On Multiple Identities Within One Body

[CarolHanson]

I have a bit of an unusual question. I have Dissociative Identity Disorder, which means I am one of multiple distinct identities, known as alters, in this body. This disorder develops in childhood as a result of extreme and ongoing trauma, when the brain creates dissociative barriers between areas of personality to form distinct identities, as a method of coping with trauma.

We each have different names, personalities, interests, roles, likes, dislikes, goals, genders, sexualities, opinions, dominant hands, reactions to medications, glasses prescriptions, brain scan results, allergies and beliefs.

I am not the one most commonly in control of the body, nor am I the one who identifies with the appearance or name of the body, so if an "original" or "main" alter, it isn't me. I am the only one who is Christian. The rest range from ambivalence about religion to open dislike of it.

My question is: what happens to us when we die? Does this body have multiple souls which go to the appropriate place upon death? Do we share a soul? If so, where will we go?

Note: I'm not looking for opinions on how to deal with the disorder, we have mental health professionals for that, and any comments telling us how to go about curing ourselves or about us being demons will simply be ignored.

 

[GaveMeJoy]

I have a bit of an unusual question. I have Dissociative Identity Disorder, which means I am one of multiple distinct identities, known as alters, in this body. This disorder develops in childhood as a result of extreme and ongoing trauma, when the brain creates dissociative barriers between areas of personality to form distinct identities, as a method of coping with trauma.

We each have different names, personalities, interests, roles, likes, dislikes, goals, genders, sexualities, opinions, dominant hands, reactions to medications, glasses prescriptions, brain scan results, allergies and beliefs.

I am not the one most commonly in control of the body, nor am I the one who identifies with the appearance or name of the body, so if an "original" or "main" alter, it isn't me. I am the only one who is Christian. The rest range from ambivalence about religion to open dislike of it.

My question is: what happens to us when we die? Does this body have multiple souls which go to the appropriate place upon death? Do we share a soul? If so, where will we go?

Note: I'm not looking for opinions on how to deal with the disorder, we have mental health professionals for that, and any comments telling us how to go about curing ourselves or about us being demons will simply be ignored.

Wow that’s wild. I’m sorry you have to live with this. Im not a psychologist but it would seem based on my
Understanding of scripture you are only one person, who has a severe mental illness.

Regardless of your other personality, if you believe in Christ alone for salvation, through faith. And you believe in the gospel and accept the Holy Spirit into your heart, you are saved no matter what. The others are manifestations of your mental illness. Jesus can’t come into a nonexistent person, and there is no evidence in scripture that multiple people can inhabit one body (though this is possible with demons).


Regardless, I believe it is consistent with Christ’s love and compassion that he would look favorably on believers who struggle with mental illness, Just as he showed compassion to children and those with physical ailments and demons. Call on Christ for peace despite your disease. You should try to get another personality to write in this thread, would be super interesting....

 

[CarolHanson]

Wow that’s wild. I’m sorry you have to live with this. Im not a psychologist but it would seem based on my
Understanding of scripture you are only one person, who has a severe mental illness.

Regardless of your other personality, if you believe in Christ alone for salvation, through faith. And you believe in the gospel and accept the Holy Spirit into your heart, you are saved no matter what. The others are manifestations of your mental illness. Jesus can’t come into a nonexistent person, and there is no evidence in scripture that multiple people can inhabit one body (though this is possible with demons).

But why is it that the others are manifestations of mental illness and I'm not? Again, I'm not the "main" alter, so why is it that I'm not the nonexistent person, who Jesus cannot come into?

 

[GaveMeJoy]

But why is it that the others are manifestations of mental illness and I'm not? Again, I'm not the "main" alter, so why is it that I'm not the nonexistent person, who Jesus cannot come into?

I can only take you at your word that you are a Christian. If you believe the gospel and accept Christ as your savior YOU are saved and YOU are real. The proof you are the real you, is that you have Christ.

 

[CarolHanson]

I can only take you at your word that you are a Christian. If you believe the gospel and accept Christ as your savior YOU are saved and YOU are real. The proof you are the real you, is that you have Christ.

Interesting, thank you. And in systems I know where two or more, but not all, are Christian?

