Integration and Dissociative Identity Disorder Treatment
Last night I listened to the HealthyPlace Mental Health Radio Show interview with Sarah Olson, the author of Becoming One: A Story of Triumph Over Multiple Personality Disorder. She talked about her integration experience and I greedily took in every word. Here was someone who had achieved what was once my most fevered wish. After I got over the initial shock of my Dissociative Identity Disorder diagnosis, my focus narrowed to one elusive, coveted dream: the complete integration of alters. This shining promise of a cohesive, unified identity was all I wanted out of Dissociative Identity Disorder treatment.
Integration Isn't Possible Without Dissociative Identity Disorder Treatment
But it wasn't really recovery I was after. Treatment for Dissociative Identity Disorder isn't easy. It's a painful process consisting of years of therapy and no small amount of hard work. I didn't want that. I wanted simply and only to be free of DID. I searched libraries and bookstores for a guide of some kind; a manual that would provide me with a checklist of steps to achieve integration. I became increasingly frustrated and angry each time I eagerly brought home a book, searched its contents, and discovered nothing like the quick and easy recipe for integration I was looking for. I saw my alters as the problem, and I just wanted them to go away.
Integration is a process, as opposed to an actual event, that begins as soon as DID-focused therapy begins. To view integration simply as a time when all the internal parts come together to form a unified self does not do justice to the process. - The Dissociative Identity Disorder Sourcebook, Deborah Haddock
Treatment for Dissociative Identity Disorder Reveals the Truth about Integration
My ideas about integration reflected a lack of understanding of DID itself. My perception of my alters as entirely separate beings is part of my disorder. This idea of integration as something that makes them go away is born of that same mindset. Part of Dissociative Identity Disorder treatment is learning that though we experience ourselves and operate as individual people, we are ultimately fractured pieces of one identity. Integration is therefore the opposite of what I thought it was. Rather than a final and total rejection of my alters, integration involves embracing them more fully. It dissolves the barriers between these alter states, but not the alter states themselves.
It took a long time to learn that integration isn't the miracle solution I was looking for. That, in fact, what I was desperately seeking wasn't integration at all but simply an escape from Dissociative Identity Disorder. And even though I know better now, listening to Sarah last night I couldn't help but hope for a moment that I was about to hear the recipe I'd been searching for.
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APA Reference
Gray, H.
(2010, October 21). Integration and Dissociative Identity Disorder Treatment, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, November 8 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/dissociativeliving/2010/10/integration-and-dissociative-identity-disorder-treatment
Author: Holly Gray
This is a discovery I've just come to myself. I have looked at my alters as the enemy & not the hero's they are. As I have begun to embrace them ...one by one, I have found a lot more peace inside.
I've had the same experience, Lenore. Well, "peace" might not be the right word for me ... but I've discovered that embracing my system allows for more communication and negotiation. Which certainly paves the way for peace, anyway.
I struggle a lot with wanting to be integrated so that switching and time loss never happens again. I don't know if that will ever happen, and that realization makes me want to cry for days because I just want to be like everyone else. I don't want to have to spend all of my energy managing dissociative symptoms and keeping order amongst my system.
I, like you, keep hoping for some miracle cure. I have come a long way in respecting my alters for allowing me to survive what I needed to survive, but DID is a scary, horrifying disorder to live with. And to know I may have to live with it for the rest of my life, or for a really long time, feels unmanageable. I have friends who had DID who, in just a few years, managed to integrate and I don't know how they did it.
Integration has been on my mind a lot recently, so this article is very well-timed for me. Thinking on it for too long makes my stomach hurt, though, so I think I'll stop there. Thank you for voicing how I've been feeling for so long.
Hi Stephanie,
"I have friends who had DID who, in just a few years, managed to integrate and I don’t know how they did it."
This has been a huge source of frustration and even jealousy for me. When I was first diagnosed, I started reading about Dissociative Identity Disorder and book after book, article after article, reported the estimated total treatment time as 3 to 7 years. I'm in my sixth year of treatment now and nowhere near an end point. I don't even feel near the halfway point. I can't help but feel embarrassed about that and like I must not be "doing treatment right."
