Grief, Mourning, and Dissociative Identity Disorder
Those who have formed dissociative identity disorder (DID) due to severe and repeated child abuse know the pain of grief and mourning. We grieve over what could have been and mourn over what we lost. This article will concentrate on grief and mourning for those with DID. ...
Loneliness and Dissociative Identity Disorder
The following article is written from my heart to warm yours. I have included some insights into my own healing journey to help you feel less lonely. Perhaps one of the toughest parts of having DID is the loneliness and feeling disconnected from the rest of the world....
Family Estrangement: Going No Contact – Part Three
We have been exploring together the ins and outs of going no contact with a family of origin. As we have seen, going no contact is a dramatic and often traumatic event that allows you some peace when your family denies your past abuse or is still abusing you....
The Mountain of Healing
When people first discover they have dissociative identity disorder (DID), they begin an extraordinary journey that can take years. While it is true that the mountains multiples must climb are formidable, it is not impossible to reach the other side. But what does the other side of the...
Acknowledging Grief
Grief is an emotion that no human is spared. We lose a loved one and spend the rest of our lives thinking about them when something familiar triggers them back to life. This article will examine grief, its stages, and how we must learn to accept it as...
Healthy Attachment of Therapists and Their Clients
Normal or appropriate attachment is a therapist who shows interest in your problems, is sensitive to your feelings, seems pleased to see you (but not in a selfish way), and respects you. Normal attachment allows you to feel valued and safe. This article shall focus on attachment styles...
Are You a Doormat?
Relationships are complicated. No one would argue with that. Learning about someone else’s quirks, needs, and boundaries is complicated, and sometimes the other person doesn’t reciprocate your interest. This article will explore the doormat in a dysfunctional relationship and how to build healthy boundaries to protect yourself. ...
The Effects of Childhood Rejection
Rejection is a normal part of life that everyone experiences at some time in their lives. However, when children are rejected by their caregivers, the damage done to them is enormous. This piece will explore the effects of childhood rejection and methods of overcoming it. What is...
Body Memories
There are many symptoms that childhood trauma survivors experience, but none are more disturbing than that of body memories. During a body memory, you may see, hear, or otherwise feel body sensations connected to trauma. This piece shall explore body memories and ways you can help yourself when...
Shame
We’ve all experienced shame at some time in our lifetime. When we do something wrong and feel that twang of guilt when we are punished, we are experiencing shame. This article will focus on shame and how it can be detrimental to our mental health. What is...
The Problem of Misdiagnosis with Dissociative Identity Disorder
Finding a mental health professional who is a good fit is difficult for anyone. However, if you have dissociative identity disorder as I do, the chances of finding a therapist or psychiatrist who knows how to treat DID are minimal. Dissociative identity disorder affects 1-2% of the population,...
Grief and Anger
Anger and grief are two powerful emotions that often accompany one another. All humans feel anger and grief, but survivors of childhood trauma seem to experience it throughout their adult lives. If left untreated, such strong emotions, if left unexpressed, endanger one’s health and relationships. Repressed anger is a...