Dissociative Identity Disorder Support Sessions
Hey everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who has expressed interest in getting involved and leading/writing sessions about DID. This is great and a topic that is of huge importance. Im excited to see that so many of you are passionate about helping out. The more information we can share about this mental health condition, the more we can all work together to decrease the stigma that is still associated with it.
Forgive me for getting technical for a second-- According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) "Dissociative Identity Disorder is caused by ‘overwhelming experiences, traumatic events, and/or abuse occurring in childhood.
Because trauma is the root cause of DID, there has been some confusion as to whether DID as a whole will fall under the Trauma Team or remain in the Support + Team.
Heres the short answer:
- DID is a huge subject and obviously of interest to a lot of you. Because most people with DID have a mix of dissociative and posttraumatic symptoms, as well as non-trauma related symptoms, DID will be part of both the Trauma Community as well as its own team within Support +.
- Support sessions and discussions related to trauma and the cause of DID, will be run through the Trauma Community.
- Support sessions and discussions that are more broad (such as DID and Stigma, DID in Relationships, etc) will be run with the Support + Team.
- If there continues to be a high level of interest and engagement, DID will be considered for being its own subcommunity team in the future.
For more info on getting involved with the Trauma Subcommunity, please contact @dancingRainbow45.
For more info on getting involved with Support +, please contact @beYOUtywithin.
There are so many topics and subcommunities that need love and attention! Thank you for all your hard work and feedback to ensure we are covering information that meets the communitys needs and interests.
As you all may have noticed, I have intentionally elected to remain silent on this debate as it is important to me personally and professionally not to react to an emotionally charged situation. Please note, that does not mean I lack strong feelings about this decision. I have reviewed the internal documents and 7cups vision, dusted off my research and spoken privately with two preiminent hospitals that treat DID as well as the spectrum of dissociative and trauma based disorders. Please refer to Harvard University's McLean Hospital and Sheppard Pratt's award winning Trauma program. Dr. Lowenstein is no doubt a leader in the field as are his collegues.
An exhausstive amount of research has been completed concerning debates that mirror the discussion we are having concerning isolating the dissociative spectrum as well as the various comorbid conditions. One may take a cursory view of the top two facilities in the United States treat the whole person under the umbrella of Trauma. The hospitals that isolate the dissociate spectrum no longer exist for a reason.
When I originally joined the site, I found the DID and Dissciative disorder subsection, it was an area where people were consistently having to defend the very existence of the disorder. Sadly, this is the opposite of the 7cups mission as well as the current training as well as practical tips for listeners. What is the most important aspect of this debate? The impact to the members. The trauma team has created a safe, supportive, effective environment for people who have experienced tramatic experiences to share. They are validated, supported and insultated from those who may choose to enter into a debate that quite honestly began in the early to mid-90's and has since been put to rest. The traumatic experiences team follows the current guidelines, reasearch supporting the best outcomes and is not in conflict with the values and mission statement.
Supporting the whole person under the umbrella Traumatic Experiences is the only proven methodology at this time. Bouncing our members from one place to another (depression, ED, self-harm, BPD e.g.) is potentially damaging to them. The root cause of these behaviors is currently being addressed within the Traumatic Experiences Community. It is self-evident that an idividual will not find healing if the underlying issue is not addressed. Once again, I hope that you will reconsider your position for the well-being of our current membership.
I support our members, our dedicated professionals, the voluteers who put countless hours into the Traumatic Experiences team and ask that you allow our members to reach out to other areas in their own time and at their own pace. Displacing them in addtion to once again subjecting them to the potential for invalidating their experiences by those not familiar with the recovery process from these trauma based disorders is something that I find lacks compassion, acceptance and the practice of unconditional positive regard.
Thank you for providing me with an outlet to support our membership.
