The Split Self in BPD and PTSD


Have you been told that you have different “parts” of you that sometimes show up?

I was shocked when I became conscious of a “split” that I had — a young eight year old version of me who would show up in times of great distress.  I didn’t believe it when other people told me, but I talk about the incident in the emergency room that finally woke me up and helped me to discover and integrate all parts of me cohesively.

A split is different than an alter, which is a complete and separate identity, that one with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly Multiple Personality Disorder) may experience, and I get into all of that in this video.

Links mentioned:

Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse
The book we are working from in class. It is the source of the worksheet I was referring to in this video.

My posts on regression:

Sometimes I Act Like a Little Girl
Fear of Getting Older & Borderline Personality Disorder
Who’s Your Daddy? Behaving Like a Child in an Adult Relationship
Fear of Abandonment: When You Go Away, I regress to a Child
Childlike Aspects of Borderline Personality Disorder  

Post on a different kind of splitting in BPD:

Splitting in Borderline Personality Disorder: The Pedestal Push 

Learn the DBT Skills that helped me to face past trauma and my weekly online classes:

DBT Path
 

Thank you for reading and watching. More Soon

14 replies
  1. butterfly57
    butterfly57 says:

    Wow, Debbie. I cannot ever thank you enough for all you do. You make everything so clear and I had several "ah-hah moments" and it was quite validating of various episodes where I've regressed into an angry, suffering, unloved child. Since learning DBT, I can feel healing and integration as time progresses and my skills become more naturally implemented. I thank you for sharing your experience and providing this tremendously informative video post. God bless!! Laura Hartzell-Jones

    Reply
  2. butterfly57
    butterfly57 says:

    Wow, Debbie. I cannot ever thank you enough for all you do. You make everything so clear and I had several "ah-hah moments" and it was quite validating of various episodes where I've regressed into an angry, suffering, unloved child. Since learning DBT, I can feel healing and integration as time progresses and my skills become more naturally implemented. I thank you for sharing your experience and providing this tremendously informative video post. God bless!! Laura Hartzell-Jones

    Reply
  3. lori Jean
    lori Jean says:

    Awesome job! I have also been told "We like the GOOD Lori better" I didn't understand at first but, through DBT and therapy and working alongside others with my BPD Diagnosis, have realized it and I think it's because, partly, that I am AWARE of it and catch myself alot more now when I get to feeling a certain way or others point it out and I put myself in check. Thanks so much Deb! You are awesome! 🙂

    Reply
  4. lori Jean
    lori Jean says:

    Awesome job! I have also been told "We like the GOOD Lori better" I didn't understand at first but, through DBT and therapy and working alongside others with my BPD Diagnosis, have realized it and I think it's because, partly, that I am AWARE of it and catch myself alot more now when I get to feeling a certain way or others point it out and I put myself in check. Thanks so much Deb! You are awesome! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Healing From BPD
    Healing From BPD says:

    Thank you for your beautiful comment Laura. I also replied to you on Facebook. So grateful that you take the time to leave this feedback, and very happy that you found this helpful. Huge hugs! ♥ Debbie

    Reply
  6. Healing From BPD
    Healing From BPD says:

    Thank you for your beautiful comment Laura. I also replied to you on Facebook. So grateful that you take the time to leave this feedback, and very happy that you found this helpful. Huge hugs! ♥ Debbie

    Reply

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