What Is Switching Technique? In Your Last Post You Said Switches Cannot Be Controlled But That Some Therapists

What is switching technique? In your last post you said switches cannot be controlled but that some therapists might asked the client to switch to see how well their alters work together. I just wanted to understand this a bit more and know how have more controlled switching.

Hello, this is an excellent question!

The technique stems from the therapeutic idea that dissociation is a defensive mechanism. Mastering a defensive mechanism requires skill and practice to be effective, so dissociation between switches should be seen as a skill that needs understanding and control.

Another aim was to counter the misconception, held even by therapists, that switching between parts implies a problem or a regression in recovery, which is simply false.

This therapy aims not to shut down switching between parts, but to open it up in a way that will be productive and useful to the lives of the system. The system can swap between parts, enabling a chosen process of switching to meet daily demands and reduce distress without a trauma trigger.

I will use an example to explain when this technique might be useful.

If someone knows that doing a task, like taking a shower, will cause distress, they may feel anxious and dread the task beforehand. The first step would be for that part to acknowledge that the position they are currently in is not good for them but is also nontraumatic because the shower has yet to start.

A good understanding of the system is crucial, as the current fronter must know which part is most suitable for a task and have enough ability to handle it. You would not want to accidentally bring a part that is triggered by water, especially the thought of water, as then it turns this moment of anxiousness into a traumatic moment.

The key to making this technique work is having strong communication skills, allowing you to connect with the right part and for them to listen and respond actively. There also needs to be a willingness to collaborate, there needs to be productive communication, as well as a boundary that it is okay to call on that part when needed. It may also be good to have an established time or task that, once completed, the original fronter will return.

However, it is recommended that trying to switch intentionally should be practiced in a calm and safe area. It should be practiced when it is not needed, which is why therapy is often suggested as ideally, it is a trusted space, if you try to practice this technique during the example I gave and it does not work it can cause more distress and will not help you learn quicker.

As a general thought, we say that systems do not have control over their switches because even if they have practiced the switching technique, in the process of learning you must accept that it might not work even if a lot of effort was put into it and that's okay and to not worry much about it.

Learning to master a skill also allows more control to be given back to the system as switching can feel quite chaotic for people with DID. It can make switching less scary for an individual if there is more control over it but also it means there is more control to block switches if they are not useful.

Since you mentioned wanting more controlled switching, Increase communication and knowledge of the other parts of your system.

From our personal experience we find talking out loud to each other is an easier way for the other part to hear us and then respond internally, it creates this loop and a more natural back-and-forth conversation. However, external communication such as a diary is also good and can mean boundaries are clearly established.

Suppose it is about the first building of relationships or establishing a more long-term communication for the first time. The technique we found the most successful was to ask in the case they did not have to do the role they have and if all the threats went away and they no longer needed to do what they have to right now, what would they like to do? Showing interest helps build trust and allows for a deeper connection through a task, even if the task is something like sitting out in the garden more.

Our sources helped us accurately answer this question along with our own knowledge:

What Is Switching Technique? In Your Last Post You Said Switches Cannot Be Controlled But That Some Therapists

When 'swapping' between parts in DID / OSDD can be helpful

Switching Between Parts - why this can be helpful in DID and OSDD

Link to Post talked about in the ask.

DID and The Grand Unified Theory

Personal Post. Mentions of Fusion and Splitting.

Written by Oliver.

As the host of a system of quantum, particle, and nuclear physicists, I have found comfort in relating our disorder's elements to physics concepts. These concepts help them feel less scary and more manageable to accept. Today, I will discuss the Grand Unified Theory and how it has helped me interpret, understand, and come to terms with the ideas of Splitting and Fusion in our system. However, this is not an educational post on splitting and fusion in (Dissociative Identity Disorder) DID systems. Those will be separate posts. This post is my symbolic interpretation of these concepts in a simplified way to aid in acceptance. I want to share what we have done, as it may help other systems do the same with topics they are interested in and help them come to terms with their disorder.

So, what is the Grand Unified Theory?

Simply put, it attempts to combine three of the four fundamental forces in the universe into one singular force at the start of the universe.

These forces are the Electromagnetic force, which acts between charged particles (such as two protons with a positive charge), the strong nuclear force, which holds the nucleus of an atom together, and the weak nuclear force, which is responsible for types of radioactive decay. The fourth fundamental force is Gravity, which acts between any two objects with mass regardless of distance. The ultimate goal of the theory is to combine all the forces into one singular force at the start of the universe, and then model when each force splits off into its separate fundamental force. This would combine classical physics (gravity) with quantum physics.

How do I use this theory to bring comfort to myself?

The idea of unity:

Even though these forces are now very distinct and have grown more distinct as time went on, they all have an underlying unified and linked identity. In the same way, dissociative identities in DID are distinct but not completely separate personalities; they are fractions of one whole. So, even when things are tough or unmanageable, or when people do not get along (similar to how gravity does not fit into the theory right now), there is something that will hold us together ultimately, and there is a chance of unification.

Splitting over time:

In the theory, if gravity can be combined into it, it is believed that gravity split from the electronuclear force at the end of the Plank era. This is so early in the universe that not even subatomic particles existed yet. The Electronuclear force split into the electroweak force and strong nuclear force, and then split again into the electromagnetic force and the weak nuclear force. This initial split at the beginning of the universe could represent the initial split the brain must undergo during early childhood to develop DID. However, the theory also represents how those splits may change or not change. An alter may not split again after their initial split; they would be, like gravity, and remain the same but develop more distinctly over time. Or, they may split again, just like the electronuclear force did. These splits can occur later in life if trauma is experienced again.

Fusion:

This theory brings both the comfort that fusion can work and that it is also okay if it does not. The theory is not perfect and cannot combine all four forces; similarly, a system, may not be able to fully fuse, perhaps only fuse into two or three final forms, because of trauma, or may not have the skills to do so yet, and that is okay. Some may also strive to reach the stage where they can form a final fusion, but this does not have to happen right away and can take a long period in therapy.

Energy conversions and fusion:

Fusion can be a scary concept because it will change the alter and the way the system will function later on. As dissociative identities fuse, it begins to restore the unity of the psyche, it coalesces experiences, memories, and feelings. This mirrors the principle of energy in physics, where it states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but transferred from one state to another. This means that even though that alter appears to be gone they will forever exist even though it is in a new form. Their experiences, memories, and work they have contributed to survival will always remain within the individual unity.

Written by Oliver.

Personal Post. Mentions of Fusion and Splitting.

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casi-system-interface

1 year ago

Reminds me of Season 5 TMA

never let anyone tell you that trawling through mediocre victorian poetry isn't worth it. we just happened upon an absolute BANGER of a worm poem. go read it or else 🪱🪱🪱

What Is Switching Technique? In Your Last Post You Said Switches Cannot Be Controlled But That Some Therapists

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DID and The Grand Unified Theory