Unveiling My True Self

Sharing my journey of finally discovering I have Dissociative Identity Disorder at 34, breaking free from mislabels, and embracing my true identity with TimeSpace101.

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Psychiatry

My journey with psychiatry began with a diagnosis of depression. I was really struggling adjusting to a home environment I never re-settled into after a move away from a traumatic living situation I didn’t want to talk about. I also didn’t want to talk about how it was made worse over time, because it started to appear to me that the more that I say what’s wrong and what I’m stuck with the more I got stuck into it. I didn’t know the help that I needed at the time, and the ways that my pain was presenting was making the whole situation worse. I eventually was able to start SSRI’s and continue living with my family for a bit. Initially, they would see an improvement, then a regression of all of the other symptoms as I B-lined straight for the street drugs again some months later – a mission I knew was becoming quickly a suicide mission anyway. Psychiatry saved my life, then maybe ...ruined it, a little. What I like about it Medication was a tool that I could use in the short-term to try and get on my feet and make the changes I need to make in my life. I forgot that was the original goal, because my medication was a team effort between probably over 20 different psychiatrists at this point. It allowed the symptoms that cause some function issues to be quelled: depression, rumination, hopelessness/helplessness. This helps dampen the dysphoria and the symptoms that lead to my memory issues, like rumination into traumatic relapse. I have found this to work only in the short term, because after some time – I begin ‘ruminating’ again, but it become integrated into my daily life in ways I can’t recognize anymore because I don’t feel the emotional effect of that rumination until I have returned to a state of complete crises and don’t remember why I’m feeling what I’m feeling. Medication was a great place for me to go when my back was entirely against the wall and there was nothing out there for me other than just to ignore the past and move on to the next job opportunity. It was great through the pandemic, again, minus the creeping “I didn’t see that coming” collapse of ‘23. Why I tried them for so long I tend to go into crises and not remember what led to the crises. I try my best to put together how it became an emergency for me, and struggle to find words – usually ending up speaking metaphors that sound like hallucinations, but are abstract pieces of memory rippling through from the trauma response. When I am there I end up take whatever solution is available to me to help: Groups, pamphlets, medications, referrals. When offered medications, for the majority of my life, it usually only took asking more than once to get me to take the short term solution (meds) and avoid the long term solution (talk about dark scary traumatizing and horrible stuff to a therapist instead of to the random drinking buddies the next time I’m on a bender and remember what I don’t at the moment of prescription.) This is difficult to convey well, because it’s not the fault of the immediate care team, it’s a systemic issue I really see at the foundation. So Why Do I Hate Psychiatry? Then, I get out of emergency care and continue taking the medications the best that I can, but I forget what sent me into crises by usually misremembering or confabulating the events leading up to a break. This is compounded by the fact that, now, I am not able to feel the same feelings to remind me the light shifts that happened before I started noticing I was going downhill. This is also compounded by my regular forgetfulness, a busy schedule, missing time, and a system that withholds medications a couple of times a year for one reason or another. I Don’t Hate Psychiatry I’m trying to try something different since 2023. I decided I was going to assume that continuing taking all the advice of the doctors that only treat me when I’m in a state I can’t communicate effectively and start tackling as many problems causing symptoms that I can see immediately and asking for help with the iceberg of repressed and severely under-processed stress of the last 20 years compounded to my traumas I began those 20 years with, from 13-14 years old until 33-34 years old. I’m trying something different that I think the entire world should have the opportunity to do. Work on myself without a loaded gun to my head saying that if I’m nervous there’s a pill I can take. Problems I am not able to get my medication I need regularly, regularly. I have an alter that prefers to keep extra medication, refuses to take medications occasionally to save them for emergency, once we’ve missed scheduled dose time. (I know, dumb) I have an alter that struggles throughout the day with attention. With CPTSD, I have dissociative amnesia that is abnormal and disrupts daily function, independent of prescription medication, and other drugs. I get prescribed drugs with the framing that it will be helpful over the long term and not noticeable in the short term, but I argue I have the opposite experience and this is not taken seriously for the decade that I passively brought it up as a reason to hesitate before trying again… before trying again and forgetting why I had the emotional disturbance I had because the trauma goes back to being repressed after the episode. And, then obviously breaking down with even less consistent warning signs in the future because the medications are muting the thing I would need to pay attention to as an early warning sign for my disorder. Diagnosis’ (respectively) The system is set up for efficiency, but to the dollar not to the patient. I have a medication resistant illness. I have a medication resistant illness. I have accessibility issues with memory. These issues are made worse with some medications. The Root Issue / What Does Psychiatry Do for Me? The root issue is that we need to go back to realizing that psychiatry is a gentle-touch brute force medical solution. The root issue being we have a tendency within society, to assume the longevity of treatment so much that the patient is somehow responsible for the long term outcome – only when it goes bad. As a field of study, psychiatry has saved countless lives, and I still have a psychiatric framework for why my HRT is successful in my case. And, that case particularly, is a great argument for what I see the root solution to be in psychiatry in general: Trying alternatives first. Before I transitioned with hormones, I: tried telling people around me when I was young tried realizing the difference and doing things more in line with boyhood tried hiding it and never saying it again tried thinking more like a boy tried constantly internally correcting tried working my gender into daily life without fully transitioning tried therapy around some on the issues making my gender such a touchy subject for me tried coming out as a trans woman without HRT Each of those things that I tried had mixed results, and I don’t wish to explore more politics than I have to, given the age. I did all of that before thinking to myself “What if instead of hiding it for peoples’ comfort, and then fearing the moment they sense I’m hiding something, I just wear it outside so the only people that can see my incongruence when I’m actually doing something that feels incongruent to me, instead of when I am authentically vibing with them?” It hurts to genuinely have a moment I internalize as a ‘girl’ moment, that’s already embarrassing because I’m an adult, also be a sign that I might be into some freak shit I wouldn’t share with nobody. Let me be clear: I am into some freak shit. Ask me about it, it’s no secret. I’ve been into freakier shit, and didn’t like it, now I just like the freaky shit I like and that’s that. What I want to see in the world. I want to see as much “pro-health” content as I saw “pro-trans”. I want to see a system that allows people to talk to therapists and connect to groups before it comes to a ‘warm line’ or ‘crises line’ scenario. I am so proud to see the places I see that help people before they become homeless. I just hope in the future that someone like me, that works and tries to do it with the least amount of help as possible and has trauma associated with asking for help , by the time my brutally bigoted bull-horned stampede into faking nuero-typicality has got me so f****d up doctor’s can’t even agree on where to start, other than removing everything the color red from the room.