"I don’t want to have to spend all of my energy managing dissociative symptoms and keeping order amongst my system."
Yes. DID is confusing, frustrating, and makes me feel powerless in my own life. It's exhausting to constantly try to keep things from falling apart, only to be disappointed yet again when they eventually do. That sounds a little defeatist, I suppose, but it's how I genuinely feel.
Tel them there safe forever, that no one will ever be able to touch them again , you and your family must give each alter unconditional love forever, embrace them in the family life, never shout, argue just hugs and love, explain that no one can ever, never hurt you again, safe,safe,safe your closest loved ones must constantly say this, if you have an aggressive controlling slyer you must do the same and encourage them to talk, say that you are sorry you were put in that place say also they are safe forever.
Jen,
This is what I try to do for my husband. He has only been dealing with did for unless than a year.. Thank you for your message because it encourage me to keep doing what I’m doing for him.
I'm just approaching the end of year 2 in this & only recently accepted it. One thing I'm doing that has been very helpful in being able to see a better picture of who is inside & what they are like, is to make a scrap book, each having their own page. We find pictures in magazines that best portray each one of us & add what ever each wants to see happen in the future. It has helped us find common ground & respect for others feelings & wants. I am also meeting more who reside in me that were to afraid to come out & be heard. This seems to have been a hit & is working well.
Lenore,
I love your scrapbook idea! I abhor doing system maps in a traditional way (i.e. writing down the names, ages, and other pertinent information of every system member on paper according to where they are within the system). The anxiety that activity provokes is almost unbearable. So I'm always curious about other ways for a system to express itself, less exposing ways. I don't know why the traditional map feels so exposing to me and your scrapbook idea doesn't, but there you have it. Thanks so much for sharing that. I'm looking forward to trying the same thing.
My thoughts on integration have changed over the years, and are exactly in line with the sorts of things you describe. Maybe someday I will be integrated, but the path to get there is to accept who you are now (meaning with parts). I have often thought I could never live the rest of my life with parts. But as I heal and there is more collaboration and awareness, I think I might actually be able to. And not only will that be okay, it will be good for me. The ability to dissociate, to become fractured, I think is always there whether one "integrates" or not. I think I have said before "integration is way over-rated".
Hi Paul,
"Maybe someday I will be integrated, but the path to get there is to accept who you are now (meaning with parts)."
You're so right. It took me a long time to learn that.
"The ability to dissociate, to become fractured, I think is always there whether one “integrates” or not."
That's one thing that was hard for me to accept. Because I have Dissociative Identity Disorder and have had it for most of my life, I believe dissociating is what my brain does best. And it's my brain's go-to method of managing ... well, life. I wanted DID to be an illness that, with the proper treatment, went away like a cold or a fever. But now I know that integrated or not, DID may always be a part of my life in some manner. Dissociation certainly will be.
I have been very blessed w/ an awesome therapist from the start. The freedom to be creative in expression has always been encouraged. I also rely heavily on God for help & He does. The scrap book idea has really propelled me forward in this healing process & has helped me so much to listen & understand to those who have been my help & protection when I needed them.
I'm glad you like the idea & I hope it helps you also!
I appreciate those of you who have shared your journey and struggles, as well as how you are coming to peace with D.I.D. As I read your responses I just cried, because I do feel alone in recovery apart from my therapist and family. I was diagnosed with D.I.D. approximately 3 years ago, but have been in therapy for almost two years. I'm so exhausted and of the chaos and confusion of getting to know my "Insisder's". There is so by much to learn and it is a "gruelling" process for me at times. I've made some progress, but at times I feel like things are becoming more confusing. I to thought recovery was a complete intergration of my Insider's. Reading the book Dissociative Indentity Sourcebook by Deborah Bray Haddock, has helped, but I want to give up sometimes because it is exhausting and draining work. I have a husband and kids and it's so hard to juggle all these things, and try to maintain some sense of "normality for my family. I need to go back to my scrapbook and start fresh with all my Insider's and wotk towards patience.
