Comments on: Integration http://www.new-landscape.com/2008/02/integration/ New York support group for people with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) / Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:08:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: JA http://www.new-landscape.com/2008/02/integration/comment-page-1/#comment-25 JA Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:58:08 +0000 http://blog.new-landscape.com/2008/02/17/integration/#comment-25 interesting. in my system, it seems to be that we've just been such different *people* that integration isn't really possible. even when we're co-present and experiencing the same things, or even co-conscious, we experience it differently. and there's always been a *lot* of co-presence. that's made recovering memories an interesting process, because often several of us will remember something, but we remember it differently. and while no part seems to have experienced *everything*, there's still a degree of being able to process through things with each part contributing their experience. one thing we've found is that even when a part seems to be pretty much one-dimensional (ie, holding a lot of anger, or sadness, or something like that), as they get a chance to spend more time out, they have a much fuller range of who they are. so as we spend more time working together, parts have had a chance to get recognized even when they're not in crisis, and that's helped things a fair amount. we've been working on moving from co-presence, which has always happened, to greater co-consciousness and cooperation, since those are real stumbling blocks for us, and it means that some parts have felt they just have to take over when they want or need something, because they often feel like they haven't been listened to when they express their needs. interesting. in my system, it seems to be that we’ve just been such different *people* that integration isn’t really possible. even when we’re co-present and experiencing the same things, or even co-conscious, we experience it differently. and there’s always been a *lot* of co-presence. that’s made recovering memories an interesting process, because often several of us will remember something, but we remember it differently. and while no part seems to have experienced *everything*, there’s still a degree of being able to process through things with each part contributing their experience.

one thing we’ve found is that even when a part seems to be pretty much one-dimensional (ie, holding a lot of anger, or sadness, or something like that), as they get a chance to spend more time out, they have a much fuller range of who they are. so as we spend more time working together, parts have had a chance to get recognized even when they’re not in crisis, and that’s helped things a fair amount.

we’ve been working on moving from co-presence, which has always happened, to greater co-consciousness and cooperation, since those are real stumbling blocks for us, and it means that some parts have felt they just have to take over when they want or need something, because they often feel like they haven’t been listened to when they express their needs.

]]> By: Me http://www.new-landscape.com/2008/02/integration/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Me Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:28:06 +0000 http://blog.new-landscape.com/2008/02/17/integration/#comment-24 My T says that integration is like evolution. Before you graduated HS you didn't know what it would be like next until you experienced it. Also that integration happens when there is no longer a need for such rigid walls between parts. It probably feels different for different people. I think for some of us, things may be so scary that full or even partial integration may not be possible. In terms of recovering memories, I have no idea what this all means. I'm not ready for that yet. My T says that integration is like evolution. Before you graduated HS you didn’t know what it would be like next until you experienced it.
Also that integration happens when there is no longer a need for such rigid walls between parts. It probably feels different for different people. I think for some of us, things may be so scary that full or even partial integration may not be possible. In terms of recovering memories, I have no idea what this all means. I’m not ready for that yet.

]]> By: JR http://www.new-landscape.com/2008/02/integration/comment-page-1/#comment-23 JR Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:22:39 +0000 http://blog.new-landscape.com/2008/02/17/integration/#comment-23 I do not feel at one with my parts. Sometimes I refer to them and me as I am not my parts. However, I am my parts. I know that in my head but not inside. As certain parts and I communicate more and more, all of a sudden it's like we are working as a team. It's a wonderful experience. Sometimes I become aware (somehow) that it's time for that part to integrate. Once I "hear" the message, I check within. Then we we are sure, we let the process happen. It has always been the same. The part and I are together, then the part kind of meshes with me a little at a time. And then she/he is no longer there. I immediately feel more whole and stronger. I become aware of how I see some things differently. I even get memories I did not have before (NOT a barrage of them!) The integration experience is very emotional for me. When it is over, that part is no longer present. That part is now me. I don't know how else to explain it. For me it's a great experience. I do not feel at one with my parts. Sometimes I refer to them and me as I am not my parts. However, I am my parts. I know that in my head but not inside. As certain parts and I communicate more and more, all of a sudden it’s like we are working as a team. It’s a wonderful experience. Sometimes I become aware (somehow) that it’s time for that part to integrate. Once I “hear” the message, I check within. Then we we are sure, we let the process happen. It has always been the same. The part and I are together, then the part kind of meshes with me a little at a time. And then she/he is no longer there. I immediately feel more whole and stronger. I become aware of how I see some things differently. I even get memories I did not have before (NOT a barrage of them!) The integration experience is very emotional for me. When it is over, that part is no longer present. That part is now me. I don’t know how else to explain it. For me it’s a great experience.

]]> By: Cooper http://www.new-landscape.com/2008/02/integration/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Cooper Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:48:34 +0000 http://blog.new-landscape.com/2008/02/17/integration/#comment-22 Thank you so much! We appreciate it and understand what you are trying to accomplish. All of you have done a wonderful job with the web site and this blog. Keep doing what you are doing! It matters...a lot. Thank you so much! We appreciate it and understand what you are trying to accomplish. All of you have done a wonderful job with the web site and this blog. Keep doing what you are doing! It matters…a lot.

]]> By: Blog Admin http://www.new-landscape.com/2008/02/integration/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Blog Admin Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:06:29 +0000 http://blog.new-landscape.com/2008/02/17/integration/#comment-21 The whole issue of guidelines will be discussed more at our next meeting. And definitely in a DID/MPD blog, we should be able to use "we"! The "I" thing is meant more as a generality that you should speak about yourself rather than someone else outside your body ..... see the guidelines now - hope that helps. Anyway, we do have guidelines we follow in our meetings, as you can see on the "Meetings" section of our website. Some of these rules would apply to blogging, but most don't! So - just a few guidelines are posted for now - until we meet to discuss things some more. In the end, we want to create a safe place for people to blog. Hope that answers your questions a little bit at least! Thanks for asking, and definitely feel free to use "we/our/us" etc!!! .... or even "she/he" if the she/he is part of your system. The whole issue of guidelines will be discussed more at our next meeting. And definitely in a DID/MPD blog, we should be able to use “we”! The “I” thing is meant more as a generality that you should speak about yourself rather than someone else outside your body ….. see the guidelines now – hope that helps. Anyway, we do have guidelines we follow in our meetings, as you can see on the “Meetings” section of our website. Some of these rules would apply to blogging, but most don’t! So – just a few guidelines are posted for now – until we meet to discuss things some more. In the end, we want to create a safe place for people to blog. Hope that answers your questions a little bit at least! Thanks for asking, and definitely feel free to use “we/our/us” etc!!! …. or even “she/he” if the she/he is part of your system.

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