#dissociative disorder recovery

[ryoki-ph]

ouuugh boy. psychotic episode. and unfortunately Symptoms of sometimes. was just doign so fucking good. ooough boy.

[willow-schmillow]

Getting functional with DID can feel like...

- I probably have a subsystem, but I'm applying for jobs so I don't really care about that right now

- Some of us have never experienced a long-term psychotic episode before because they were inactive before our symptoms started manifesting. It's alright, we'll give them the spark notes now and the full rundown when we feel better.

- "THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD."

- I'm not quite sure who I am, but we're *all* [name] and that's enough to pick up our prescriptions

- Someone's co-conscious and IDK who, but let's go get coffee together because we're *going* to get along, god damn it

- All of the scariest parts look like adults (or monsters), but they're kids. We have to talk to them like they're scared children, and they scream a little quieter.

- "THE WORST THINGS THAT COULD'VE HAPPENED TO US HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED. WE CAN DO THIS."

- I don't need to know how everything works. We're all strong and smart: we can figure it out as we go and be ok.

[sage-hazeline]

how do you reconnect to life after being disconnected for so long

[edible-emerald]

saw this on pinterest and thought it might be something traumagenic systems who struggle with thinking their trauma isn't enough need to see

[someratsinatrenchcoat]

Can we stop spreading misinformation about receiving a diagnosis in the system community?

No, a diagnosis won't stop places from hiring you, they won't know about your diagnosis unless you tell them (HIPAA).

No, getting diagnosed won't get you sent to the mental hospital.

No, a therapist can't force you to go through with final fusion.

Please, stop discouraging people from seeking professional/diagnosis. If you suspect you have a dissociative disorder and can seek a professional, do it. If you have a bad experience with a professional you can always go to another one. Don't be scared to seek help.

[lefluoritesys]

Healing is also realizing you're going to have trauma reactions even after you decided to be healthy. That even after saying: "I want to heal, and rest, and I'm going to try to get better," you still let yourself reject help, struggle with trauma reactions, and unhealthy habits. That it's okay, and it's a part of healing. As long as you try to get better.

It's not going to happen immediately. If anything, at first, it's going to get way worse, horrible, even. And then better, and then bad again, and then you'll start getting relapses. And that's okay.

Relapse is a part of healing. Feeling all the bad stuff is a part of healing. Allowing yourself to be traumatized is a part of healing.

-host

[69constellationsinatrenchcoat]

Not to make anyone worry, but saying you're a CDD system can make you a target for abusers and bullying.

By stating you're a system

You're disclosing that you went through debilitating trauma at a young age

You're disclosing that you may act like a young child in certain situations, and that child may not know, or understand certain acts

You disassociate to a level where we do not know what was done by/to the collective body

You're telling people that you may have patches of amnesia, disorientation, and where you may split under pressure

Many systems have issues with self harm, suicidal thoughts, substance use disorders and unfortunately, many abusers will take advantage of this

Systems, due to their amnesiac nature, are very easy to gaslight, often by saying that a different part/alter did or didn't do something

But Kyle! What can I do about it?!?

Choose, very carefully, who you tell that you have a system. We try not to tell new people in our life until we're fully trusting that they won't take advantage of the knowledge of the system. Even then, we can count on one hand how many of our in person friends and family are aware of our system.

Avoid linking social media, this includes discord, where you are 'out' about your system to other social media, especially around workplaces. Some workplaces, schools, universities and other places still hold stigma around DID (thank you, Split /s).

Be careful what you tell people about your system: keeping alter counts private, not giving out certain alter's names, using pseudonyms/symbols for alters are some of the ways we've done this. If someone we don't want to know about the system asks about an alter name, the majority of the time, we'll say that they're an OC.

Most people don't know what DID and OSDD are unless they have been in certain circles or happen to have an interest in it, so you are usually safe… but I always air on the side of caution.

Do what you wish with this list, I wanted to put these thoughts out there. Stay safe, feel free to reblog with more ways you keep your system safe.

Drink water, have something to eat, have your meds if you need them, use your mobility aids if you need them, and do something nice for yourself today.

With love,

System Dad (Kyle / 💜)

[safe-haven-safe-place]

@jenpeters_soulguide_healer

[smoking-witch]

First GIF I've ever made. It's of myself. If you liked it, plz tap buttons so I know you want me to make more gifs like this

[rin-and-jade]

Ya'll deserve some assurance, i like this post <3 (credit: top of pic)

- j

[ryoki-ph]

i'm so much integrated and chillin it finally feels fuckin GREAT to be one person for me honestly. thought dump in all atags

[starbbypluto]

[reimeichan]

I know that when people say that DID has no cure, that those of us with DID will always have a DID brain and may even split again in the future, they're trying to be realistic about recovery goals and maybe even acknowledge that those of us who have reached Final Fusion or Functional Multiplicity are still part of the DID community. However, I've recently been finding those kinds of statements to sound.... defeatist, actually. There's oftentimes an underlying feeling of "what's the point of trying so hard if I'm just going to have DID forever?" or "no matter what I do there will always be the possibility for me to relapse", and as such I've started to see these phrases as being almost anti-recovery.

I agree, there is no cure for DID that we know of. We cannot change the fundamental way our brain works. However, that's not the same as saying there's no way to get better with DID, or saying there's no treatment for DID, or there's no way to live a happy, fulfilling life with DID. It takes a lot of work, yes, but it's absolutely possible to learn how to live with both dissociation and trauma to the point they have very little if any negative impact on your life. That's what expanding your coping toolbox is for. And learning emotional regulation. And trauma processing. I may never live the same life as someone who never developed DID or has the same traumas as me, but that doesn't mean I'll be unhappy and miserable and fighting against my own brain every day of my life. Instead, I've learned to work with my brain and with my disorders, and in the process I've learned how to not just survive day to day but thrive. I'm excited to see what tomorrow brings me. I'm hopeful.

And I think that's really what my feelings on those phrases boils down to. They feel like they lack hope and end up making me feel like working on recovery isn't worth it. But I know that's wrong, for myself at least. It's definitely worth it to keep walking forward one step at a time. Where I am now and where I was before are two very different places, even if some days it's hard for me to see those differences and acknowledge that. And there's so much more for me to look forward to as well.

So, here's to healing and recovery and thriving with DID.

[cdd-safe-haven]

[lefluoritesys]

"Delayed triggers" happen. Sometimes, you might not notice your trigger and get triggered later when you do. Brains work in mysterious ways. It's okay. You're not faking or being attention-seeking for it.

-emotion holder

[system-of-a-feather]

BTW for the folks at final fusion, functional multiplicity, full integration or whatever you want to call it. If you end up splitting, fusing, dividing, eating a tomato or take a nap at 8 pm, none of that is a reflection to you failing at recovery nor does it invalidate your stage of recovery.

Additionally, you are of no obligation to announce it to your audience like it was a sin, failure, or form of deception to your place in healing.

There is no genuine strict threshold or rules to your recovery path and where you find yourself.