out consecutively was 12 days, I think it was. Don't remember anything from the years and only tiny bits of the 12 days. Usually I don't remember anything when there's just a few weeks or so though. It's just been like blinking for me. I close my eyes and when I open them again I'm somewhere new and the time isn't what I think it is. Sorry I can't be of more help

- Nin [+]

Your answer helps a lot. I suppose I meant having an alter, period, be in charge of your body. I can't believe you lost 2 years (but I do believe you, it's just mind blowing)! I do not have DID myself but am researching to get a better understanding and I must say it's very complex. *Possible Trigger Alert* What does it feel like when you've lost time? Do you remember the last thing you were doing before you lost those 2 years, and what you were doing when you "came to"? Did the time loss feel anything like 2 years had gone by, or was it instantaneous? I know a Dissociative who compared switching (back to the host, anyway) to teleporting. After those 2 years, how did you react when you found out it was 2 years later? Were your state of affairs in good shape (meaning job, school, bills etc.,) did it appear the alter/s were able to stay out of major trouble and function, or did they kind of mess things up? I can't imagine how shocking it would be to find out what had happened while you were "gone" so to speak.

You don't have to answer all this if you don't want to, I hope I'm not coming off as nosy or pestering. I'm just trying to get myself into these shoes to better understand this disorder, to help my friend. You guys have so many obstacles, things people wouldn't even think about. RESPECT.

I see one of us edited my comment but yes, two years. I'll have to answer this one by one or else I'll probably miss something, sorry

What does it feel like when you've lost time?

I just blink. One moment I might be saying something or just sitting watching tv and the next moment I open my eyes and it's somewhere new or the situation has changed. Sometimes I feel kind of a shivering feeling on the inside, like crawling out and my head feels blurred.

Do you remember the last thing you were doing before you lost those 2 years, and what you were doing when you "came to"?

I don't want to trigger anyone so I'll be very vague here but yes I remember both.

Did the time loss feel anything like 2 years had gone by, or was it instantaneous?

Until I found out, by accident, that the two things happened two years apart I was sure they were in the same frame of time (like moments, days, weeks or maybe months).

After those 2 years, how did you react when you found out it was 2 years later? Were your state of affairs in good shape (meaning job, school, bills etc.,) did it appear the alter/s were able to stay out of major trouble and function, or did they kind of mess things up?

I didn't realize it had been two years for a very very long time. I don't think I had the time to internalize that it had been so long and I had to just keep going. I was (luckily) quite young so it wasn't as traumatizing because life kind of just happens when you're that young.

Thank you for the respect! You seem like a good person to invest so much in helping your friend Best of luck to the both of you!

- Nin

In a way, I could say that I've had an alter out for years consecutively. My host has changed at least once through our life, and maybe more. I've been host for about 5 or 6 years now, but before that Chris was host, and his time in control is almost all emptiness. Whether or not there was another host before Chris, I don't know. Chris is coming back more these days too, and I wonder if he's going to resume as host at some point.

The longest time an alter was in charge was probably about 10 months. (That I know of) when I arrived back I hadn't really realized that so much time had passed. For me it feels as though everything gets far away. My hearing seems to fade away then my vision started to tunnel and fade to black. It can happen in an instant then the next thing I know I feel as if I am waking up and reality just comes and hits me. (Tho I wasn't asleep) and this is when I find I am somewhere other then where I last remember. Then begins the journey to discover how long I was gone and what went on while I was away. Sometimes I see flashes of what happened inbeween as if it were a dream, like I was far away and or deep inside myself. That is how I came to gain coconsiousness. At first it was scary having someone else control my body as I watched from a far. But the more I trusted who was in control the more comfortably I could sit back and watch as someone else lived on the outside.