Once I was forced by our great government to switch to digital TV I discovered yet another DID anomaly. When I dissociate I lose the signal on my converter box. If I get too excited by what I’m watching , I get that stupid “searching for signal” code. I have to remind myself not to walk anywhere near the box when watching TV or…..wait for it,…wait for it… I lose the signal.
I know I can’t wear a wrist watch cause I short out the battery too fast. I spend an ungodly amount of money on light bulbs because I blow them so easily. Who knew DTV would be an issue too.
While watching a DVD or even yes a VHS I don’t have these problems. I never had this problem with analog television but I do now. When it comes to my MP3 player I have to replace it often because I short it out. I’ve gone through 3 of them in the last 2 years. For me the MP3 player isn’t just for fun it helps with hypervigilance and other PTSD issues which is why I keep buying them. I don’t buy the expensive kind. No sense in totally wasting money, ya know? Digital clocks in the room are a joke for me because of the battery and now DTV …. I guess I wonder if this is happening to any other multiples out there with a converter box which was forced upon them by a government take over of TV which was just fine the way it frikin was…..
Now to end this thing…..I should file this under abuse. I feel abused by the signal. It comes and goes and causes unnecessary abandonment issues. I think it’s toying with my emotions. I also have the category “stupid people”, I could put this there. I should add the category “conspiracy theory” to file all the posts about people who are dead set on making my life hell such as…. wait for it….wait for it… the new DTV law by said government officials who certainly sat down and said, “Hmmm…. how can we mess up Austin’s down time of junk TV?” I probably missed half of the Big Brother premier as I sat waiting for the signal to find itself.
Tomorrow is the finale of Harper’s Island. I know I’ll be disappointed… Oh wait, ya know what I was thinking about? I’ve seen all the HI episodes and still the token black guy is alive at the very last episode. Why? Why haven’t they killed him? Usually the black guy gets it first. You see the black person and know for certain he’s gonna die quick, like in the first half hour of the show, but not on HI. I wonder if they’re going to shock us all and make him the killer. That’s the only reason it makes sense that he’s still alive. Oh well, since nothing else much makes sense on the show I suppose it’s okay that they keep our cultural representative alive even though Hollywood format says he should have been dead 11 episodes ago.
Note to self: While watching tomorrow don’t move, don’t think, don’t feel and by all means DO NOT go near the TV.
J of A
I’m sorry but I couldn’t help but laugh at this. I understand your frustration. As far as I know I’m only one me– no issues with multiples– although this me is pretty shredded. Before the wonderful conversion to digital tv I had 7 channels. Now if I’m lucky I get 3 and I just learned yesterday that if I walk certain places in the room my reception breaks up. I love it almost as much as I love Blogger.
It was written in humor and frustration but mostly humor.
“I love it almost as much as I love Blogger.”
LOL Yes, Blogger has so many bugs it’s not even funny which is why I left and went to WordPress. Then I ended up getting my own dot.com.
The inter web
is both a source of frustration and fun but Blogger forgot the fun and added an extra dose of frustration instead.
Austin
I never know certain things are DID related until I stumble across someone else talking about it in that regard.
I have the same problem since the conversion to digital TV. I wouldn’t have thought it had anything to do with being a multiple. I’ve not worn a watch in years, so I don’t know if that too would be affected by my DID.
Yah, the government shouldn’t have forced this stupid TV changeover on us, I hate it myself. I don’t see that it’s any better than the TV I already had.
I’ve entered rooms and had the radio come on. Static near radios. Microwaves coming on when I get near them. Street lights going off as I pass under them. Terrible computer problems when I’m upset.
Fortunately I can still wear a watch.
Hi,
I have huge issues with stereos and dvds. Had to replace many of them. Real frustrating.
I have heard these issues from other multiples and then heard that it is not true, but I know it is true.
Kate
I first read your comment to say “I have huge issues with STEROIDS and dvd’s.” I thought, my goodness Kate you’re on steroids? Oh Lord, good thing I went back and read that again. Totally different meaning isn’t it?
Austin
No way, it definitely happens to both multiples and singletons.
The body is full of energy and some electrical current naturally. When you’re a multiple you have even more.
I’ve heard extremes where multiples have said they got angry and the light bulbs burst. Okay, whatever. I saw that on the movie Powder. Try again. However, when we are already full of energy then touch something that is already electrically charged we may… may… provide too much of a charge and blow the bulb. Not burst it into a million tiny pieces but offer enough of a charge to overload it’s capacity and blow the bulb.
