(no subject)

[freakshownia.livejournal.com]

Today in my abnormal psych class we went over dissociative disorders with a focus on DID. My professor used to work as a clinical psychologist for 20-some years, and to support the idea that multiples are extremely rare he mentioned that he had never met one in his entire career.

So I'm wondering... should we prove him wrong? It was so tempting to just jump up in class and be like, "Not true! You know ONE multiple!" but of course I didn't. I was thinking of going about it in a more discreet way, perhaps asking him if he'd like to meet a multiple. Hmm.

Any suggestions?


Also in class we were going to watch the video "Mind of a Murderer" about a serial killer who tried to get off on insanity by saying he was a multiple. The tape didn't work so we didn't watch it, but it annoyed me that of all views of MPD/DID to see in a video it'd be THAT one. Of course this guy was proved to have been making it all up to get out of jail so he wasn't actually a multiple, but still. Discussing multiplicity in the context of murder doesn't lead to positive opinions =/ (Although my professor clearly understood that one has nothing to do with the other and the tape was to show how it could be faked, who knows what the other students picked up from that.)

Comments

[tej-agni.livejournal.com]

That's a tough one. I'm not sure we'd say anything. Or if we did, we'd wait until the course was completely over and say it then in private to him. Though I'm not sure what that would accomplish either. I suppose we're just not eager to go right up to someone and tell them.

Amalah

[redrainstorm.livejournal.com]

The way I told my professor was through an unsigned email (which turned into convos back and forth) and then I let her know who I was in her class. That way I saw her reaction, so if it came out badly she had no idea who it was.

[freakshownia.livejournal.com]

I thought of sending him an email, but for some reason he hates email and never reads it =/ We're only supposed to contact him via phone outside class.

[redrainstorm.livejournal.com]

The note under the door may be a good thing then, but then again you may never know what he thinks about a multiple being in his class since he has no way of contacting you back and may not address it openly to all of his classes on his opinion.
I also did what someone siad below, writing many papers in my psych classes on multiplicity and challenging the whole "survivor multiple" and it being a "disorder".

[freakshownia.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of giving him my P.O. Box #(which I share with someone - I'd give it under their name) and tell him that if he wants to contact me to leave me a letter.

[stealthdragon.livejournal.com]

If the box is registred under the other persons' real name, perhaps you should use them as the 'care of' person, with the addressee being a pseuonym of yours. The professor might seek out the other person, or share the name with someone else, which could cause akwardness.

- Kat

Two things

[worldnamer.livejournal.com]

What jumps to mind is this:

1) Telling the entire class this, though amusing, is likely to get you labeled "the crazy". This is generally not good.

2) Telling him privately may not be useful. Think about what you're trying to accomplish and decide whether it's worth the risk of someone you don't know finding out.

Both of these vary with the amount of "out" you are about being DID. Personally, I'd be cautious.

Re: Two things

[freakshownia.livejournal.com]

Well, since he is a teacher and does have the power to influence people, I think it would be a good idea if he knew that multiples aren't as uncommon as he thinks.

Re: Two things

[tej-agni.livejournal.com]

maybe he says that in all of his classes just to see what the reaction is or if someone will admit to it. Kes

[weirdiguess.livejournal.com]

Well for starters I guess you should think, you know, if you don't have DID, he (or the class or whoever) is going to assume you have it and you may not be able to talk him round.

You could always say you know people who have it, gives you a starting point, and isn't really lying or anything.

[fadingtogrey.livejournal.com]

I agree with this.

[pengke.livejournal.com]

If you just want him to know that he's met multiples before without knowing it, you could leave an anonymous printed note taped to his office door saying that you're multiple and in his class.

[freakshownia.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I like that idea. Thanks!

[drleanne.livejournal.com]

I too had that situation.

In the end I came to the conclusion that the prof had very clear biases and telling him of my diagnosis was going to be counter productive. Instead, I wrote my papers on multiplicity including one on the validity of DID as a diagnosis, which I got an A on. In effect i was telling him that he was wrong in his biases without being confrontive.

[linnai.livejournal.com]

If it's anything like campus doors in our area, you could just fold it and slide it UNDER the door.

