You must keep in mind that a recovered traumatic memory does not make
for a multiple. And the physical discomforts that a person may be
experiencing could simply relate to a troubled past filled with stress and anxiety without being multiple.
We all know that when we are under a certain amount of stress that our
bodies may suffer as a result with headaches, shoulder and neck pains,
heart trouble etc.
But as of yet there is no set guideline for the treatment of D.I.D. that the
psychological community has agreed upon, plus there is still the
question of whether this disorder can really exist within that community.
However all one needs to do is talk to the survivors who have resorted
to this method of survival and created their own system (a defense
mechanism) to truly believe that they are indeed suffering.
Because the treatment for D.I.D. is still undetermined, there is no
particular method that can be absolutely duplicated to fit each
survivor and their systems. However I believe that a basic guideline can be followed for every survivor with D.I.D. I have done quite a bit of experimenting and research during my healing and below are some ideas that have helped me through the process.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a massage therapy that you can even perform on yourself
with the hand, ear and head when you know where the correct pressure points are for what causing your discomfort.
It takes a little practice but with the reflexology book in hand, try to concentrate on the one area and practice to see if you get any relief. There are wonderful books available that you can purchase to have on hand for all of your physical and mental needs.
Psychotherapy
This is your chance to unload all of your thoughts and feelings! You need to deal with the past and bring the secrets into the light in order to let it go and begin living your life as a healthy adult.
Just like the ordinary individual enters into therapy in order to resolve issues that are disrupting their lives so that they can continue to live healthy, more stable lives, we multiple have the right to the same treatment! In therapy your ears begin to hear what only your thoughts have been keeping quiet and the walls of amnesia begin to break down, causing more awareness within your world!
Medication
Whether you are severely depressed, have anxiety disorder, P.T.S.D. or
any other mental disturbances; medications are extremely helpful in the aid of your therapy and treatment.
I don't want to sound like a pill pusher because that should be the
last resort for sure, however I found that the anti-depressants helped us to be mentally healthier so that we could focus on the healing process better.
Don't forget that there are many types of drugs (for just one condition such as ) so it may take a while and many different changes in your prescriptions to get just the right medications that are right for you. By all means, if the first or second or even third prescription doesn't work out, don't give up!
Hypnosis/Meditation
This is a wonderful technique for the therapist to encourage the survivor to learn healthier ways of coping with life. Hypnosis is only a deeper state of relaxation without losing consciousness or falling asleep and very helpful when you've learned the technique and begin to use it at home during times of panic or anxiety attacks!
Actually if you are a survivor then you've probably induced yourself into a self-hypnotic state of mind for years and just weren't aware that you were already using this technique.
Art
Painting and drawing are also extremely useful, especially for the recovered memories that are just too horrific to express the intensity of an episode with mere words. You might even surprise yourself and find that your talents are much more advanced than you ever dreamed they were.
Writing
A Journal can be a tremendous tool! After an alter has documented a memory, thought or emotion then you and other alters can go back and read it. This begins to break down the barriers that have kept the alter personalities segregated and amnesiac to each other. The information that is being shared now within the system starts to trigger other alters memories as they learn about and meet each other within the pages of the journal.
You might even find yourself writing poetry or short stories or even building your own website; which could even enhance the healing process (but let's just take this a step at a time for now). Remember the more you write (whether it's in a journal, poetry or just jotting down notes on a piece of paper); the more you will learn about yourself and your alters. Who knows; writing could actually be your "calling"!
Support
Learning how to build a healthy support system can be beneficial in so many ways! When you begin to attract healthier people into your life, you are "learning" how to be a friend in a healthy way.
The toxic people are the ones who feel better about their own self at your expense (such as sarcasm, laughing at, making fun of and embarrassing you) will now begin to lose their power as you learn from your new healthy friends how to reject negative input from others! You are much better off with the new (respectful, caring) friends who can build up your self-esteem and treat you with the respect that your "spirit" thrives on.
Of course like I said every multiple will respond differently to any guideline, just as non-multiples respond different with any treatment. The most important thing to remember as you go through your journey to a healthier mental state is to stay safe!
My own personal feelings are that "Healing" does not mean
integration! To heal is to be healthy and happy, and eventually your
alter personalities may indeed decide to take that final step into wholeness!
As I have healed and integrated "now fifteen years later" I can see how my choice to stay neutral on the "integration" subject actually helped me to heal quicker because it was just one of those added thoughts that I did not need to focuse on and in the end we did integrate gradually without any fan fair or special occassion to mark the time. It just happened.
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