Building a Life Despite Having DID
and living well Receiving the diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder can seem like the end of the world. Then we endure years of treatment struggling to get free of the past that has bound us. This piece is full of hope because I am a living example of living...
What are Derealization and Depersonalization?
About 50% of the general population has felt that they are outside themselves, watching what is happening once in their lifetimes. Perhaps they were going under or coming out of anesthesia and felt eerily like they were not real or that they can see themselves lying in their hospital...
Seeking Help for Self-Harming Behavior
***Trigger Warning: This article will speak about self-harm and may not be suitable for all audiences.*** I have self-harmed myself and so have first-hand experience and know how devastating it can be not only to yourself but to those around you. So, I do not write about or take...
The Mental Health Disorders Most Associated with Self-Harm
***Trigger Warning: This article will contain self-harm information and may not be suitable for all audiences.*** This series has focused on different types of self-harm, its causes, and a description of those who practice it. In this piece, we continue our open and honest look at self-harm by highlighting...
The Importance of Talking About Suicide
***TRIGGER WARNING*** This article will tackle active and passive suicide and may not be suitable for sensitive audiences. Suicidality is common among people living with dissociative identity disorder. While suicide is a taboo subject among many in our community, one cannot conquer an enemy that they do not see....
Becoming More Resilient
Learning to Become Resilient Dealing with loss and change cannot be avoided; they are inevitable parts of life. Everyone experiences setbacks, with some being minor and others being highly traumatic and life-altering. Resilience is what helps people through challenges through psychological strength, the ability to cope, and the capability...
Coexisting Diagnoses and Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a difficult enough diagnosis to live with due to the chaos and fear that often accompanies it. Add other mental or physical health problems to the mix, and you have a recipe for misery. This article will speak about common coexisting diagnoses and how...
The Difference Between Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth
As stated in article one of this series on resiliency, according to the American Psychological Association, resiliency is: “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress—such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors....
Got Resiliency?
Much research has been done on the topic of this series of posts in February 2021. Scientists want to understand how people who go through sometimes horrific events often overcome adversity and seem to thrive afterward. In this first part of the series, we’ll discuss what resiliency is and...
Overcoming Emotional Flashbacks
Emotional flashbacks are a common symptom for people live with the diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder. Because of this fact, I thought it vital to delve into how to overcome them. Emotional flashbacks take a horrendous toll on those who experience them. To feel like you are in...
Dissociative Amnesia and Its Consequences In the Lives of Survivors
Everybody forgets that is a fact of life. You might forget where you placed your car keys or where you last saw the dog’s leash; that is ordinary forgetting. Dissociative amnesia is different. It is a condition that is trauma-based and can disrupt a person’s life. This article shall...
Emotional Flashbacks
You walk into your living room after getting out of bed in the morning feeling apprehensive and afraid, but there is nothing to be afraid of that you can observe. An overwhelming sense that something terrible is about to happen permeates your thoughts, and you do not feel at...