Hi Leslie,
Thanks for your comment.
"I have a husband and kids and it’s so hard to juggle all these things, and try to maintain some sense of “normality for my family."
This struggle to maintain some sense of normality is so incredibly draining, I couldn't agree with you more. It really takes a toll on me, particularly when I'm having a hard time with things that most people who don't have DID couldn't possibly understand. They don't get it, and so I try very hard to appear as normal as possible. Inevitably I fail from time to time. And that's hard.
The book you mention by Deborah Haddock is the first book I recommend to people wanting to learn more about Dissociative Identity Disorder. She covers the basics in a really accessible way. And in my experience, the more I know about DID the easier it is to live with it. If nothing else, I understand my life better. And though that doesn't make any of the pain or frustration go away, I at least feel that I know what I'm dealing with.
Grueling is an excellent word for the recovery process, Leslie. I hope you know that though having DID can be a very isolating thing and feels incredibly lonely a good deal of the time, there are so many people in the world who are struggling with DID too and feeling those same feelings of isolation and loneliness. I know it doesn't make the loneliness go away, but maybe it helps to know that someone, somewhere understands.
As another idea for a system map, I did a video clip. It helped express some of the emotions attached to certain areas through the music I used. It also avoided getting caught up in the categorisation of the system, which worried me for some reason - odd considering I'm a librarian, but there you go.
Hi CG,
You're a librarian! You have my secret dream job. :) Surrounded by books, categorizing and alphabetizing. Sounds heavenly.
It's interesting to me what you said about avoiding categorizing your system. I have a tendency towards putting things into categories and groupings. It helps me understand things. But I've found that when it comes to Dissociative Identity Disorder and understanding my system, it's counter-productive. I try to approach getting to know them just as people, not as "protectors" or "gatekeepers" or any of that label lingo. When I try to categorize them, I end up not seeing them for who they are. Which isn't to say that labels can't be helpful to my comprehension of myself, my disorder, and the world around me. I believe there is absolutely a place for labels and categories. But like you, I avoid that when it comes to mapping.
The video is a great idea. Thanks for sharing it. I'm getting some good ideas here from readers!
Sorry... pushed wrong button and didn't finish my thought. Don't know if the earlier got posted so will repeat. I have been in therapy alot of my 64 years, but only found out about having DID until 9 months ago. When I shared the diagnosis with close friends all said of course, so that explains it. I also heard of experience and observations that I didn't consciously know about.
Early in therapy I chose to attempt fusion... a step past integration. But then I got to the point of each of mees talk to each other and take turns being themselves, I realized how dampened the effect will be when my adventurous 9 year old boy is merged with my 60 year school master man. So now I'm not sure.
When I experience things in the present that bring extreme reactions out of proportion to the real event, I know a part of me is working out a hurt from the past. And as I walk through the process I find a new person emerging... someone that may eventually be all of us.
Hi Nancy,
"When I experience things in the present that bring extreme reactions out of proportion to the real event, I know a part of me is working out a hurt from the past."
I really like the way you worded that. I've started to realize that same dynamic in my own life. It's hard, but understanding it helps. Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Thanks for reading, Nancy, and taking the time to comment.
I just found out too a few months ago and I am 65 yo. It makes complete sense to me and my life and things I did but didnt know why. The alters have been with me all my life. Now I see it. I was always diagnosed with depression but back when I was younger with symtoms noone ever looked at DID or PTSD from an abusive childhood. Most didn't believe in it. They are idiots. I have seen and experienced it. It is real. Even my granddaughter saw an alter come into my face on facetime with her. She took a double take at me and I got off real fast and cried. It is so scary and to find out this late in life disheartening. On the bright side at least I know and understand myself. I feel I have naturally integrated some of the alters. Not sure exactly who everyone is yet but some integration came naturally. Im older and would rather not spend YEARS in therapy. I just need to deal with some abuse and I am already loving and getting along with the alters. That is all you really need. We are smart people developing these alters so we can live a life. Without them we would have gone crazy or killed ourselves. So appreciate how smart you are.