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

It is possible that multiple personalities can exist in a person. This is shown by the man who was possessed with so many demons that they were collectively called "Legion". This shows that the man had his own personality, but the great number of other demonic personalities within him was causing him to be insane. It was only when Jesus cast out the demons and allowed them to go into a herd of pigs that the man regain his right mind and went on to live a normal, healthy life.

Of course, many psychologists won't accept that, but we must remember that psychology has an atheistic, pagan foundation and much of modern psychology is centred around New Age, which is humanistic - that mankind is lord.

 

[CarolHanson]

You should try to get another personality to write in this thread, would be super interesting....

well im a diff alter, not sure how interesting i am bt still. anything in particular u wanna ask lol?

 

[Aussie Pete]

I have a bit of an unusual question. I have Dissociative Identity Disorder, which means I am one of multiple distinct identities, known as alters, in this body. This disorder develops in childhood as a result of extreme and ongoing trauma, when the brain creates dissociative barriers between areas of personality to form distinct identities, as a method of coping with trauma.

We each have different names, personalities, interests, roles, likes, dislikes, goals, genders, sexualities, opinions, dominant hands, reactions to medications, glasses prescriptions, brain scan results, allergies and beliefs.

I am not the one most commonly in control of the body, nor am I the one who identifies with the appearance or name of the body, so if an "original" or "main" alter, it isn't me. I am the only one who is Christian. The rest range from ambivalence about religion to open dislike of it.

My question is: what happens to us when we die? Does this body have multiple souls which go to the appropriate place upon death? Do we share a soul? If so, where will we go?

Note: I'm not looking for opinions on how to deal with the disorder, we have mental health professionals for that, and any comments telling us how to go about curing ourselves or about us being demons will simply be ignored.

There is only one you. That's how God made us. You've ruled out listening to any advice that will help you. Your question is meaningless.

 

[GaveMeJoy]

well im a diff alter, not sure how interesting i am bt still. anything in particular u wanna ask lol?

The original alter claims to be a Christian. It follows he believes in Jesus Christ, that he is a sinner, and that his saved by Grace through faith. What do you think about Jesus?

also,
Are you and the others aware that the collective you has a mental illness?

 

[GaveMeJoy]

Interesting, thank you. And in systems I know where two or more, but not all, are Christian?

This comment is for the first guy: like the other dude says it’s possible there is demonic things going on. Also, your brain is malfunctioning just like someone who has heart issues has an organ failure. This brain malfunction is creating all these different thoughts and characters and fractions in your mind. I don’t know if this is helpful, but possibly it would be helpful for you to find your identity in Christ, and know that YOU are real and his. Focus on this as a framework, that you are a child of God but your brain has these issues that causes these other “people.” You don’t have to worry about what your alters think or feel because they aren’t you and are a function of your illness? Idk I hope that makes sense.

 

[CarolHanson]

The original alter claims to be a Christian. It follows he believes in Jesus Christ, that he is a sinner, and that his saved by Grace through faith. What do you think about Jesus?

also,
Are you and the others aware that the collective you has a mental illness?

i dont believe in god n maybe jesus existed bt i dont think he was anything more thn some religious leader ‍ u cn believe wht u want, other alters cn believe wht they want, it doesnt interest me.
yeh we all know tht we have did, we work 2gether as a system n stuff n were seeking medical help on how 2 function best 2gether NOT to fully integrate or nething.

 

[CarolHanson]

This comment is for the first guy: like the other dude says it’s possible there is demonic things going on. Also, your brain is malfunctioning just like someone who has heart issues has an organ failure. This brain malfunction is creating all these different thoughts and characters and fractions in your mind. I don’t know if this is helpful, but possibly it would be helpful for you to find your identity in Christ, and know that YOU are real and his. Focus on this as a framework, that you are a child of God but your brain has these issues that causes these other “people.” You don’t have to worry about what your alters think or feel because they aren’t you and are a function of your illness? Idk I hope that makes sense.

the person who asked tht stuff b4 isnt here rn bt 1. were not demons. 2. their not more real thn i am, our brain fractured into multiples, its not 1 person plus a bunch of fake ppl, were one person fragmented in2 many. 3. their entire job is abt how we feel n stuff, they exist 2 take care of th rest of us

 

[Eloy Craft]

The don't call it 'multiple personalities' any more. That is damaging to a reintegration process. One person who compartmentalized into other identities. I would say that the whole person could be saved by the one identity. We will all go through testing according to Paul. Much of what we are made of is hay to be burned in the fire. When that happens it seems to me that what there is of all that isn't hay will will reintegrate and be one.

