Question about Alters ...

[Dave-W]

Has it ever turned out that an alter was actually the main persona?
Even if it had remained hidden for years?

 

[HoneyBee]

It could be! Alters are very complicated to understand and work with so, honestly, anything is possible.

 

[Dave-W]

thanks!!

 

[brinny]

Just curious....why do you ask?

 

[Sarcoline]

Referring to the main altar as a main altar is more than like just a way of describing a part that is the most integrated. From what I remember in reading testimonies, an altar can develop that knows about the other altars. This is often referred to as the main altar, but they are really just more self aware than other parts.

The process of dissociation is more about how the mind creates habits for storing memory, not about how the mind can be sectioned into different parts.

This is why there are different number of alters in each person diagnosed with DID and everyone doesn’t have the same number of alters.

 

[Dave-W]

Just curious....why do you ask?

Long story. (highlights only)

I ran into some thing/one/whatever about 30 years ago that was her but was not her. It was during prayer.

My wife became aware recently that she may carry an alter, and it may actually be her true self. God showed her something about it while she was praying.

We had a talk with our congregational leader and his wife 2 weeks ago about this. Since alters apparently are a result of trauma or other very negative situations at an early age, this one had something to do with events she is not aware of, way before the sexual abuse.

When she told me about it, (before she contacted the pastor's wife) I told her I loved her.
She replied "How can you? You may have never even met me."

 

[brinny]

Long story. (highlights only)

I ran into some thing/one/whatever about 30 years ago that was her but was not her. It was during prayer.

My wife became aware recently that she may carry an alter, and it may actually be her true self. God showed her something about it while she was praying.

We had a talk with our congregational leader and his wife 2 weeks ago about this. Since alters apparently are a result of trauma or other very negative situations at an early age, this one had something to do with events she is not aware of, way before the sexual abuse.

When she told me about it, (before she contacted the pastor's wife) I told her I loved her.
She replied "How can you? You may have never even met me."

God bless you, and your wife for your care and compassion. Praying for this precious one and you and your wife too, and all who are helping her.

 

[Dave-W]

thank you Brinny!

 

[brinny]

thank you Brinny!

You are MOST welcome. Praise God that you all were put in her path by God, and God bless your wife for being so perceptive.

 

[KayJoy]

Has it ever turned out that an alter was actually the main persona?
Even if it had remained hidden for years?

Long story. (highlights only)

I ran into some thing/one/whatever about 30 years ago that was her but was not her. It was during prayer.

My wife became aware recently that she may carry an alter, and it may actually be her true self. God showed her something about it while she was praying.

We had a talk with our congregational leader and his wife 2 weeks ago about this. Since alters apparently are a result of trauma or other very negative situations at an early age, this one had something to do with events she is not aware of, way before the sexual abuse.

When she told me about it, (before she contacted the pastor's wife) I told her I loved her.
She replied "How can you? You may have never even met me."

The answer is yes. For many with DID, the front person who you would meet is actually an alter or even a group of alters. (Such was the case with me.) This doesn't mean you've never met her ... in fact, you may have met many alters already without knowing it. Maybe reassure her that you love all parts of her and will walk with her through bringing all of her parts together into one... no matter how long it takes.

Btw, with someone who is DID, usually the first abuse that is remembered is sexual abuse at a specific age. The mind protects the main front alters from knowing so they can remain functioning in life. As she moves forward in healing, don't be surprised if she remembers more severe trauma at a younger age than first remembered.

 

[danyl1967]

Has it ever turned out that an alter was actually the main persona?
Even if it had remained hidden for years?

I have been diagnosed with DID. My psychologist has said to me that all alters is the real person. Not just one. At the time I was not ready for the therapy to reintegrate me into one person. Mainly because I was not ready to remember all the trauma of my past. I realized for now I need my DID to deal with extreme trauma.

So I would say, that all your alters is you and they all need love and acceptance by you.

 

[KayJoy]

I have been diagnosed with DID. My psychologist has said to me that all alters is the real person. Not just one. At the time I was not ready for the therapy to reintegrate me into one person. Mainly because I was not ready to remember all the trauma of my past. I realized for now I need my DID to deal with extreme trauma.

So I would say, that all your alters is you and they all need love and acceptance by you.

Excellent answer! I fully agree with you. There may be some alters who have more sense of self than other parts, but all are parts of the real person.

 

[Hope37]

I have parts of self tucked away from previous times. I count every part as being part of a whole me although some seem a bit distorted (like bitter or angry or full of shame) and don't seem much like the personality I feel is mine. In prayer I found younger ones I didn't know were there. My feeling is I sort of left them behind when I was little and grew round them to cope. I realise I have pushed some away too which I feel bad about now. But they are all me, from various perspectives and angles. My most functional adult self doesn't contain much sensitivity and isn't much like my self the next one down who can't talk and is in a lot of pain. I think I'd consider the one in pain more real than the coping one at the front!