e. THE PROCESS OF SWITCHING

First of all, what does switching mean.

• It is the process of the person changing control from one personality to another; and
• It is a core behavioural phenomenon in multiple personality.

 

How and why does it happen?

• It may take 1-2 seconds or much longer for the switching to take place;

• you, as observer, may or may not, see the switch;

• it is voluntary or involuntary, controlled or uncontrolled;

• It can be stimulated by an outside event (trigger) or internal events going on among personalities.

 

She experienced a floating sensation as the room shifted. She shifted with it, horrified at her lack of control. From a distance, an overly wide and innocent smile slid onto her face. (When Rabbit Howls see BOOKS, ARTICLES)

 

The person may switch from one personality to another in order to adapt to whatever situation they’re in, i.e., to behave appropriately, to defend against, to try to control the situation, to survive the situation.

Or it may be to respond to something going on internally – to keep safe externally while some crisis is going on internally among the personalities.

 

Who controls it?
There may be one or two specific personalities who control it. They know when and where it’s appropriate for certain personalities to be out.

Before the healing process begins there may not be very good control of the switching. It may be that whoever wants to be out comes out and this can cause all kinds of problems such as young personalities being out in adult situations.

When the healing process begins and as it progresses, the person may have more control over the switching.

 

How can you tell the person is switching?
You may not be able to tell at all. Since many multiples try to hide the condition, the personalities may work together to pass as each other. This would include hiding the switching from one to another.

However, it’s possible you may see it happening.

• a lot of times the beginning of the switch is signalled by a blink or the person’s eyes roll upward or her eyelids flutter rapidly;

• there may be facial twitching or grimacing;

• you may see bodily twitches, shudders, or abrupt changes in posture;

• he may go into an unresponsive trance-like state with blank unseeing eyes;

• some may try to disguise the switching by hiding their face or turning away;

• sometimes when a personality comes out she may “ground” herself in order to orient herself to where she is; signs of this may include

      - touching her face,
      - pressing on her temples,
      - touching the chair she’s sitting on,
      - looking around the room quickly,
      - shifting her posture restlessly.

 

… all at once, noiselessly and with a transition so slight as to be almost imperceptible, the assurance of Victoria Antoinette Scharleau slipped. … Vicky, who was not a member of the Dorsett family, had returned the body to Sybil, who was. (Sybil see BOOKS, ARTICLES)

 

One of the most noticeable changes is a sudden shift in the person’s mood. They may suddenly be angry or upset and it seems out of context. HOWEVER, keep in mind it may not be an actual switch but rather influence from another personality inside.

Here’s a longer list of some of the changes you might see while someone is switching…

 

Facial expressions
–   sometimes very clear and dramatic;
-   most apparent around eyes and mouth;
-   facial changes alone may not be enough to know there
    was a switch;
-   eyes - pupils may dilate, eyes may become watery or
    glassy, or may look glazed.

 

Posture and behaviour
-   may see changes in posture, body language and motor
    activity;
-   many multiples have personalities who have distinctive
    body postures, especially so with child personalities;
    sometimes small children curl up in fetal position, crawl
    on the floor or huddle in corners;
-   may see tremors or unusual mannerisms.

 

Voice and speech
-   most noticeable in pitch, volume, rate of speech,
    articulation, accent, and use of language;
-   male personalities in a female multiple may drop to
    lower pitch;
-   child personalities may have higher voices and/or speak
    “baby talk” or child-like grammar.

 

The way they dress
-   personalities may differ in style of dress;
-   some may like to wear make-up;
-   male personalities may not want to come out if the
    female multiple is wearing a dress.

 

 

So, how do I respond to a switch in personalities?

If you and the person have already discussed the condition that’s a good first step.

It would be good if you both have discussed beforehand how to respond to different personalities then you can know what’s okay for the person.

 

You have several choices:

• You can keep on with the same conversation, if possible and still appropriate;

• If you have never met this personality before, you might ask who you are speaking to though they may not want to tell you or even admit that they had switched;

• Treat the situation as you would if someone just walked into the room. If you have met them before you would talk about things that you had talked about before. If you had never met them you might introduce yourself and go from there;

• What if it’s a child? Then you would speak to them just as you would a real child of that age;

• In the end, it may be okay to say you’re not comfortable with the person switching. Some people find it very unsettling. You should let the person know and discuss what to do together.

Bottom line: be honest about how you feel. Multiple personality is a very unique condition and not everyone is ready to deal with it.

 

How does the person feel when switching?
Here’s a list of things people might feel when they’re switching from a website called DividedHearts Reading Room Written by Cynthia A Byrtus, Bethesda PsycHealth Institute, June 16, 1990

-   headache;

-   pressure inside the head;

-   stiff neck (more intense when 

    remembering trauma);

-   pressure at the base of the head
    and/or behind the eyes;
-   blurry vision;
-   eyes feel watery or sensitive to light;
-   feel lightheaded or dizzy, feel like
    they’re going to faint;
-   feel chills;
-   ears ring;
-   feel shorter or taller than usual;
-   feel emotionally more child-like;
-   change in mood, and/or feelings;
-   thought pattern change – thoughts
    change about the same subject and
    their response changes with it;
-   objects and people look different;
-   colours or lights may suddenly look
    brighter or dimmer;
-   feel detached from their body;
-   their face looks different in the mirror;
-   their laughter changes;
-   can’t concentrate or think clearly;
-   urgency to “do something”;
-   thoughts become louder;
-   orchestra of thoughts or
    “conversations” all with opposing views.

 

   

Suddenly her posture began to change. Her body slowly stiffened until she sat rigidly erect. An alien, inexplicable expression then came over her face. This was suddenly erased into utter blankness. The lines of her countenance seemed to shift in a barely visible, slow, rippling transformation. For a moment there was the impression of something arcane. Closing her eyes, she winced as she put her hands to her temples, pressed hard, and twisted them as if to combat sudden pain. A slight shudder passed over her entire body.

Then the hands lightly dropped. She relaxed easily into an attitude of comfort the physician had never before seen in this patient. A pair of blue eyes popped open. There was a quick reckless smile. In a bright, unfamiliar voice that sparkled, the woman said, ‘Hi, there, Doc!’ (The 3 Faces of Eve see BOOKS, ARTICLES)