Posted by Dinah on March 26, 2004, at 0:18:42
In reply to Re: Ego states, posted by gardenergirl on March 25, 2004, at 22:54:39
Oh goodness no, you didn't distract or derail. That's what's so confounding and so interesting about the whole ego state idea. That it can be soooo different for different people. I'm sure there are people for whom that description and way of working fits very well.
I don't seem to fit anything. :( There's the problem. But my emotional self is quite the little ego state activist, and doesn't really like being constrained by limitations as to what she is. Because she is as she is, of course. lol.
Do you find that the two chair technique works? My therapist tried it very very early in therapy. Before the question of me and me was raised. Once that came into play, I don't think he would have done anything that might have "encouraged" any thoughts I had of having more than one ego state. I guess he didn't want any suggestions of iatrogenic phenomenon. He's a cautious therapist.
I'm not sure it would have worked anyway. Both ego states don't seem to be able to share primary consciousness anyway. I don't think I could have switched back and forth that easily. I think there might be some trance state or self hypnosis involved to allow direct access to my emotional self. Without that, that part of me seems limited to communicating by bolts of emotion. Although that may be becoming less true as time goes on.
At any rate, although it didn't ring true for me, it did for others on the thread. And I didn't mean the thread to be just about me. I'm interested in the different ways well differentiated ego states manifest themselves. Because it's just terribly confusing to me.
It's so odd the first time you hear you, yet not quite you, say things that you don't in any way believe or agree with, yet feel total belief and agreement with what is being said, even while you totally disagree.
Geez, I'm spinning my own head in circles. And yes, I've discussed all of it with my therapist ad infinitum. He doesn't understand why I'm so discombobulated by the whole thing. He just calmly accepts and interacts with whichever part of me shows up for therapy.
Anyway, sorry for rambling. It's the long way of telling you that nothing you said was wrong. And perhaps of coming clean, because really there's nothing to be ashamed of, right?
poster:Dinah
thread:327180
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040321/msgs/328583.html