Hi, Elise. Thank you so much for your comment.
It can take a while to learn who some of your alters are, but I am glad to hear that you and your parts are already getting along well. And what you said about people with dissociative identity disorder being smart is absolutely true. If we weren't smart or creative, we would never have survived this long. Take care.
I created a 'family tree' for mine, showing where each came in and who was most related to who. I also had a bowl filled with sand which had an object for each self and all were in the same sand within the same bowl, to symbolise co-operation and belonging to one system. As they began to know and finally be kind to and curious about each other they'd make things and do things for each other (yay) and as the first two of my 9 began to merge we did a circle showing where each were around the circle so could finally see what it would take for each to get more aligned with their nearest neighbor and also lines crossing the circle to show who was identifying with/learning from who. Collage is another way to literally get everyone 'on the same page'. We also encouraged each other to listen to songs we'd picked out for each other (with respect) and though the music was often not that one's taste it helped them know what the sender saw in it.
D.
Hi D.,
I'd never thought of a family tree before. You guys are all offering such great ideas for system mapping/expression, thank you. I should compile these into a post.
Thanks so much!
i have only known that i have DID for a few months. when i look back on my life i feel that i've probably had it for most of my life. there isn't much information about it in australia, so i am grateful for this website. i have a real effort with the disassociation side of the illness. it is very scary for me as i don't have control over my life. i only wish that someone would have a website like this here so i could access the therapies. i listened to the radio show and found that it is soooo true what was said. but as i am at the beginning of my illness i have a lot of learning to do. these shows are a big help. thanks
Hi Suzanne,
Thank you for your comment.
"i have a real effort with the disassociation side of the illness. it is very scary for me as i don’t have control over my life."
It really is scary at times. Even now, in my sixth year of treatment, I struggle so much with Dissociative Identity Disorder symptoms. I will say though, it's better in many ways now than it was for me when I was first diagnosed. Learning about the disorder has helped me to understand how it manifests for me and why some of the things that are so scary for me happen. Of course, there's still so much I don't understand. But I share this with you because I hope that you too feel more stable over time. Diagnosis can be so frightening for a DID system. If this is your experience, know that it will get better, things will settle down.
Hi Holly, I too have been giving integration a lot of thought over the last year or so and I have come to the conclusion that it is not the way in which my system and I want to move into the future. Instead our goal is to establish maximum communication, respect and understanding between us. For we really need to "get" each other, if we are to truly understand ourselves as a whole. And from this may spring an intermingling of selves or it may not. But this is O.K. Because I believe that if we allow this process to happen gently without stress or force it may just happen on its own. And this myself and my others will then accept. But pushing for " integration" in the classic way has traumatised and frightened my alters in the past. And their consequent fear and distress made life much more difficult and horrible for all of us. This will obviously not be the way that everone wants to proceed in their own lives, but for the moment it sits well with us, because it is a less frightening way to go for my alters and myself. P.S. I did a list containing physical descriptions of all my alters and my view of their personalities, and it was hilarious, because everytime I 'd have my say about them all, each of them jumped in and then wrote a personal desciption of themselves. And I must say all of those who participated had highly flattering things to say about themselves. It was really interesting to compare what I thought of them and who they were, and what they thought their functions were and their personalities. I think I' m lucky because from what I hear this process can be a very challenging one for others.
Thanks for the posts as always Holly, for they always inspire someone to just look or question that little biit deeper.
Hi kerri,
"For we really need to “get” each other, if we are to truly understand ourselves as a whole. And from this may spring an intermingling of selves or it may not."
I think that's the best course of action for me too - moving towards acceptance and understanding and letting the chips fall where they may. If we achieve full integration, great. If not, it likely won't even matter as much if we've created what you describe: communication, respect, understanding.
"It was really interesting to compare what I thought of them and who they were, and what they thought their functions were and their personalities."
