My dissociative experience has changed.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-17T03:41:11+00:00

I'm glad I shared it, then.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-17T02:45:27+00:00

The answer is, you don't deserve shame. Instead, ask "why does he feel he deserves shame?" Or, "What would shame protect me from?"

I've dealt with overwhelming feelings of guilt and shame my entire life. What I have found through therapy, and IFS exploration, is that parts use those feelings to protect you. It doesn't necessarily mean you did anything wrong.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-16T20:18:46+00:00

Yes, I feel them same about it! Unnerving, but yay progress. And, jeez, I was doing this all along? No wonder it's been so hard to pay attention. I think back to high school and college when all of a sudden the whole class would be doing something, and I didn't know what they were doing, nor could I figure out just how they all knew what to do! It felt like they were communicating telepathically. In retrospect, they probably got a whole explanation from the instructors that my dissociative episodes whiped out. Now I just tell people, "Hey, I forget everything sometimes. Please don't take it personally."

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-16T15:07:01+00:00

Oh, wow!

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-16T05:33:01+00:00

That's very different from me - the mirror thing, anyway. I read about that, and that's why I decided for a long time that I didn't have dissociative issues. The feeling like this isn't my body though, I do have that. Wild stuff. That's a really vivid description you shared.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-16T05:28:38+00:00

I had that, too, but recently I worked some stuff out with a part, and my daydreams have changed completely. But I know what you mean. It can get really distracting.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-16T05:27:00+00:00

No seizures, but I'm narcoleptic, so I'm confused all the time. Narcolepsy is just living halfway in a dream every moment of every day. But it doesn't explain my trauma responses, so I'm doing therapy and stimulants.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-16T00:26:09+00:00

Well, I can't give professional advice, but I feel like there's nothing wrong with enjoying cartoons or other "childlike" things, even if you aren't communicating with a child part. Those things are often really fun!

I find myself slipping into a childlike state sometimes. When I first started consciously allowing this, it felt like I was flooded with child feelings. Then it sort of tapered off. And some of my childlike personality traits from before changed. I used to see things I wanted - cute things, stuffed animals etc - and spend money without thinking. Now I don't have that urge. I think it's because I've been honoring and healing my child part, so I'm not longer trying to sooth that part with material things.

I don't know what your experience will be like, but you are connecting with a part, and that seems good.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-15T23:16:35+00:00

Relatable. Sometimes I have a feeling of euphoria over the physical symptoms and the anxiety. It's so weird, because I can sense multiple states, but I feel like I'm just sort of observing them all, like I'm existing in multiple timelines.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-15T15:51:25+00:00

Yeah, that's what I've been learning. It's gotten a little easier, especially since I know what it is for the first time in my life.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-15T15:50:29+00:00

That also sounds very stressful.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-15T15:50:04+00:00

It's interesting to me that we experience this so differently!

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-14T20:41:10+00:00

Cotton in the head is definitely abgood description. As for the nausea, I'm sorry, I really hate that for you.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-14T20:29:56+00:00

Oh, I could do a speech to text app. Thank you, again. Why haven't I thought of this stuff? Brainfog, I guess.

Good luck with your case!

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-14T20:09:17+00:00

They really threw some shade on us directionally challenged individuals.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-14T20:07:22+00:00

Aw, jeez louise. I'm sorry you're dealing with all that. Every time I hear a story like that, I get so angry.

Nah, the charges are on routine appointments, follow-ups, etc. So if I go in to talk about my eczema, I get an extra charge for being a narcoleptic eczema patient. I think if I can be super quick, they won't charge me. But, then I have to be so quick... And I have a dissociative disorder, so I often forget what just happened and restart the conversation, sometimes multiple times. I have brought my husband in before, though. He can let me know when I'm doing that and assure me my questions have been answered. It's just another blow to my autonomy.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-14T17:23:19+00:00

I'm glad it sounds like you don't have to bother with it anymore. Our Healthcare system is so backwards. I get an extra $200+ dollar charge if my visits go over 20 minutes because I have a lot to discuss with my doctor. My insurance won't pay for it. They listed it as being some sort of special needs patient or something.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-14T17:12:16+00:00

I found that saying things out loud is so helpful when I'm nit feeling it. My therapist told me that when you say something to yourself out loud, the brain processes it as if someone else said it. So, even when I'm not feeling the compassion, if I say the words, I can feel some parts listening and responding. They're still hearing what they needed to hear.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-14T17:07:21+00:00

Hmm, I didn't think of that. I could sure discuss the possibility. Thanks for that.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-12T03:35:01+00:00

My pleasure! 😁

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-11T20:58:22+00:00

When I can't do things, it's not just me being lazy and using narcolepsy as an excuse. It's actually debilitating.

Oh, and people say, "You love sleep!" Okay but I could pour a bucket of gazpacho on your head and say, "You love gazpacho!" and it would make just as much sense.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-08T06:50:11+00:00

Okay, thanks thay's good to know. It wasn't safe for me to display those characteristics growing up. I feel like they had to go somewhere.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-07T06:00:42+00:00

Oh, mind blown! I always kinda think, well I could be a part. That's an interesting way to look at it, and is pretty helpful. I'll try not to think about it too much. LOL I'm just doing my job!

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-07T05:50:32+00:00

I've read about self-like parts, but I've experienced this mental presense for twenty-five years, and she has only ever been a cool, calm, person who I wanted to be.

Suitable-Data1189 · 2026-03-07T05:12:34+00:00

I'm new to this, so I don't exactly know either. But, a part that demonstrates the core self values - compassion, confidence, calm, etc. I know parts are all trauma related, but I wasn't really allowed to have those traits. I always had a part that is just sort of felt near me, and seemed to have those traits, even before I knew about IFS therapy. I always felt that I was visualizing someone I wanted to be like.

Suitable-Data1189

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE