How do the personalities communicate with each other?

There are many ways that the personalities can communicate with each other.

At night, I’m having dreams about the events that happen during the day when I lose time. (Switching Time see BOOKS, ARTICLES)

 

They can communicate through

• writing in a journal;

• art work – drawing/painting other personalities, memories, emotions;

• talking inside – just like hearing your thoughts only in several different voices;

• talking to another person;

• visual imagery;

• thought transference where one personality’s thoughts can be heard by other personalities though they may feel the thoughts do not belong to them;

• formal meetings (internal dialogues) where they can talk about the day’s events, etc.;

• we used to have very formal meetings with an agenda and a chairperson. We would talk about the issues that were important and that we needed to make decisions on. We did this when we were alone so that we could take turns coming out and talking out loud.

Good communication is one of the goals of the healing process though it must be done gradually as much of the information from different personalities can be about the trauma and can be too overwhelming to the personalities who had no idea about it.

Dr. Colin Ross, in his book Multiple Personality Disorder (see BOOKS, ARTICLES), talks in-depth about how he facilitates communications slowly and carefully between personalities.

In the evening, Holdon and I will talk to (Karen) and we’ll let some of the memories seep into Karen’s consciousness while she’s going to sleep. That way she knows what has happened during the day. (Switching Time see BOOKS, ARTICLES)

 

 

The meetings were held nightly, with an open invitation to any alter wishing to attend. When adult discussion was needed, child alters were asked to leave. (Switching Time see BOOKS, ARTICLES)