Yes! I'm consistently surprised by the dissonance between who I perceive someone in my system to be and who they actually are, once they begin to reveal themselves. I'm wrong - or just off a bit - so often. Like you, I often find it amusing.
"Thanks for the posts as always Holly, for they always inspire someone to just look or question that little biit deeper."
Thank you, kerri. I've found writing about DID helps me to question and look deeper as well. Not to mention what I learn from reader comments and dialogue. So thanks for being a part of that.
Kerri, I think I feel similarly as you about integration. Only I'm not as ok with it being a possibility maybe out there someday. I'm pretty opposed to integration. I'd rather we all learn to sing a song, with a couple melody lines and some harmony and some instrumentals. This is a great post and a great discussion. Thank each and every one of you for sharing! If any of you want to read my blog it is
http://sarahsmithetal.blogspot.com/
Has anyone ever had a remission of sorts from DID? I was diagnosed with DID/MPD over 20 years ago. I also have Fibromyalgia and Chronic headaches. About 5 years ago I had several C-1 & C-2 nerve blocks. After the second block, I had the sensation that maybe “some brain cells had been fried” in the process. Soon after, I noticed that I processed life/emotions very differently. My system seemed to have vanished. I felt like I was normal. This wasn’t integration. It was like night and day and although I felt a bit flat emotionally, I was “cured.” A year later, I went into menopause for 2 years. Then I completely came “out” of menopause. After a mental breakdown of sorts 2 years ago, I went back into therapy to get a grip on menopause, pain issues, mid-life crisis, etc. and after a few months, I realized that my DID had returned. I was devastated. Both my (new) therapist and I have researched if there is any published link regarding nerve blocks and DID but we have not found anything. I keep thinking about how electroshock therapy must have been discovered to treat mental illness. Am I on the cutting edge of a potential treatment for DID or did I experience a powerful and physically demanding alter that took over for about 4 years?
Has anyone experienced anything like this? Has anyone experienced alters that have very different physical symptoms? I have seen this phenomenon in the movies but assumed those must be extreme cases. I would love to read a blog on this topic!
Hi Deanna,
You say it wasn't integration ... do you mean it was spontaneous?
Just for the sake of argument, let's say you did integrate fully - that's what cured means within the context of Dissociative Identity Disorder. It's entirely possible that you re-fragmented. After all, dissociation is your old stand-by, your most familiar coping mechanism. You said you had a mental breakdown, went back to therapy and notices your DID was back. That makes sense. You found yourself in the midst of overwhelming stress. It might be that, severe dissociation being the method of coping with overwhelming stress that you're most familiar with, you split again. That happens.
In fact, I believe Sarah E Olson (author of the book I've cited here) mentioned having a similar experience in her radio interview. Follow this link to listen to her interview: http://www.healthyplace.com/radioshowblog/dissociative-identity-disorder-after-integratio…
There's also the possibility that you did not integrate, that you were not cured. It's possible that your dissociative walls became, for a time, far more opaque. Your mention of feeling a bit emotionally flat makes me wonder if that's what was going on for you.
Either way, yes ... others have also experienced something similar.
Deanna,
A therapist told me of a client she treated who had emphysema & coughed chronically. She was DID and when she switched in therapy, her coughing would stop.
I just stumbled upon this site while trying to figure out what the next years of my life will look like. My wife has DID and is recovering. It has been a very slow and agonizing process for both of us. I became her caretaker instead of her spouse. She had many child alters so I spent most of my time parenting my own wife. She has been dedicated to getting healed. She has been in therapy three times a week for the last 4 years. One month ago the first of her child alters integrated. Before I left for work the alter(Jason) asked me to stay home because he wouldn't be there by the time I got back. He later realized that he never left but integrated with my wife. One month later, now my wife has one alter left, the alter she felt least connected to. We are again making plans for our life together. For those of you who are afraid of integrating or afraid that you will never be whole, there is very real hope for your life.
This gives me hope as my spouse is in early diagnosis of his did.
