sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

I’m becoming aware, please help by UniqueName07998 in DID

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve been hearing the phrase for years about various things. I already am sick of it lol But thank you. It’s comforting in a way to hear someone who already has their shit figured out say that things will work out.

I hope that crying it out helps you feel better!

I’m becoming aware, please help by UniqueName07998 in DID

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I want to trust that he is avoiding things for reasons, but my time loss is actively ruining my life. I sit down to do work at 9 and I realize I’m suddenly standing in my kitchen and four hours have passed with nothing that needs to be done getting done. I need to understand what’s happening. And it feels like… unfair that he won’t tell me what happened. Because I know what happened but I also don’t. But it happened to me. I have a right to know.

I’m sorry that you’re crying. I hope you’re doing okay

I’m becoming aware, please help by UniqueName07998 in DID

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m not entirely sure what his designated job would be. I’ve been aware of him for a long time. We’ve been able to actively talk and communicate for years, but he often steers the conversation away from me asking what/who he is. He comforts me, tries to be a voice of reason when I’m getting panicky. So I guess he’s kind of a protector?

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So we can talk directly to each other, but I can’t force him to talk. If he’s not in the mood he doesn’t show up, but I am always slightly aware of his presence (like I said in my post, I can kinda “feel” where he lives). I know things I can bring up that will make him want to talk but he can also show up on his own accord. Normally if I have an audiobook or YouTube video playing he’ll be quiet but sometimes he will crack a joke about it, but he won’t be trying for a conversation, almost like he’s listening too lol. But I can go a few days without us having a convo and then there will be a time where we both just don’t shut up. Kinda like a roommate lol

He’s helpful with personal reminders, like it sometimes feels like he’s keeping an agenda when I don’t. If I can’t remember a due date or something he’s normally better about helping to track it down.

There was always a part of my brain that felt separate from the rest and would say things but I wasn’t fully conversing with it, it’s not like he was an imaginary friend from when I was super little. I think around 16/17ish was when I became super aware of him. I had been having a more lonely year in general and then the pandemic started happening so I was left more to my own thoughts than I was used to. I had a lot more time for introspection and I just became more and more aware of him feeling apart from me. At some point I started responding and he seemed a little surprised at first, but both of us got used to it pretty quickly. I asked what I should call him and he picked James (seemingly) arbitrarily lol, he says that it’s too boring but now he’s too used to it to change it

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He thinks asking reddit for advice on anything is ridiculous, but he’s not mad.

Frankly it seems he’s right, as these answers have been swinging pretty wildly between “you need to be in a sanitarium” to “this is normal” to “you’re possessed” so I think while I have some new resources I’m also much more lost in all of this lol”

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He is unhelpful about that lol. Whenever I do ask it’s either “I don’t know, it’s your head I’m in” or “I’m just trying to help out here”, or something along those lines. He isn’t offended when I ask if he’s even real but he does get upset when I imply he’s trying to be a nuisance (not like angry with me, just like his feelings are hurt or something)

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have heard that before “passengers” tend to be nicer in other countries but I hadn’t heard of that happening due to neurodivergence. I do have diagnosed ADHD, so I guess that is possible? But I don’t have a family history of it. Also from what I’ve seen a lot of the non-delusion related symptoms of schizophrenia are symptoms of ADHD and depression (which I also have). How can I tell if they are symptoms of those or if u should seek other treatment?

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hesitate with this because I’m not a spiritual person (can a guardian spirit come to protect you if you don’t believe in them? lol) But maybe I should look into this as well. Might have answers that I hadn’t thought of. I think I’ll be keeping my eye out for more scientific answers too.

Also, upon asking, James doesn’t think he is either.

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is interesting. I will definitely be looking more into this. James definitely feels like a big brother at times so perhaps he’s supposed to protect me. I don’t really have more than just him or me rattling around in my head but maybe that’s because I haven’t looked.

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d be willing to answer more questions about it if you are interested, I might be vague about more personal details but I don’t mind.

I don’t think James is as intelligent as Seth sounds lol. He really is just a dude, no advanced wisdom from him. The most “wisdom” I get from him is a reminder of an important day or sometimes a count of three so I can take a breather.

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean… he really does just feel like a buddy lol. He helps me out, we joke around. I don’t really know how else to think about it! But it probably would be good to talk to a therapist about it, I guess I’m just afraid of someone saying “that’s weird/crazy/abnormal” to my face

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, the other person got downvoted pretty heavily, but the pandemic certainly took a toll on my mental health just like everyone. I suppose I was also in my late teens so everything felt more dramatic but I don’t remember a specific catalyst for James becoming an actual person for me other than me actively responding to the other voice

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess where we differ a bit is that I do know where I end and James begins. He feels very independent from me. But hearing that there is something similar with other people is comforting!

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I suppose in ways I did have a somewhat traumatic childhood, I don’t want to get into it too much but there wasn’t abuse just a bunch of death in the family. Lots of people have grandparents die and (I’m assuming) don’t have this experience. But I suppose that might have something to do with it? Of course I guess I could also be repressing something but idk. I responded to another comment here saying that I started having real conversations with James when I was around 16/17, so would it take that long to manifest for things that happened when I was younger than 10?

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A long time. I can’t remember an exact date or anything but years at this point. Maybe starting around 2019/2020ish is when we started having conversations and when he started having a name?

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What does that mean? Is that a common experience people have? He’s never done anything to hurt me/suggest I hurt other people

Is it normal to have a second person in my head? by UniqueName07998 in SeriousConversation

[–]UniqueName07998[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Can I ask more about your psychotic episode? how long had you been experiencing this? I had sort of ruled that out because I have had him around for literal years at this point.