Posted by Dinah on March 22, 2004, at 20:37:09
Have any of you talked to your therapist about dissociated ego states? Multiple personality? DID? Inner children with the ability to take control of behavior?
I know that it's a diagnosis that has fallen into some disfavor with some professionals since the lawsuits and license yankings of a few professionals who specialize in it. Heck, it was probably always in disfavor with a lot of professionals. Yet it is also one of the oldest documented disorders.
I'm almost positive my psychiatrist would strongly disapprove of the notion. I think he would be the sort to ignore the very idea so as not to encourage it. My therapist is rather noncommittal, although I don't think he disbelieves. Neither does he enthusiastically endorse the idea.
I don't fit the diagnostic criteria for DID, although I do have two (or possibly three) well defined ego states. Well, well defined to me. Other people don't really notice (other than my therapist). But I have no amnesia, no lost time. According to the DES administered by the EMDR therapist, I don't even qualify as having *any* dissociative disorder whatsoever. I think I'd generally disagree with that, since dissociation is my very favorite coping mechanism, and I clearly overuse it to the point where it could definitely be said to have a negative impact on my functioning.
I was just wondering what the general sense out there was, among those of you who had discussed the idea with your therapists. Is there acceptance of the concept? Has anyone with well differentiated ego states found themselves with a therapist who refused to acknowledge them?
poster:Dinah
thread:327180
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040321/msgs/327180.html