Holly, Commenters,
Enormous help here. Explains so much. Going to skip official diagnosis part for now and work with it 'as if' . Already creative ideas coming.
Have been experiencing so much stress driving that have isolated even more. I just came up with idea of howvto help someone who is very fragile behind the wheel and gets very upset when rude drivers do their thing. This girl has been in car accidents and brother was killed in one. She really needs extra TLC. When iI go out
thinking to put her safely buckled in the back seat with a blanky.
Dunno sounds like it ould work or make me laugh!
Best to everybody. So glad to find your company. I can't get over how this framework of thinking about my self is resulting in almost immediate relief of symptoms.
I am really kind of overwhelmed reading all of your posts. I have always known about my "others", but started therapy almost two years ago and was diagnosed about a year and a half ago. I have been feeling almost desperate, like "when will I be cured?" I'm thinking "two years? why is it taking so long?" I guess I was expecting to find out why they were there and then integrate and move on, you know? I haven't been sliding (my word for switching) much at all but I feel like the others are pounding down my door and I have to keep a very tight reign on myself. I don't know how much longer I can do it. Any feedback would be welcome, I feel like I am all alone and that somehow I have gotten this all wrong and am not "getting well" as soon as I should be.....help??
Hi I would like to talk to you about this integration as I think it's not going to help us. I'd just like you opinion please from Freak
What happens when you no your 'an alter' therefore not real just a broken part of the brain and you never age and get stuck here going through everything I no isn't happening anymore I don't no how to move on
Hi "not sure", Unfortunately I don't have experience with what you seem to be talking about. I have met someone with DID who seemed to be "stuck" in a particular alter all the time. If you think this is the case I would recommend finding a trusted therapist and psychiatrist to work with. People with DID need support from professionals. If it were me, I would try talking it through with a therapist and seeing what treatment they suggest. Sometimes just talk therapy is enough to jolt you out of an altered state, temporarily. Good luck as you seek treatment. Thank you for your comment!
Every alter is part of the whole. Need to find a way to reach the core person or another alter that has love and compassion for you and can share your pain with their love.
# MIndsCore I do appreciate your info. on this disorder. I am happy to say that after many years of therapy and work on myself that I have integrated. I came into my co-consciousness of my 57 alters in 1995. I have worked very hard and severely painful work to get to the other side of being severely fractured. I wrote my Memoir about my alters and this helped me immensely. I hope others will visit my blog I have two different blogs one to deal with different subjects and one on my travels of integration. Thank you for letting me be a part of this! Tamara
I have a question. My dearest sister is DID. Our parents insist on seeing or talking to her. Which causes anxiety, panic, PTSD, yucky stuff. They are 73yrs old. And have no clue that the trauma of abuse did this to her, plus the other life trauma. Do I tell them in short. To go away.
i am not very clear about DID except that i have had it like for ages with a truthful start at birth years (father trying to kill mother by strangling her on the neck when i was about three ) to very late in life experiencing massive betrayals and abuse in 40s.
Somehow my healing seems to come to an end and for some reason i able to see the many separate identities that have been part of my life over my entire life.
I think i can share, briefly,out of experience, what these separate identities are.
For a start because of massive abuse starting at childhood, something did not grow well in me. ie the boundary of my identity. The i am me and you are you. This was the perfect breadding ground for multiple identities.
How?
To avoid abuse i learned to "manufacture" an appropriate personality that was suited to the potential abuser... and later to every human being i interact with!
I have heard of a few alters. Mine were as many as the different people i would interact with!
In other words i was always a different me with a different person. Now that i have healed substantially my internal mind is full of "who was that??" referring to myself in a past interaction at any given age of my life.
Today trying to understand this phenomena i remembered the women who gets beat up in domestic violence.
They acquire an agreeable "self" for the abuser that is different from their real self. All inaim of fore stalling being beaten up.
This other self, in my vire an understanding, is what is called "alter". The said woman may only have one alter that is designed for the beating man.
