Last week Dee asked, “What’s the point in an awareness day?”
I had no idea but said confidently, “DUHHHH, you know, it’s about sharing things that people with DID should be more aware of!”
At some point recently, she made this! I googled what awareness days are for and feel a bit silly, ahem. Thing is, maybe we missed the point a bit, but I wish I’d known all of this years ago so I’m posting it anyway :D
General Things You Should Know
DID/OSDD Casually Explained, by our friends @clever-and-unique-name
Dissociated States in DID, in pictures
Grounding Basics, from did-toolbox.com (shameless plug!)
Dear Little Ones by Jade Miller, a video readthrough of the book that explains DID to little parts
“Was my childhood bad enough?”
Age and dissociative parts, Kay’s perspective
Havening, a tool to make things less triggering
How you’re DOING vs how you’re FEELING, and why it matters
Phase-Oriented Treatment - Phase 1 Goals, Skills & Resources
The dangers of investment in DID as a lifestyle
Imitative DID, what the textbooks have to say
Excessive Behavior Scale discussion, and then actual handout you can use, aka the mirror nobody likes to look into
Dissociative Experiences Log, a handout from our therapist that helps with tracking dissociation
Things Fictional Introjects are and are not from friends @dissociatingdingo
How to make real apologies
Mindfulness! You CAN do Mindfulness if you have a dissociative disorder, but it’s not about drifting off and watching your thoughts.
The 5 Building Blocks of Present Moment Experience
Building a Good Experience
Directed Mindfulness is actually pretty helpful!
Dissociation & Integration by @multiplicityandme #EducaDID
Our first “planned activity” aka integration practice
3 benefits of our integration work, similar to sharing our “super-powers”,
Integration with Ana, our experience
Healthy integration vs. “forced” integration
Our most recent system map
Book Club: Coping with Trauma Related Dissociation
I threw the coping book across the room twice trying to read the first chapter. I mentioned it to a friend and it turned out I wasn’t alone! This book is easier to handle if you read it with friends, and that’s the idea of book club. As you read each chapter, feel free to comment or reblog, adding your experiences. Did you do the homework? How did it go? What kind of emotional reaction are you having to the material? How much of the content do you remember? Are the techniques helping? Write anything you like, really.
Understanding Dissociation
Understanding Dissociative Parts of the Personality
Symptoms of PTSD in Complex Dissociative Disorders
Overcoming the Phobia of Inner Experience
Beginning Work with Parts, Continued, now with pictures
Developing an Inner Sense of Safety
Our favorite books, in recommended reading order:
CPTSD: From Surviving to Thriving - Pete Walker
Coping with Trauma Related Dissociation - Boon, Steele and van der Hart
Sensorimotor Psychology - Ogden & Fisher
The Body Keeps The Score - Bessel van der Kolk
The Haunted Self: Structural Dissociation and the Treatment of Chronic Traumatization - van der Hart, Nijenhuis and Steele
Treating Trauma Related Dissociation - Boon, Steele and van der Hart
Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors - Fisher
Bonus: Finding Your Best Self: Recovery from Addiction, Trauma or Both - Najavits. Read it 1st if you’re struggling with a dual diagnosis and don’t have much in the way of support.
