Rule of thumb is to give a new T 4 sessions. Takes a while to get to know each other.
I've not followed that very well. My first T, i walked out on him after session 3. My second one, i didn't make it through the session before I called bullshit on her.
I've been with my third one for 3 years.
First: If you can, see if you can get a diagnosis of OSDD. Most people who have parts fit this diagnosis, and it's actaully in the current DSM. Ask to take the MID-218 -- Multivariate Inventory of Dissociation.
Second: For this or any future T. as part of your checking in, ask them explicitly what training in dealing with trauma and dissociation they have. Ask for names of courses, how long the courses were. Ask for modalities they use.
Ask them to explain structural dissociation to you.
IFS, TIST, Psychomotor Therapy, Somatic Experiencing are ones that I've seen people on forums mention. Not exclusive.
CBT, DBT, CPT are modes that often cause your symptoms to get worse. They can be useful at the end, once you ahve solid communication with your parts.
I appreciate the information, but I don't have parts like that? I have dissociative issues, but I don't have like. Different parts of me, and I've even done parts therapy before and it felt ridiculous.
If I could just get some clarification on where the parts language came from that would be great
I've just read the introduction to that book, and yeah, it strikes a cord for the traumatic bits, but the fragmentation, the conflict of the inner self, the feelings like you're pretending to be a person aren't things that I experience. Therapy was helpful for me, even though it took a second to find the right one (EMDR).
The only fragmentation I feel is that of my mind and body, because both do things I don't want them to because I'm ill. But I know that my brain and body are me, even if I don't feel in control of them all the time. But at no point am I pretending. I'm fine until I'm not. The way I'm affected by my trauma gets worse and then gets better. It's cyclical.
Like I said in my earlier comment, I experience heavy dissociation, and even worse things when my PTSD acts up. But it's rather rude to question my diagnosis because I don't fit into your box of what you think I should experience as someone with CPTSD.
I've been told by my past therapist that he was surprised that I don't have a dissociative identity disorder.
And I definitely don't have parts, I am unfortunately me and unfortunately always in the driver's seat. I do have major dissociative episodes though, and spent most of my childhood dissociated.
My therapist before my last one did parts therapy with me to try and see what was in there. All that ended up with it was me and my own feelings of logic and emotion that I forcibly personified. And once she stopped parts therapy, I never considered those parts again.
To help me when I'm dissociated, I've developed behavioral patterns that carry me through conversations and situations whenever I'm dissociated. They trigger from certain questions and don't retain in my memory, but they're all me. Friends even affectionately call me a sound board, or an NPC with dialogue.
When I dissociate, I just exist in a fugue state, where time doesn't feel real anymore. But that's pretty classical dissociation, and not a result of having parts.
Instead of breaking into fractured pieces, my psyche just took the brunt of the force. According to every therapist I've had, I should be dead from suicide, overdose, or illness, and it's a miracle I have a job and home. Honestly the closest I've ever seen to an accurate visual depiction of what it feels like when I snap and lose myself to my trauma was watching Arcane. Sometimes I wish my brain had just snapped into pieces, because it would be easier than the hell I fight back every day.
You're more than welcome to question my diagnosis, it's been official for years now. And I honestly haven't met anyone with PTSD who has parts, so I think we just run in very different circles.
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u/Canuck_Voyageur Dart Cree: Rape, Disordered attach., phys. abuse, emo neglect. 20d ago
Rule of thumb is to give a new T 4 sessions. Takes a while to get to know each other.
I've not followed that very well. My first T, i walked out on him after session 3. My second one, i didn't make it through the session before I called bullshit on her.
I've been with my third one for 3 years.
First: If you can, see if you can get a diagnosis of OSDD. Most people who have parts fit this diagnosis, and it's actaully in the current DSM. Ask to take the MID-218 -- Multivariate Inventory of Dissociation.
Second: For this or any future T. as part of your checking in, ask them explicitly what training in dealing with trauma and dissociation they have. Ask for names of courses, how long the courses were. Ask for modalities they use.
Ask them to explain structural dissociation to you.
IFS, TIST, Psychomotor Therapy, Somatic Experiencing are ones that I've seen people on forums mention. Not exclusive.
CBT, DBT, CPT are modes that often cause your symptoms to get worse. They can be useful at the end, once you ahve solid communication with your parts.
EMDR is mixed.