#autisticselves

[autisticselves]

[autisticselves]

I developed alters from a very young age and switched between them without any awareness. When I was 28 they started talking to me. For a long time I found this scary. I still do when I think about it - but I also understand they are here to help me cope and to look after me so really there’s no need to be afraid. #actuallydid #dissociativeidentitydisorder #dissociation #alters #fear #switching #autisticDID #autisticselves #friends #insidefamily #pluralgang #selfacceptance #selfappreciation https://www.instagram.com/p/COBh6wss14Y/?igshid=9dh5c7kk8elv

[autisticselves]

I am responsible for caring for 2 children. Although everyone in my system is supportive, not everyone has a parenting role. #actuallyautistic #actuallydid #actuallydissociative #actuallydissociativeidentitydisorder #parenting #parentingonthespectrum #mentalhealthandparenting #mentalhealthandparenthood #autisticselves #autisticDID https://www.instagram.com/p/COdvwNQMk6v/?igshid=13j3prpxcm9ke

[autisticselves]

We describe ourselves as having autistic DID because we feel our DID is different to typical DID because of our underlying autism. It may have developed due to childhood trauma but it is also possible we developed it to cope with growing up as an undiagnosed and therefore misunderstood and unsupported autistic. We found life overwhelming because of our autism and unconsciously created alters to cope with this. #autisticselves #actuallyautistic #actuallydid #actuallydissociativeidentitydisorder #autisticDID #growingupundiagnosedautistic #autism #dissociativeidentitydisorder #multiplepersonalitydisorder #pluralliving #autismacceptance https://www.instagram.com/p/COlgp2EsJmx/?igshid=1qc22eml20986

[autisticselves]

Running grounds all of us and makes us feel more regulated and less stressed.

[autisticselves]

Sometimes we become so overwhelmed we dissociate. We feel that we have left our body and cannot do anything until the feeling passes off. This can take several hours or several days. It is different to how we feel when get autistic overload because the cause isn’t sensory but due to feeling we are, or have been, placed into a situation in which we cannot cope. We literally leave the situation by leaving our body. As with autistic overload, we need to rest and take time to recover. #actuallyautistic #actuallydissociative #autisticselves #autisticDID #dissociativeidentitydisorder #dissociation #overwhelmed #recovery #rest #toomuch #multiplepersonalities #autisticadults #mentalillness https://www.instagram.com/p/CO3WEmOsDKA/?igshid=nv0g8xhttl4x

[autisticselves]

Sometimes all of us feel sad and there is no one that can take over. On those days, we just have to sleep until we feel better. #actuallyautistic #actuallydid #actuallydissociative #autisticselves #autisticDID #dissociativeidentitydisorder #mentalhealthawareness #sadness #oktofeelsad #selfacceptance https://www.instagram.com/p/CPGHFFdss11/?utm_medium=tumblr

[autisticselves]

Each of us have different roles and skills and we try to match the right alter to each situation. But what happens when life is too overwhelming for any of us? What happens when none of us have the skills that are needed? #actuallydid #actuallydissociative #actuallydissociativeidentitydisorder #overwhelmed #exhaustion #dissociativeidentitydisorder #dissociation #autisticselves #autisticdid https://www.instagram.com/p/COSoXVPsbPH/?igshid=ilgrm8ua78uq

[autisticselves]

Not everyone in our system is human. We have a cat and we also have a tree. Our tree is strong and sturdy and keeps us safe. It doesn’t have thoughts and feelings so it can just be solid and stable. It’s also older than all of us so we feel it is wise and trustworthy. #actuallydid #actuallydissociative #autismacceptance #trees #tree #nature #autisticselves. #autisticDID #acceptance #acceptyourself #selfacceptance #actuallyautistic https://www.instagram.com/p/CN-AOYqsSkD/?igshid=1gbsp3bh1neim

[autisticselves]

Before I was diagnosed with Autism, I was diagnosed with depression. Was this a misdiagnosis or do I have both depression and autism? #actuallyautistic #actuallydepressed #overmedicated #autisticselves #autisticDID #depressionawareness #depressionsupport #depressionhelp #medication #antidepressants #antidepressant #venlafaxine #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth https://www.instagram.com/p/CN0nPtJMPX_/?igshid=12c6y4mn3opbh

