(no subject)
Feb. 1st, 2005 06:25 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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multiplicity_archivesHi again *waves*
Some of the questions I have are as follows:
Can a person be a multiple and not know it?
How do you know if you're a multiple?
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
I'll save the rest for later. I don't want to bombard you folks with too many questions.
Thanks for your time...
Some of the questions I have are as follows:
Can a person be a multiple and not know it?
How do you know if you're a multiple?
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
I'll save the rest for later. I don't want to bombard you folks with too many questions.
Thanks for your time...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 11:31 pm (UTC)Yes. I believe it is possible. There are quite a few people out there that don't want to "admit" that there might be something "wrong" with them.
2) How do you know if you're a multiple?
I am sure that this answer will vary for anyone that you ask. For me, it was fairly obvious because there was a complete change of character.
3) Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
I do not have the medical education to back this, but I am going to say "it varies". I think it is possible for a "single system" can fracture into multiples without trauma.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 11:38 pm (UTC)Heh -- I had handles for all but one of me for ten years before it occurred to me to consider the possibility that multiplicity might be a useful way of looking at things.
How do you know if you're a multiple?
It varies. What convinced me, personally, was having a full-up rage reaction (tunnel vision, shaking with effort at restraining violent muscle motions, we're talking on the edge of berserker here), having the thought, "Interesting; I'm hyperventilating", and suddenly flipping fronts to an someone who did not have any signs of response to what had to be an interesting blood-chemistry cocktail. Just "*discontinuity* Well, that's fascinating."
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
Some do. As far as I can tell, though, our system is natural.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 11:42 pm (UTC)Yep, we didn't realize it until about 4 years ago.
How do you know if you're a multiple?
Hearing the others and switching and not being in control of the body.
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
Some do, but we're a natural multiple.
something sort of like answers...
Date: 2005-02-01 11:44 pm (UTC)yes, definitely, absolutely. most multiple systems have at least one member who doesn't know that they're in a system!
How do you know if you're a multiple?
that's probably one of the World's Biggest Questions. there are lots of ways to find out if you MIGHT be multiple -- checklists, diagnostic scales, clues, etc etc etc. so one way to 'know' is to have all the clues come together in a pattern that makes you pretty confident.
another way to look at it: everyone has a story in their head that they use to explain their lives. "i'm just a poor little rich girl" is a story. "i'm the luckiest person in the world, that's why everything goes my way" is a story. "everyone hates me and conspires against me and that's why i work at mcdonald's" is a story.
(I don't mean story like 'invented' or 'not real'. I mean it's a narrative structure.)
so from this perspective, the question you're asking is "does the story 'i'm multiple' explain my life to me better than most other stories? would this story help me be happier? would it lead to me leading a richer, fuller, better life?" and the way anyone knows the answer is that they try the story on (looking for clues, finding patterns, analysing their experiences) and see if it fits. if it does, then one might say, "I know I'm multiple".
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
Some do, some don't. We do. Others are just born that way; I have some theories about identity formation in very early childhood but they're pretty undeveloped. Er, the theories, I mean.
Re: something sort of like answers...
Date: 2005-02-03 06:00 am (UTC)Re: something sort of like answers...
Date: 2005-02-06 05:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 11:53 pm (UTC)Sure. Many don't realize it at first, or for many many years. It's our opinion that a Functional Multiple is more likely to know it sooner (even if they don't have the name to put to it) than someone with DID - but that's just our opinion on the subject :)
How do you know if you're a multiple?
Well, as others have said, there are many ways. For us personally, We just knew it. We were always here.
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
They can. But there are just as many "natural" multiples out there, and even systems that are a combonation of both.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 12:17 am (UTC)2. We're not sure in ourselves. We've only recently had the total change of character thing happen (http://www.livejournal.com/community/multiplicity/181516.html#cutid1) we were pointed over here when the problems with Miko first started, and I was told at the time that yes, it sounded like she was becoming a multiple.
3. It will vary. Some people have never had a huge amount of trauma. Some have had a lot. As for me, I'm starting to realise now I'm nearly 21 that quite a few things in my life could have caused some sort of trauma splitting. I'm going through some major life issues right now, and i had been very wound up and upset a couple of weeks ago when the above post was written. So I'm not entirely sure how we became what we are.
Hope this helps :)
xx
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 12:33 am (UTC)1. Yes, we believe so, definitely. Like
2. Er... there are other people living in your head and your body. That's honestly the best way we can describe it.
3. Uh... not necessarily. Sometimes. Some systems believe they'd have been plural with or without trauma, some have never suffered any, some feel they came about because of the trauma they've been through. We tend to believe that systems can come about in all kinds of ways, or simply be born that way inclined.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 01:30 am (UTC)2. There are alot of signs including gaps in memory, people describing you doing things out of character that you don't remember, etc...
3 Sometimes, but not always. The typical MPD/DID is formed as a self defense mechanism against trauma but some are multiple for other reasons.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 02:07 am (UTC)Yes, in fact, alot of multiples are not aware of when another is fronting.
How do you know if you're a multiple?
A tricky question, and one of those "Your Mileage May Vary" type answers. We were aware of the presence of Logic for quite some time; it just wasn't until recently that we recognized it as a separate entity worthy of its own expression (though admittedly, it doesn't want to say much unless as a response to someone or something) instead of just a tool to be turned on and off when somebody couldn't front but couldn't break down or deer-in-the-headlights. Aside from the primary front and Logic, the Ancients (and later, Alpha) knew of the presence of others, but those others were always observers who never fronted, but would merely comment in-mind like the proverbial consciences on the shoulder. Not until we allowed Tarnish into our headspace (which is a totally different story, ask and I'll friend you to my Meta filter so you can read it) did anybody else ever attempt to front (Logic would only front when required to).