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Reclaiming Identity: Understanding the Journey Beyond Diagnosis

Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) often means navigating a complex landscape of memories, emotions, and identities that can feel fragmented and overwhelming. Many individuals, like myself, spend years grappling with symptoms without a clear understanding of their origin, sometimes labeling their experiences in ways that don’t fully capture the reality of the condition. DID is not just an illness but a profound journey of self-discovery, resilience, and healing that challenges conventional ideas about identity and consciousness. Recognizing and accepting the diagnosis can be both a relief and a catalyst for empowerment, opening doors to tailored therapies and supportive communities that honor the multifaceted nature of the self. The Path to Healing and Self-Integration The process of healing from DID involves more than just managing symptoms; it’s about integrating the many parts of the self into a cohesive narrative that allows for greater harmony and functionality. Therapeutic approaches often focus on building trust, communication, and cooperation among different identities, fostering self-awareness, and developing coping strategies to handle triggers and dissociative episodes. Support from professionals who understand the nuances of DID, along with community and peer support, can create a safe environment for growth. At TimeSpace101, we emphasize a compassionate, individualized approach that respects each person’s unique journey, helping them reclaim their identity and live fuller, more connected lives.

strange things in my brain

Psychonomia: Under the Hood

Psychonomia: A Briefing on Integrated Trauma and Socio-Economic Survival Executive Summary This briefing document synthesizes the concept of "Psychonomia" as derived from the provided transcripts—a state where psychological trauma, economic survival, and institutional failure intersect. The document outlines a narrative of a diarist grappling with homelessness, the gig economy, and late-stage clinical diagnoses. The central findings indicate that "Psychonomia" is characterized by the dehumanization of the individual through automated systems (gig apps and government bureaucracy) which mirror and exacerbate the familial and social trauma experienced by the diarist. A critical takeaway is the compounding trauma caused by the late diagnosis of complex disorders: Gender Dysphoria, diagnosed at age 24 after 20 years of incongruity, and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)/PTSD, diagnosed at age 34 after decades of executive dysfunction. The transcripts reveal a cycle of "psychotic" stress, financial instability, and institutional neglect that challenges the diarist’s attempts at rehabilitation and survival. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. The Framework of Psychonomia: Economic vs. Psychological Survival The term "Psychonomia" describes a world where the economy and the psyche are inseparable. The diarist views the current state of the nation as a "simulation" where consumer confidence and personal stability are dictated by external, often automated, forces. The Gig Economy as a Mirror of Trauma The diarist’s experience with platforms like DoorDash and Shipt serves as a primary example of Psychonomia. These systems impose "cost-cutting measures" that result in direct harm to the worker. Automation as Evasion: Automation is used by corporations to maintain "plausible deniability." When customers or drivers are robbed (e.g., "taking the photo and then taking up the food"), the automated responses prevent any meaningful resolution or accountability. Algorithmic Punishment: The diarist describes having money withheld due to system errors (e.g., card declines, "fraud protection") and being penalized for delivery delays caused by inefficient app navigation (inaccurate pin drops at apartment complexes). Physical Toll: Survival requires "on and off" vehicle operation in sub-zero temperatures to save gas, leading to "interruptive sleep" and physical exhaustion. Economic Models The transcripts suggest a rejection of "trickle-down" economics in favor of "trickle-up" stimulation. Corporate "Slavery": The diarist argues that helping large corporations only creates "better slaves." Stimulus Impact: Observations suggest that stimulus checks (under both Trump and Biden) actually stimulated the economy, whereas corporate funding failed to reach the worker. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Institutional and Bureaucratic Trauma The diarist details a "belligerent occupancy" by the state, where institutional systems designed to provide aid instead inflict psychological distress. The Failure of the Social Security System The diarist’s interaction with the Social Security office highlights a disconnect between the lived experience of disability and bureaucratic record-keeping. Factual Discrepancies: A Social Security representative reportedly entered incorrect data regarding the diarist's income (stating "no income" despite the diarist reporting monthly earnings). This creates a fear of "penalty of perjury." Delayed Recovery: The system imposes a "wait and see" approach (200 to 230 days), which the diarist views as a "public witch trap." Administrative Barriers: Digital verification ( ID.me , login.gov ) is described as an insurmountable loop requiring old phone numbers and 45-minute video call wait times, reinforcing the use of inefficient "paper" systems. The Medical-Institutional Conflict The diarist experiences a paradox: being "forced on drugs" by the state while simultaneously having their "disability" questioned or denied by doctors who have never spoken to them. This leads to a state of paranoia and a feeling that the state is "coordinating" to enforce a specific diagnosis over a trauma-informed one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The Impact of Late Diagnosis The directive identifies late-stage diagnoses as a primary source of trauma. The transcripts provide a timeline of these struggles: Disorder Period of Struggle Age at Diagnosis Impact of Delay Gender Dysphoria 4 years old – 24 years old 24 20 years of "incongruency" and social friction. PTSD / DID 10-14 years old – 34 years old 34 20 years of "executive function" and "functional memory" loss. Trauma of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) The diarist refers to "the system," indicating multiple identities (e.g., "nobody in my system is remembering this"). Memory Fragmentation: Significant gaps in memory are reported, particularly regarding the year 2024 and specific traumatic encounters. Re-parenting: The diarist views their current journey as an attempt to "re-parent" themselves after growing up with parents who "switched" (exhibited inconsistent, traumatic behaviors). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Social and Familial Trauma The diarist’s current state is framed as the culmination of long-term "familial, social, and institutional trauma." Familial Origins The "Do as I Say" Model: The diarist describes a childhood where parents said, "Do as I say, not as I do," leading the unconscious mind to store up these behaviors until they manifest in adulthood as a lack of emotional regulation. Parental Breakdown: References are made to a "fucked marriage" and a father who did not understand that "men actually have emotional needs." Social Isolation and Community Rejection The diarist expresses deep disillusionment with the "trans community" and broader social circles. The "Trans Mafia": The diarist reports being "mocked and ridiculed" for their disability and political views by the trans community, eventually being "kicked out of the space." Hyper-Vigilance: Living in a car has led to extreme hyper-vigilance. The diarist has tinted their windows to 98-99% opacity to see out while preventing others from seeing in, stating, "I want to be able to defend myself and see you coming." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Observations on Behavioral Regulation and Recovery Despite the stressors of Psychonomia, the transcripts document the diarist's attempts at "exposure therapy" and emotional regulation. Conflict De-escalation: A verbal altercation over car headlights at a gas station is cited as a moment of "rehabilitation." Instead of "trauma dumping," the diarist was able to empathize with the other person’s struggle and de-escalate. Mechanical Empathy: The diarist treats their car as a "semi-living being," using manual techniques to keep a failing engine running (e.g., "feathering the gas" to stop a "nasty sound"). This mirrors their approach to their own "peeling out" mental state—attempting to manage a system with limited resources. Ambidexterity: The diarist is training in "muscle memory" by driving with both feet, a physical manifestation of trying to regain "control of [their] faculty." Conclusion The world of Psychonomia is one where the diarist is trapped between the need for economic participation and the debilitating reality of late-diagnosed DID and Gender Dysphoria. The "psychonomia" is not just an external economic state but an internal psychological condition where every interaction—be it with a gig app, a Social Security worker, or a parent—is colored by a history of trauma and a present of institutional neglect. The diarist remains in a state of "belligerent occupancy," attempting to prove their own sanity and disability simultaneously while surviving on the margins of society. The Power of Self-Compassion in Healing One of the most transformative aspects of living with DID is learning to practice self-compassion. Accepting the parts of ourselves that once felt fragmented or misunderstood can lead to profound healing. At TimeSpace101, we emphasize the importance of nurturing all aspects of your identity with kindness and patience. By reframing how we view our experiences and treating ourselves with empathy, we create a foundation for growth and integration that honors our whole selves.