[autisticselves]

Like many autistic females, I didn’t receive my Autism diagnosis until adulthood. I spent years not knowing I was Autistic and neither did the mental health team treating me. It’s important to fully understand a person when trying to help them - obtaining an accurate diagnosis as early as possible is so important. #actuallyautistic #actuallydid #actuallydissociative #actuallydissociativeidentitydisorder #autisticselves #autisticDID #diagnosis #earlydiagnosis #femaleautism #misdiagnosed #misdiagnosis #mentalhealth #accuratediagnosis https://www.instagram.com/p/CNx7QOLMfIm/?igshid=plf248uj5j2b

[autisticselves]

We are a group of autistic people who live together like a family. Our family home is the body we all share. All of us matter; we can’t get rid of anyone to make more space or give people more time to be out. All of us are important members of our collective family. #actuallydissociative #actuallyautistic #actuallydissociativeidentitydisorder #autismacceptance #autismawareness #autisticwomen #autisticselves #autisticDID #autistic #livingwithmentalillness #camouflagingautism #autismspectrumdisorders #arttherapy #autismlove #family https://www.instagram.com/p/CNZpPJ5Mc4z/?igshid=1afebty8wk8wp

[autisticselves]

Looking after a newborn baby requires many skills. I had to work really hard to learn them - meeting the needs of a tiny, dependent human being is all-consuming and, being autistic, I needed the space to concentrate solely on looking after my new baby. Now my children are older, parenting is not as intense and it is possible to meet their needs as well as the needs of myself and my alters. When they were tiny babies I think having alters actively fronting would have made parenting complicated. That said, I think it is perfectly possible for people with autism and/or DID to parent children whatever the child’s age. The important thing is the ability to put the child first and to meet their needs. For us, it worked to integrate all our alters until our parenting skills and relationship with our children was fully established. Now that my children are older, having alters actually enhances and strengthens our family. #actuallyautistic #actuallydid #actuallydissociative #actuallydissociativeidentitydisorder #autisticselves #autisticdid #parenting #newparents #newbornbaby #family #children #parentingskills #parentingsupport #mum #mumsofinstagram #mummyblogger #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthweek2021 https://www.instagram.com/p/COyLm6kM5if/?igshid=7jh5y2yy7sjs

[autisticselves]

Sometimes we experience autistic inertia; none of us are able to come forward and do what needs to be done. We just all lack the motivation - even though we have the desire, we lack access to the energy we need. The energy is inside us somewhere, we just can’t reach it. Autistic inertia is frustrating. We aren’t being lazy; we just can’t move. #actuallyautistic #actuallydid #autisticinertia #autisticselves #autisticDID #motivation #energy #dissasociativeidentitydisorder #autismawareness #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthweek2021 https://www.instagram.com/p/COvGq6rsZ88/?igshid=vf01ecajekk5

[autisticselves]

In many ways it was helpful to fully integrate all my alters prior to becoming a mother - it enabled me to focus purely on my baby and enabled me to meet my baby’s needs. However, it also meant I literally lost my self (or selves) and I was literally only a mother. It also wasn’t necessary as I am able to parent now with alters so my belief that full integration was necessary to parent effectively was wrong. #actuallyautistic #actuallydid #actuallydissociative #actuallydissociativeidentitydisorder #parenting #parentingonthespectrum #autismandmotherhood #motherhood #motherhoodjourney #autisticselves #autisticDID #autismacceptance #autismawareness #autism #pluralparenting https://www.instagram.com/p/COsP2r0sBc6/?igshid=4j1hzde7g804

[autisticselves]

My children love that I have alters and enjoy getting to know them. They love playing with my Littles and this is great for my Littles too. Whenever a Little is fronting there is always a Big in the background just to make sure everyone is safe. #autisticselves #autisticDID #actuallyautistic #actuallydid #actuallydissociative #actuallydissociativeidentitydisorder #actuallydissociating #parentingwithdid #parenting #differentfamilies #differentperspective #differentfamily #multiplepersonalities #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #beyourself #okasyouare https://www.instagram.com/p/COn4iJGM53v/?igshid=6kaihdnfn8j2