Part 2: Learning About Dissociative Parts, Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) Model

[@jenniferreynolds4233]

Great information. Very helpful.

[@catalystcomet]

That's funny, I'm watching this on St Patrick's Day and the headband is perfect

[@Lizicles1]

Thank you for sharing this information 🙌🏻💜 I’m dealing with lots of dissociated and depersonalization.

[@orianaterravecchia3333]

This is so so so helpful thank u

[@roglacken]

Thank you again. I find your videos very helpful. My "little one", Anne, says that she likes your headband :)

[@colleenjohnston1678]

Haha, thank you! :-)

[@amymassecar5857]

Thanks Colleen:)

[@Itsallfun3000]

Thanks for your videos. During the pandemic i ended up with cfs blended with derealisation due to too much work. Im just starting on ifs work with my psychologist and your videos have been helpful. My exile is very hidden i cant touch the experience "what was i so worried about!?" Is what i always say. But i worked hard and cared for others till i broke and this is a helpful model i hope can help me come back to reality

[@colleenjohnston1678]

Thanks for watching, Chris. Sorry that you are experiencing cfs and derealization. I also use the polyvagal model because it helps us make sense of why our nervous system is in a state of collapse, dissociation or not feeling safe. Look up Deb Dana's vagus nerve ladder model. It is so helpful! I wish you the best and hope soon you will find "glimmers" of the good stuff and that it will help you come back home to a more ventral vagal state, where you feel connected again. 💜

[@colleenjohnston1678]

Chris, I explain this nervous system response on my channel. If you go to LIVE, on the BECOME Forum on Suicide, at around minute 13, I have a segment on the vagus nerve model. Hope it is helpful!

[@Itsallfun3000]

@Colleen Johnston many thanks for this I will check it out. I'm familiar with polyvagal but I cant connect or touch the stuff that was so stressful, nothing is dawning on me. Even my 2 aunts deaths since... they don't matter to me! I've only had a tiny tiny glimpse of one of them bothering me where I cried. My force shield is strong. I will review your videos thank you 🙏

[@deaa2314]

What is the book that you use? I'm a clinician and would love to explore it for my clients.

[@colleenjohnston1678]

"Why Did I Do That?" By Dorie Cameron, LICSW is one I love to even read to clients in session, because of the wonderful illustrations. People seem to enjoy that experience, especially the little child parts! Thank you for your question 🙂

[@newts1964]

hi Lori where do you start on this journey

[@flora7297]

how to treat dissociative disorder trought IFS

[@orianaterravecchia3333]

Do u have amy other social media accounts?

[@colleenjohnston1678]

Thanks for your interest! Colleen Johnston Counseling is my public account on Facebook and on Instagram @thebecomeforum is more info and @crusading_cal is inspirational in terms of being active, adventurous and getting outside. 😊

[@LiveBloodSolutions]

How to listen to part one

[@colleenjohnston1678]

Thanks for your comment, Stefan. In my list of videos, it is the one posted just before this one and is titled, "Understanding Dissociation and Therapies That Help Release Traumatic Memories "

[@colleenjohnston1678]

And you bring up a great point, so I just added "Part 1" to the title. I very appreciate your viewing! Thanks Stefan.

[@loridontcaretotellu6497]

New here. I have always hated feeling vulnerable. I don't know if I have dissociative identity disorder officially even though someone diagnosed me with that once. I lose time here and there. And a therapist told me she feels I have unresolved attachment issues because I told her at times I find myself wanting a pacifier when me gets scared or a bottle. Then when I would come out of an episode and realize I wanted that, I'd feel angry at myself, and hear one of the inner voices tell me I needed to be punished for wanting that and for telling. But I think IF I had such a diagnosis I'd have known long before my age , don't you?

[@colleenjohnston1678]

Hi Lori, Thanks for tuning in to my channel! My experience is people are frequently unaware of having DID or "parts", per se, because it's such an internal thing. It often takes someone observing from the outside, in an educated way, to illuminate what may be going on within. The way you describe your experience here, I would conceptualize that as an "exile" was active, then a "manager" scolded, to keep the system "safe". DID is way more common than people realize, probably due to lack of awareness, even in the therapy world.

[@loridontcaretotellu6497]

Thank you for letting me know your thoughts on this, Colleen. After I'd first heard about this disorder I remember being interested in it (I'm a social work major). In fact, for quite awhile it seemed especially in my work life (before I became disabled) there were times I felt fully "normal" in terms of being very responsible and competent and for a time had 2 or 3 jobs but then there were times when I couldn't find that "person" . I couldn't work, didn't know what to do, and the therapist I had seemed puzzled when things would change. Ultimately I was diagnosed with PTSD, major depression, anxiety etc. There was a few times when I was told by people after the fact that I identified by another name. Also, one of my bosses used to say occasionally, "it's like you're there but you're not there. Where do you go anyway?" I would ask what she meant and she said that I would suddenly "space out" and go somewhere else. I just would have a hard time hearing I had DID officially because I just don't want to have to deal with anything else.

[@colleenjohnston1678]

@@loridontcaretotellu6497 in my experience, it can be a relief of sorts to understand more of what is going on, as opposed to "one more thing to deal with." For example, some people see it as their "super power"...an amazing way their brains have designed to keep the child safe. If you haven't already watched my video on Dispelling myths about DID, that might also help. And please remember...you're not alone with this! 💚

[@loridontcaretotellu6497]

Colleen, are you in private practice and do you do telehealth by any chance?

[@colleenjohnston1678]

@@loridontcaretotellu6497 yes to both of those questions. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State.

[@kimlec3592]

Dissociation delusion voices they're all there because people were not allowed to be honest with the parents/ guardians. IFS does not label or pathologise people for being human, which is helpful.

[@colleenjohnston1678]

Yes, and even without the model of IFS, it can be therapeutic to allow the parts to share with SAFE people (therapist, group, friends).

[@kimlec3592]

@@colleenjohnston1678 Yes, Colleen - but often the only safe people are therapists such as yourself & others. The psychiatric fraternity need to do this sort of work too. Not label & drug people to the eyeballs & call them ill. i feel strongly about this because abuse so cleverly disguised stole my life & that of my brother. My mother was traumatised - ww2. i had to be her mother since a child. No blame required, just explanations to understand & mitigate consequences. Thank you for your work.

[@EmSaidThat]

💛💫💞‼️

[@Watcherwash85]

. My heads so busy.. just need peace of mind 😢