Mindful Grounding Techniques to Manage Dissociation

Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) often means experiencing moments of dissociation, which can feel unsettling and disorienting. One effective way to manage these episodes is through mindful grounding techniques. These methods help anchor you in the present moment, reducing anxiety and improving your sense of reality. Simple practices like focusing on your breath, naming objects around you, or engaging your senses by touching something textured can make a significant difference in calming your mind. Incorporating these exercises into your daily routine can enhance your ability to stay connected during challenging times. Practical Steps to Implement Grounding To start, find a quiet space and take slow, deep breaths, paying attention to each inhale and exhale. Next, try the "5-4-3-2-1" technique: identify five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This multisensory approach helps redirect your focus from dissociation to the here and now. Consistent practice can empower you to regain control when dissociative feelings arise, fostering a stronger connection to yourself and your environment.

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Emerging Therapies and Research in Dissociative Identity Disorder

Recent advancements in mental health research have brought promising new therapies to the forefront for those living with Dissociative Identity Disorder. Innovations such as trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and somatic experiencing are being tailored to address the complex needs of DID patients. These therapies aim to integrate fragmented identities and reduce dissociative symptoms, offering a more holistic approach to healing. Researchers are also exploring neurobiological aspects of DID to better understand its underlying mechanisms, which could lead to more targeted and effective treatments in the near future. Impact of Research on Treatment Approaches The growing body of evidence supporting these therapies encourages clinicians to adopt more individualized treatment plans that respect the unique experiences of those with DID. This shift not only improves clinical outcomes but also helps reduce stigma by educating the public and healthcare providers about the condition's complexity. Staying informed about these trends allows individuals and their support networks to access the best care options and participate actively in the healing journey.

A Day in the Life at TimeSpace101: Supporting Healing and Growth

At TimeSpace101, every day is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment for individuals living with Dissociative Identity Disorder. Our team understands the nuances of DID and works closely within our team to tailor sessions that foster healing, self-awareness, and empowerment. Behind the scenes, we collaborate with mental health professionals, continually update our knowledge base, and integrate holistic practices to enhance therapeutic outcomes. This commitment ensures that each person’s unique journey is honored and supported with compassion and expertise. Our Approach and Daily Practices Our daily routine includes mindfulness exercises, creative therapies, and available aids that help clients build resilience and community connections. We also work towards creating our own aids for integrating our experiences such that we are on the same page, and to avoid and lesson the more serious effects of (and leading to) episodes. We prioritize open communication with appropriate disclosure, adapting to the evolving needs and demands of our environment. By sharing insights and experiences within our team, we strive to innovate and improve our methods continuously. TimeSpace101 is more than a disorder; we are becoming a more nurturing space where all are encouraged to explore their identities and reclaim their lives and identies with confidence.