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
Some people may find this wording offensive, as it sounds very clinical and also very absolute. Let's reword that question... How about...
Can multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
A traumatic event or series of events can cause a persona to fragment, but there are some people who are multiple from early memories. In my case, I was multiple from childhood, but there was only ever one front (there may have been many of these "Ancient" personae, but there was always only one at a time) and one observer through a spirit link. However, I know that in 1995, when the body was in the Marine Corps, the Ancient in question knew what the people there were effectively doing, and worried that its spirit or mind would eventually be broken (think the first half of "Full Metal Jacket" and you've got a good idea of what that Ancient was worrying about) and stored its essense in a locked corner of the mind, leaving Logic as a front. Without emotions or a sense of self aside from an operating system for a biological machine, Logic was able to withstand the punishments that it received during that period, while waiting for a time when that essence could be released. I don't know whether only part of that essence came out, or maybe it changed during its storage, or maybe a different persona eventually leaked out, but the being who eventually became known as Gina Alpha started fronting when the all clear signal was given (which required intervention on the dream realm, from the aforementioned observer and also several friends, in both the physical and dream realms). As all things tend to do, even Gina Alpha came to an end. Beta was an ascention from Alpha, the change marked by an epiphony rather than a catastrophe. To borrow computer terms, Beta was an upgrade from Alpha, but a shortlived one. The story continues on through Beta, Gamma, and Delta, but I need to go home from work now.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 04:22 am (UTC)How do you know if you're a multiple? If you sense that there are other persons or minds sharing your body.
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma? Yes, sometimes, but there are many possible origins. We are a gateway system and were born that way.
This doesn't mean that natural multiples are never abused. They might be abused because they are multiple, causing them to behave in some way different from other children. They might be punished because they appear to be "lying" or "rebellious". Religious parents whose child claims more than one name or clearly behaves as different persons might think the child is possessed and subject him to lengthy prayer vigils and possibly exorcism, which just causes more stress.
Abuse like any other experience is likely to affect the system as a whole -- in-house communication, how they organize themselves, any number of other things.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 09:31 am (UTC)Definately, I've been there to see atleast one friend come to the reallization that the conversations she'd been carrying on with herself were actually seperate personalities. Shed been having them for years but written them off as her thought process, it was only when one actually took over with her normal personality still conscious of the outside world that she reallized what had been happening
How do you know if you're a multiple?
Depends on the person... I can't remember a time when I didn't have someone here other than the most prominant me... but it took everything being amplified for me to begin to notice it, and then I was in denial until everything quieted down and came back again...
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
There's a whole lot of technical stuff on the topic, I think that there are probably quite a few ways outside of trauma that can create others.... trauma's just one of the most recorded ones...
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 11:28 am (UTC)Technically yes.
How do you know if you're a multiple?
As you've noted, sometimes you don't know. We knew because it's somewhat hard to miss being stuck in somebody elses body. As for Lu, I guess it was hard to miss somebody yelling at her a lot. For others it's less obvious, and for them I have no idea how you'd 'know'.
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
I have suffered from trauma. Lu hasn't. Many multiples have no system members who have been traumatised. Equally there are those who do stem from trauma. There is no prerequisite for it.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 04:43 pm (UTC)Oh yes. Our front didn't acknowledge it for years. She knew that we 'split' under stressful times, but refused to believe that it wasn't temporary. She was supposed to be like that - someone had to appear normal ;)
How do you know if you're a multiple?
How do you know you're a singleton? *shrug* Several of us being active at the same time + losing time were rather convincing. And we're more able to get our wants and needs met this way.
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
We were repeatedly traumatized starting when we were seven. Before that we believe we were a singleton. Others have their own histories.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-03 05:55 am (UTC)Sure they can. I sspect that I was long before I ever really knew it.
How do you know if you're a multiple?
I figure the biggest sign is other people acting through you. I know that's kind of an oversimplification, but it really does sum it up well for a lot of people. Other personalities taking control without permission . . . you don't know where they came from, or where the thoughts or feelings originated . . . Might be a sign.
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
From what I've seen, yes and no. It depends on the people involved, really. I suspect that some of my earlier suspected personalities came about as coping mechanisms for me, but as for the most recent and most prominant, Brooke, that wasn't the case. She came about more as a spiritual thing, we view it.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-04 01:10 pm (UTC)A lot of others already answered this one, but it's nice to get varying opinions. At first, I wasn't sure if I was multiple or not. I had to have it shown to me and pointed out to me. I only found out about 2 years ago, but didn't "believe it or buy it" until maybe a year ago.
If you had asked me that many years ago, I would have said no. But now I know that you can be mulitple and not know it. But when you find out and really understand it, so much makes SO much sense.
How do you know if you're a multiple?
For years I thought I was crazy. Seriously. I was having such mood swings. Thing were being said and done, that was not coming from me. I was not capable of all this stuff that was being said and done. I couldn't figure out why it was happeneing to me and what was going on. I was so confused and upset. Huge mood swings, severe headaches, and handwriting variations.
Do multiples stem from people who have suffered from some sort of trauma?
They "claim" so. But from this community I learned that you don't have to have trauma to be multiple. Sadly though, mine does come from abuse and trauma. I hate it, but... in the end it all makes us who we are today and THAT is something we wouldn't change for the world.