In my situation, and true to a very broken up mind, i have had over a hundred alters, who could speak diffrent things and hold diffrent view of life. They all could speak for their own account (which i was attributing to posession). Sometimes they were voices of people i knew especially abusers.
They were persistent and have expressed inside of me for incredibly many years, some since childhood.
But i think that journey is coming to an.
The very ability to see that these were self preservation personalities to protect myself from abusers seem to be a giant step in recovery.
This to me is what alter integration seems to be.
Dear Ayeye,
We are without a moderator at the moment on this website but I wanted to take a moment to thank you for posting you insight. It sounds like you have been through a lot but it is very encouraging that you are at the end of all the confusion.
First and foremost, thank everyone here for their posts. I have a very close friend who i consider a part of my family who we believe has mpd. Ive met her alter 3 times now as shes just come into full existence 34 days ago. She isnt dangerous or anything of the sort, and i was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on how to begin handling this.
I know her name, and she is slowly beginning to trust me, but still is wary of me. Thebalter works as her protector is what ive been able to decipher so far, and they are conscious of each other. We dont have the funds for therapy, so i will be the one assuming the role of supportive care. We've already made contracts on what is to be allowed/not allowed and such. Shes very diplomatic.
Thank you everyone! Reading these posts made me realise that integration means accepting and trying to understand the alters, they are parts of myself, instead of eliminating them. I always had this vision of my cured self as one "real" "normal" self that just doesn't have alters... But that is of course not what integration means... I feel sorry for my alters now. This realisation is one stop towards integration and I am very grateful for it!
my alters have begun hiding things from me like perfume, the lid to my trash can in the kitchen, I find clothes I don't remember wearing or buying, I had a black out the other night and don't remember what or who I did. they constantly argue especially at night and when I try to ask them to be quiet because we have to work the next morning they tell me its my problem they gang up on me. and now that I'm sober I try so hard to keep the good alter out but I pray everyday that they don't take over again. I'm so frustrated my therapist talks about integrating? how the f*** do I do that can any one help me understand?
Monica,
Did your therapist explain the process of integration? Many with DID choose not to integrate. You have options, and the decision is really up to you whether or not you want to integrate. It is a process, and can take a lot of time, depending on how many alters you have.
I would start by addressing each of the alters and asking them why they are angry and disruptive. Find out what they are feeling and what is going on emotionally. Kids typically act out and misbehave when they are trying to express feelings and emotions that they cannot express otherwise. That might be what is going on here, even though I understand they are not kids. The behaviors are still the same if you haven't learned to express emotions properly. When you start dealing and addressing the emotions you feel or situations with which you have experienced, then you can start getting your alters to talk, share, and express themselves, thus eventually leading to integration.
Many of my alters hold night meetings, while I sleep, where they support each other and work on solutions together. This let's the days be manageable for work and alters start integrating with each other. I had a lot of alters due to main alters creating there own alters. Our life is very stable now and has been for years, even with several alters not integrated yet but working together like a business team with lots of love and compassion. Staying organized using alarms and list.and remembering to thank them and God often.
I'm working with a therapist and psychiatrist they suggested that I take a note book and get all of us to write down things about ourselves. Such as our likes and dislikes, race and gender, age etc. what I've been trying to do is give each one some "out time" like when Mone't (my alter) likes to cook then dirtymoney (2nd alter) comes out because she likes to clean and monet won't. but we do things together like watch movies, read books, go tanning and go to the gym. Monet has a shopping addiction so I constantly find clothes and nicknacks she has picked up. I learned I over paid my rent but I have no idea where I got the money .
I do not believe that I can ever be intergrated due to the fact that I don't know if perp is still actively looking for me. He believes I received his remorse gifts, which my family stole from me. The family denies all, even my abduction and perp's stalking for years, so they can get away with the theft. Ironically, I don't care about the money, it's my perp's freedom to roam unlabeled as the sexual child predator that he is, that floors me. I'll never get justice due to the police not even taking my report due to no adult collaboration because I was 5 when abducted and sexually tortured for names. I knew he'd come back. He did several times, even called.