@dancingRainbow45
@RumpleSteeleSkin
@SaltyDog68
@AnnaKateMillerLCSW
@raveninthelabrynth
@KristenHR
@Kate
NO ONE has said to move or take anyone or anything away from trauma support. In fact, this even was raised because I asked to bring DID sessionsINTO trauma support back in october originally and offered to lead sessions there but weekly being SPECIFIC to DID. I am very sad that when I moved forward with building up thie DID team when that was recomended BY admin as well as team leader this is the outcome. I am not interested in any compitition or debate, I am interested in providing MANY supports as we can to the members who CHOOSE to use whichever ones they feel most comfortable with. I have NEVER focused on trauma in DID team, but on all the differnt aspect SPECIFIC to DID. Trauma support focuses on trauma, and how it affects those with did, ptd, cptsd and many other issues. I know that many regulars I had in these sessons have asked me to restart them, which is why I was doing all I could, upon my return from break to do so. Just as i have many other teams in building them to have stronger foundations on support plus. Thanks so much for understanding that I, and no one else is here to take away, move around or compete. In fact, i am really sad that we are not unifying and working together to provide even more supports, as I know many are not comfortable in "trauma" support that have expressed more comfort in an area not as trauma focused.
So I would recomend personally that we consider what IS going on and support community growth rather than limiting supports to one space and way.
@beYOUtywithin
2 things
1. You talk on supporting the community and enhancing DID more...why not WORK with Rain on this instead of pulling it to another team that really we don't know will happen? Use your knowledge to "build up" the trauma team. Beyou BE-A-PART of something that already exists.
2. The STATS we will go by instead of what is said in pms. Trauma team is strong and we all really do wish the 4 weeks to go fast on this trial.
I don't think people are worried on DID being taken more so how this was handled. Lets work together as a community. I think if you read others posts they are hurt by this.
thats it-
good luck
@RumpleSteeleSkin "In fact, this even was raised because I asked to bring DID sessionsINTO trauma support back in october originally and offered to lead sessions there but weekly being SPECIFIC to DID"
@beYOUtywithin
Did you not read Laura's post? We are kindly asked to please move on. Please do this!
Hello All-
thank you for sharing your feedback here. I can see we have struck a nerve. I apologize if my post above came off as harsh and not listening to everyone. Additionally, I am a little late to the conversation and was following up on previous conversation had between group mod teams and kate. My goal was to try and get us to move forward, which we desperately need to do. We have been going on about this for too long with no resolution. The community managers do not want to argue or make decsions that don't align with what you all want and feel is necessary. Our role is to support you in your volunteer work.
I am having a hard time really understanding the problem because we have said to please continue as is, keep doing what you are doing, because it is great! So to that point, everyone please host your discussions as you see fit and where you see fit.
DID sessions can and should continue in the Trauma community, as that is where they have been hosted in the past. We have additional discussions for DID that were written by members of our support plus team. They have also agreed to support the Trauma communities discussions.
You all should proceed as you were doing it long before this debate, as I can hear this is in the best interest of the community.
We need to exhale, and move forward though.
@Laura
Hi Laura,
This has indeed bewen a lot of confusion and a lot of tension. Thank you for hearing the concerns, and making it clear in your post that DID will not be removed from Trauma. That is quite relieving for our team. I am relieved too that even if a dissociative subcommunity forms, that trauma will continue to do what we are doing. Providing support to all of our members and listeners with trauma and with related issues within trauma, as we have been doing. That support plus will continue their DID sessions in support plus, but not be taking away from Trauma.
I appreciate you clearing this up for us all. I want our trauma team to hear that this is not an issue that is going to impact our member. Laura and I did touch base to clarify this, and it is clear that our members will receive the ongoing support in trauma including the DID section. The book study, the discussions, etc., will not change.
To our trauma team, please note Laura's last post and my post.
Kristen
@dancingRainbow45 @RumpleSteeleSkin @SaltyDog68 @agreeableKite4304 @DeborahUK @sweetLily41 @Kate @RavenintheLabrynth @CompassionateListener108 @Laura
@Laura
We are using terms such as "Unity" and talking about how we should all be supporting one another. However, those who are "passionate" about DID should of found a way to work with the trauma team. If unity and support was on the agenda we could all move forward together. Instead there have been converstations behind closed doors, and decisions have been made. @dancingrainbow45 and @KristenHR have put in blood sweat and tears to build the DID community within trauma. This feels very disrespectful, why are we having a debate after the decision has been made? We should of been allowed to speak our views beforehand. This does not feel democratic, and the way that this has been handled has wounded the team.