[cirape.livejournal.com]

Back when we first started college, Micha wanted us to be a 'case study' for a psychology class at school. Never got around to it, thought.
I'd say just come out and say it sometime only you and he are around, but not many people/systems are willing to do that.

--Diz (and some Axel)

[catskillmarina.livejournal.com]

I'd read up on object relational theory, generalize it to include all objects within
our minds as real things that define their selves in relation to things within and
without our minds.

Oh, wait a second, that *IS* the argument i had with a shrink friend. She seems to have
accepted it ;-)

When we were in college we ALWAYS debated the professors in class. Only a couple objected and some even thanked us for spicing up their classes.

Oh, and read some R. D. Liang and contrast him as being in touch with human reality as
opposed to Karl Jaspers who is cold when it comes to observing difficult human
realities.

Those are my arguments ;-)

--- Marina of Mtribe

[rhymer-713.livejournal.com]

Duct tape works on taping things to the door...But then again that might rip off half the finish along with the note. But either taping it to the door works, or if you're the first person in his class and before anyone gets there just casually drop it on his desk...Hmmmm. Puzzling cuz wwe're considering doing the same.

[sethrenn.livejournal.com]

Of course this guy was proved to have been making it all up to get out of jail so he wasn't actually a multiple, but still. Discussing multiplicity in the context of murder doesn't lead to positive opinions

Oh ghod, was that that stupid thing they played on "60 Minutes" a few years back? We remember being in chat while watching it, and then one of the people being interviewed went "You just saw a man dissociate before your very eyes" and we said "That makes it sound like they dropped him in a vat of acid."

[gryphons.livejournal.com]

we had to face this choice several times during our studies.. and will probably face it again.. we chose the tact that many others have mentioned.. we wrote our papers about DID.. and would argue/debate with the ones who were open to that.. but without revealing that we are plural.. Since we wanted to pursue a grad degree in psych, we weren't sure about revealing ourselves.

The letter idea would be good.. though probably either giving an alias or c/o address.. would be the best option since he abhors email.. we wrote and anonymous letter to one of our professors, cause we were leaving the school and had tired of his tirades.. about two weeks previously.. (he spent almost 3 weeks talking about DID/dissocciative disorders..

good luck with whatever you decide.

[sethrenn.livejournal.com]

he spent almost 3 weeks talking about DID/dissocciative disorders..

Three weeks, in an introductory level class? *boggles* Wow, someone is obsessed.

[gryphons.livejournal.com]

yeah.. he was.. it was like he was trying to convince himself and all his students that DID is a fabrication/lie.. *kicks over soapbox* we got into it with him several times.. .. but yeah.. he was very very obsessed about it.
-Gabe

[ex-khailitha846.livejournal.com]

We've "outed" ourselves several times during our educational career. First to a Psych 101 professor, who was fascinated and happy to meet us and has remained a very good friend... to the point of letting us use his cabin every summer.

Also, during art school, we brought it up to two of the professors because it made sense as the art was a constant dialogue about being multiple. They seemed a little confused by it, but in the end, it was a valuable experience for all of us.

Now, working on a Masters of Oriental Medicine, I realize that two of my professors know, and one of them is the clinical director of the school. Both experiences have been extremely positive.

Maybe we live in a wierd, rosy bubble, surrounded by open minded people, but the experience here has been that if one of us feels moved to "out" ourselves, and there is a sense of trust and relevance within that impulse, it is the right thing to do.

But we don't do it with people who don't generate a sense of safety and acceptance, and there are definite situations where we keep those cards right up close.

I guess my advice would be to look at the impulse to "out" yourself to this guy, and try to determine where it originates. If you are trying to prove a point, if your professor is closed minded and biased, if either one of you has an ax to grind, I'd say it probably won't go well.

But, if you are secure in yourselves and you think there may be a benefit, for you or for him, then it might be worth it. It could be a learning experience for both of you.

Also, I'm realizing that the few times we have "outted" to someone in the psych community, they've been thrilled and interested, they've asked many questions, they've become friends. I know this isn't true of everyone in that profession, (Oh GOD how well I know) but alot of people study psychology because they are truly curious and fascinated with the diverse expression of human consciousness, and your existence could be a delight and wonder to them.

Or not. *grins and shrugs*

-Kat of Khailitha

[freakshownia.livejournal.com]

Heh, I wonder how he'd react to that.