For the first time since my diagnosis, I feel like I finally get my alters
Idk if this is a wholesome post as much as vaguely positive, but I felt like posting my progress.
I got diagnosed with DID and DPDR a few months ago. To say it’s been rough is an understatement. Before the episode that led to me down this road, I never suspected I had DID or even OSDD. Looking back there were definitely signs, but I always chalked it up to my imagination, ADHD, depression, etc. I felt like I couldn’t trust myself or my apparent alters. I was constantly reframing and second guessing every experience I’ve ever had, and digging for any memory that would explain why I became like this. I worried if I let my mind off its leash for even a second, that I’d ruin my relationship, my friendships, my family. If I’m being perfectly honest, I still worry.
I’ve been doing weekly therapy, EMDR, and parts work (another thing that led me to suspect I might have DID), with ranges of success. The alter I worried most about was hostile, enraged, and wanted to do everything in her power to ruin my life. I had no idea why, but she kept saying I deserved it, that I was “forgetting my lessons”.
The other day, I had another intense wave of depression. I meditating and focused on IFP work once again (I think it helps me “communicate” with my alters better. I know parts are not the same as alters) and searched for the part of me that was feeling sad. To my surprise, it wasn’t a part, but that same hostile alter.
She was crying, devastated and apologetic. I comforted her, and discovered she was finally starting to understand the extent of what she had done/been doing. I (we?) cried for a long time as we(?) held each other. She apologized. I never thought I’d hear her say that. She wanted to be noticed so badly that she acted out in a way that I’d have no choice but to acknowledge her, but she was also trying to protect me in her own odd, roundabout way. She thinks that I need to be reminded/reenact past bad experiences in order to feel those emotions that keep me “safe” and “in check”. I think she realized that she was pushing me to do the things that I despised so much, not the other way around.
I forgave her, but told her not to go to such drastic measures again. I haven’t been the kindest to her either, and the mistrust goes both ways, but I’m really hoping that by taking this step, we can finally be at peace.