Unless an object is grounded and will divert excess charges that object will short out and stop working during a surge. The cheaper the product (watches, bulbs, MP3′s, etc) the less likely they are to handle energy surges. This to me is common sense.
A singleton can touch an object and see a tiny spark from their hand due to static electricity. This is not uncommon nor is it phenomenal. The body isn’t a great conductor but it can, will and does host it. In other words, non-multiples can have this problem too but multiples because of the increased activity and such have it even more.
It’s about increased electricity. For all we know this could happen to those with heightened senses such as those with PTSD and hypervigilance. Heck I’d like to see a study of how quickly those with PTSD short out stuff compared to those without it. That would be interesting to see.
I think my comment just turned into a blog entry
Austin
As the speakers of my Bose iPod dock crackle with sound, despite the fact that the thing isn’t even on, I’m more than a little taken back by your post. I never considered that it was possibly ME causing the problem, and I’m not a multiple.
The sound from the speakers never happens when I’m in the room and not sitting at my desk, but rather frequently when I am at my desk. The light bulbs in the ceiling fan above my head burn out faster than any other bulbs in the house, even though other bulbs are on far more often and for longer periods of time. However, I’m never in as close in proximity to any of those as I am to the ceiling fan.
Thinking about the weird electrical things that happen around me…wow, this is creeping me out.
@ Sid,
It happens to non-multiple’s too. I can’t get too into the show while watching TV because it’ll spaz out. It annoys the heck out of me. The other day I was watching a movie and at the twist ending I jumped from the sofa and said, “Oh hell no.” As I did I totally lost the picture. I was pissed!!!! I had to do a reverse and watch that part of the DVD over and attempt to control myself. Argh!!! Annoying, so annoying. It happens all the time with DTV but only once or twice with a DVD.
Austin
OK, keeping with the humorous theme, and decidedly not being serious about this:
1) Have you ever stopped to think that it may be the quality of the TV you are watching that is causing the problem? I pretty much only watch Red Sox and So You Think You Can Dance. Maybe stick to fewer stations?
1A) Along these lines, if you are worried about government officials, then stick to PBS and MSNBC. If you watch FOX, you will definitely be screwed.
2) I did get a super-duper universal remote. It plugged into my computer and I could pretty much control the world with it. But, yes, it sucked AAA batteries big time. I finally realized it was the problem and not me. Though the thought did cross my mind.
3) MP3 players: This is serious business. We have to help the Apple monopoly. Lord knows they suffered too long under the thumb of Microsoft. They need a break, don’t you think?
4) Blogger note: I don’t see how a company as large as Google, with so many great software products can have such a lousy blogging platform.
My thoughts…
paul
So what did you think of HI? I was chatting about it with friends before it aired and we were trying to name all the people still alive. We couldn’t think of Danny’s name so we just called him the “token black guy.”
This is really common in people with Fibro too.
@ Anne,
I bet its because of the extra nerve activity. I never thought about it happening with Fibro but it makes sense. There’s a heck of a lot of energy/electricity with the disorders previously mentioned. It makes sense that Fibro would fit right in there.
Austin
Dang! Now I’m reading about it in “When Rabbit Howls”. Have you read this? Anyone? I thought they said they’d get a little more into it at some point, maybe not though, would love to hear more. Someone really should do some experiments that would be fun, I’d help lol!
In the past I’ve definitely been aware of it with the fibro but there would be times (like lately) when I don’t have many fibro symptoms or flare and there will be odd “happenings” anyway. I guess I’ll have to pay attention more.
I’ve read the book. I don’t have a copy of it anymore but yeah, Trudy Chase had that happen to her a lot. I think also Shirley Mason (Sybil) had this issue.
I’ve heard mixed reviews about the book from other multiples. They say it doesn’t show the “average” experience of a multiple. It doesn’t show us as functioning within society and in a family setting like we are fully capable of doing but instead seems to add to the idea that we’re strange and freak show features.
I understand that is how some see the book but when I read it I was struck by how close it was to my experiences with abuse and with life as a multiple. The book shows so much detail about her inner world and depicts with great accuracy my concerns and nuances.
I’ll tell you this much though, sure wish someone had suggested I not try to digest that book in a few sittings and that I let my therapist help me through it. When Rabbit Howls is far from light reading. I think it’s worth it (when managed) but man was it hard.
You only asked about the book. You didn’t ask for a review of When Rabbit Howls but hey, I’m no short winded girl.
Did you notice the book is written not by Trudy herself but by her alters called The Troop Formation?
Austin