One might think I have this whole DID thing down pat by now but I get surprises quite often. I’m use to most things with this disorder and I often claim that I lose very little time and that I am co-conscious more than not. The other day I began doubting myself when Blossom insisted that one of my 5 year old’s told her how to correctly spell her name because I spell it wrong. I doubted it because hey, she’s “my” 5 year old I think I know how to spell her name. I never got any objection from the little one but I didn’t get confirmation either so I just figured I was right until NOW. The way Blossom said she spelled it seemed to be a misspelling. I was kind of embarrassed because I know I don’t spell well so I figure a 5 year old me doesn’t spell any better. Maybe some of the doubt was to save face. I often feel so bad about not being able to spell very well. I have no idea why my spelling is crap but it is. Anyway, a bit ago I realized that the spelling of this little one’s name isn’t how I’ve been spelling it at all. The way Blossom said it is spelled is correct. It blows me away when others know more about me than I know about my selves.
I’m a bit on edge about the pictures too, the one of me and my sister. Of all the pics I have of me I do not remember any of them. I recognize the house and the things in the pictures but I can’t tell you how old I was or what what year it was. Blossom kept asking typical questions, ordinary things like, “how old were you here?” My answer was the same humiliating thing, “I don’t know.” “I don’t know.” How do you explain to someone that you’ve only lived a portion of your life as yourself and if and when you come up with the info about dates and times they’ll be among the first to know…. I get so tired of saying, “I have no idea how old I was.” And it hurts that I do not recognize any of the events in my family pictures. I do not know the girl in them other than that she is supposed to be me. She asked me about my high school graduation but I dont remember it. She asked about my wedding but I dont remember it. She asked about graduating from Culinary school but I dont remember it. I have paper saying it was this date or it was that date but that is the only real evidence I have saying I was there and breathing. How does that even make sense to someone who can only say, “time gets away from me” and not “I’ve lost years.” It just makes me sad and it makes me want to hide under a rock OR come up with some huge lie to answer questions so that I don’t look so stupid when someone says, how old were you or what year was it when you….. it seems like it would be so much easier to come up with a fabricated story to match ordinary questions. The first story will have to go along with the question, “What is your name.” I stop and think every single time someone asks that question. I stop and think every single time I fill out a form that asks that question. My mind almost buckles under simple stuff like my birth date, my home address…I have to look at my ID to remember it. I don’t know why.
It helps to look at those pics from time to time because it reminds me of how small I was. Being that small I can’t actually think that I could have done something to stop the family from hurting me and my older sister and eventually my younger brother. Seeing myself so small in pictures is almost odd because in my head I know I may have been small but to me I’ve always been an adult. So I look at the past with adult eyes and adult reasonings. Seeing pics of me so small helps to dispell the idea that I could have done something, anything to make life better for me back then.
Dinner is on. I’m going to bed early because I have therapy tomorrow. I hope I remember what I was supposed to tell him.
Me
not being there, not having the memories drives keepers up a tree. they know someone inside has the dates and the memories, but when it is not the one who is out, they will get frustrated and hurt also I think.
feel for ya, you know the old been there felt that routine
peace and blessings
keepers and john
I so very much understand what you are saying about not remembering or knowing anything about the pictures or events that “you” supposedly were at and it happened to “you.” It is so hard for me too!
I also just know the facts, but often it doesn’t resonate with me or connect with me on any level. I’m good at pretending and appearing as if I remember something if I’m in situation where I must pretend. At least I think I’m good at it, but maybe not. With my good friends, I don’t pretend. They know and understand– I either recall some part of something or I don’t.
I generally remember my name, address, phone number, birth date, ssn, etc. We are very good at remembering numbers… almost scary sometimes. Sometimes though I draw a blank and have to search hard inside for the answer. There are many times where someone has asked me my name or I’ve been introduced and I feel so foreign to myself and my name. The biggest thing that will happen for me often is that I won’t remember my age. I’ve had numerous times where I’ve been asked and the first answer I hear in my brain is a completely different age than the body’s age. Of course we know what we’re supposed to say. But sometimes some of us don’t know and we have to think hard about what the body’s age is. It feels real stupid to have to think hard about how old the body is and how it is supposed to be about how old “you” are even though it isn’t how old you *really* are- it’s just what people are supposed to hear.
We got to go, but that’s some of what we wanted to say. Maybe it is all of it.
Julie and others
you were so brave writing this, do you show these blogs to your T, and i know if Amelia was here she would have more to say but she isnt so all i can say is i get it
Felecia