 

[Eloy Craft]

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Tigger45]

The soul will be healed and operate as it was intended at the resurrection.

To one extent or another we all undergo this transformation.

 

[PloverWing]

@CarolHanson : It's good to hear from you again. You posted about your parenting challenges a couple of years ago. You said "My family is a good Christian family and I live in a good Christian area. My oldest daughter Lauren is 17 and recently she has been hanging out with a group of kids who I think are gays, and saying things that make me think she is turning into a Lesbian." How have things turned out with your daughter? And were your other alters Christian back then?

 

[CarolHanson]

@CarolHanson : It's good to hear from you again. You posted about your parenting challenges a couple of years ago. You said "My family is a good Christian family and I live in a good Christian area. My oldest daughter Lauren is 17 and recently she has been hanging out with a group of kids who I think are gays, and saying things that make me think she is turning into a Lesbian." How have things turned out with your daughter? And were your other alters Christian back then?

Note that I was not active then, so the following is from my understandings from what I have been told. Another (largely unformed) alter was active at that time, who was highly religious, and was taking the role of host, or main alter in control of the body. She was unfortunately causing issues in our life, such as harassing our daughter about her sexuality and the sexuality of her friends. She has since gone dormant, which means she is still a distinct fragment of the mind but it is as if she is sleeping and she may never become active again, and our daughter is safe. Obviously as I was not active then, I did not know she had used this website until I tried to sign up with our email and it indicated we had an account. I actually had no idea she was in fact that fanatical until I read that post. The views expressed in that posy are not mine. We believe she existed to hold and process extreme religious views pushed on us in adolescence which were harmful to us.

 

[Dave-W]

Hello Carol and welcome to CF.

IT is a true statement that we live in a fallen world and are fallen creatures within it. Which means that all kinds of strange stuff happens. Like cancer. Like physical deformations. And yes - mental dissociation.

Such things were never intended to happen, but they can and do from time to time. Can dissociation be demonic? Yes?
Is it ALWAYS demonic? NO.
My guess is that most cases are a mix of the 2.

It is my understanding that dissociation happens from some kind of trauma early on in life, usually in childhood. It is a mental defense mechanism that distances the main mentality/personality from whatever is causing the trauma.

Only someone with a developed and practiced gift of Discerning of Spirits (1 Cor 12) can really tell if there are demonic attachments involved and to what extent.

 

[Dave-W]

Now as to your question about ultimate salvation; it is clear that no demonic entity will be saved. If you (the core personality) has called on the Name of the Lord, you are saved. (Acts 2.21, Rom 10.13; quoting Joel 2.32a) I would think that would include every shred and sliver of the REAL YOU.

 

[Tom 1]

I have a bit of an unusual question. I have Dissociative Identity Disorder, which means I am one of multiple distinct identities, known as alters, in this body. This disorder develops in childhood as a result of extreme and ongoing trauma, when the brain creates dissociative barriers between areas of personality to form distinct identities, as a method of coping with trauma.

We each have different names, personalities, interests, roles, likes, dislikes, goals, genders, sexualities, opinions, dominant hands, reactions to medications, glasses prescriptions, brain scan results, allergies and beliefs.

I am not the one most commonly in control of the body, nor am I the one who identifies with the appearance or name of the body, so if an "original" or "main" alter, it isn't me. I am the only one who is Christian. The rest range from ambivalence about religion to open dislike of it.

My question is: what happens to us when we die? Does this body have multiple souls which go to the appropriate place upon death? Do we share a soul? If so, where will we go?

Note: I'm not looking for opinions on how to deal with the disorder, we have mental health professionals for that, and any comments telling us how to go about curing ourselves or about us being demons will simply be ignored.

Wow what a question. Do you 'know' the other alters? I mean do you experience what they experience in some sense, or are you all completely separate, as if you were living in different bodies? If the latter, do you communicate with each other?