@Amandisa16 unfortunately when I tried to do this through trauma team i was told no and to continue on DID team separate from trauma which is what i did and this all has blown up once i did. so i agree, there could have been unity and that is what i advocated for originally but was told that trauma doesnt have anyone that focuses only on DID so that DID is covered every week, in fact was told that the DID sections were farly inactive in forums as well but the other sections were more active. which is great. I also have the members who were regulars in the discussions I was leading before and my coleader was doing asking me to restart them. that is ALL this ever has been about. I am sad that it has all blown up as if something was trying to be moved or taken away as it never has been the case
@beYOUtywithin
I'm going to refer back to @KristenHR earlier post. Kristen said that DID will not be removed from Trauma. Support Plus will continue the DID sessions in Support Plus, but DID will not be removed from Trauma. So now things have been clarified, let's try to move forward.
@Amandisa16 in fairness, with all these accusations of me being "disrespectful" and "not trying to work with the community" and all that I have just as much a right to let people know the truth of what i HAVE done on this rather than being accused of things and attacked over this? I mean how would you feel if the shoe were on your foot and you were accused of all this and attcked when it never has been what everyone is saying and started because i in fact DID try to combine teh DID team with trauma support and offered to continue in trauma team rather than separate but it was declined?
@beYOUtywithin
The concern and focus is not politically motivated nor should it be about leadership feeling the pushback given an unanticipated outcome.
It is neither sad nor is it personal. It is about providing the members with consistent, stabilization and support. We must put our own reactions away at times and remain mindful of supporting the members who quite honestly felt blindsided and left out of the decision making process.
Perhaps the healing may begin as we assure them that they have a voice prior to the implementation of changes or additions.
Change can be wonderful but healthy change does not occur in a vacuum. I would have loved involving the team and membership. It honestly would have fostered trust as I too was completely in the dark until today even as a member of leadership.
I worked hard to gain the respect of the team and have received more from them than I could ever hope to give. It is only with compassion, kindness, courage and wisdom that we can move forward.
This is is a lesson learned for everyone if we remain focused on implementation strategies , change management, empowerment and inclusion.
@beYOUtywithin
No I did not say that you were disrespectful, I said that the way this situation had been handled felt disrespectful. You are entitled to express your opinion, and to defend yourself if you feel that you have been wronged. You have heard the view of the trauma team, and now we are hearing your views. I can see that this situation has hurt alot of people (including yourself). So let's try and move forward.
@KristenHR @Laura
Kristen, just seen your post.
hmmm, ☹ this is kind of very sad
Please could those from the trauma team refrain from posting here further. We have been asked to move on from this. We supported support plus to run their sessions under support plus and for trauma to do theirs under trauma so members needs could be met equally
This situation arose from rumours that caused distress to members and listeners alike when prior to this post people had been told DID was leaving trauma, following by an announcement of the possible formation of a team for DID. This resulted in yet more upset given lack of consultation and involvent in a decision which impacted members and trauma and which then raised concerns for member wellbeing, combined with the issue of DID being caused by trauma which is a trauma community issue regularly worked with.
Everyone has had a chance to respectfully share their views and this is appreciated. However I think now its time to leave this topic alone for now. Perhaps a lesson has been learned that something as big as this needs further consultation and discussion to try and prevent such strong feeling in the future. It was always going to be inevitable that it would especially a topic people are vested in both professionally and/or personally, and then when you mix traumatic experiences and impact into the equation, it makes this more likely to occur.
Appreciate everyone who has spoken here and who has shared their views and feelings especially concerning member wellbeing. No one wants to see any team currently or who have offered support to those those affected by trauma and DID not doing so. Trauma welcomes increased support for members and will work with anyone if it is a viable situation/solution and to strengthen existing teams and right for the team and its members.
@KristenHR @agreeableKite4304 @DeborahUK @RumpleSteeleSkin @Amandisa16 @laura @Raveninthelabrynth @Compassionatelistener108 @LifeIsMyCanvas @sweetLily41 @Kate
@dancingRainbow45
Finished posting, and then saw your post.