Music Comforts Pain, Panic and Fear

When you’re hurting, or stressing, or panicking a bit.
When your breath is hard to find.
When your heart hurts.
When your lungs are exhausted.
When your body is giving out.
When your life feels at risk of slipping away….

When you can’t define your pain, or even find your pain, but it’s there, and it doesn’t go away.  It’s just everywhere.
All those times when your world just doesn’t feel right, or okay, or restful.
In those moments when something feels wrong, or distressing, and far too scary.

Breathe. 

Yet sometimes it’s hard to breathe.

Breathe.  Breathe!

Even to breathe… why is it so hard to breathe?  You gotta breathe!
     Breathe, breathe, just breathe.   
     Breathe, breathe, just breathe.

But when breathing is suddenly not easy.  That’s terrifying.
And then, it’s even harder to breathe.
     Breathe, breathe, just breathe.
      Breathe, breathe, just breathe.

In those times when the pain is just more than you can bear….

Help your heart and lungs by finding a song that reaches your soul. 
Sit in the song that gives you breath. 
Rest within the music that speaks to straight to the depths of what you believe.

Let your  spirit    breathe    for   you  .

Play that music over and over.  Loop it as long as you need to.  Rest in hours of musical covering.  Feel the music like the softest, most gentle warm blanket comforting your pain, your fear, your worries, your troubles.

Let the music surround you in all the places where you feel pain. The music can reach deep within.  In the places where breath is struggling to find a way in.  The music can softly go there.  Music for the soul can cover your breathing, with comfort, gentleness, and protection. 

When words aren’t there…. but your spirit feels it.
Music is the language that can speak peace over your heart.  Over your fear.  Over your stress.  Over your pain.

Let the music calm you, let it bring your breath back…
As the music plays…. you can breathe again.
Your heart can gently breathe again.
You can breathe again.

Breathe.
You can breathe again.
Please breathe.

Breathe.

The Inspiration for this Article

My intention was not to write a poem or any awesome piece of literary anything.
I wrote this, while sitting in a hospital room — the room with the window view you see in the pictures provided.  This is a real  experience.  A process I’m living.  A reality that belongs to many other people in the world.  All too many people have difficulties breathing.  And yet, breathing is vital!

The precious person in this hospital room is having some very serious respiratory health issues, and breathing is suddenly complicated. This morning, after a breathing complication, I sat, and jotted down these thoughts.  These are some of my words, my thoughts, and my prayers as I sit beside her, while she struggles to breathe, feeling both fearful and panicked.

The true-to-life story is that playing the music that reaches her spirit and soul absolutely helps her breathe.  Her music reaches places that words cannot.  The music creates a peaceful calm for her in a way that meds cannot.  The music is very much part of her healing process, and it absolutely helps her breathe.   

So… if you are having trouble breathing… remember to also find the right soul-filled music.  Find your music that makes all the difference in the world.

~ ~ ~ ~

Thinking about you….
May your heart breathe again.

Kathy

Copyright © 2008-2026 Kathy Broady and Discussing Dissociation

The post Hurting? Stressing? Music Comforts Pain, Panic and Fear appeared first on Discussing Dissociation.

International Cat Day 2026

From my cats to yours — hope it’s a good one!

Through the years, I’ve had many many cat friends.   Now that I’m back in Texas, I’ve got a whole new crew of cats.  ALL of these cats were tiny little ones, outdoor homeless/feral kittens who didn’t have a home.  I couldn’t leave them out there to fend for themselves.  I’ve taken in a few.

From newest to oldest, let’s enjoy International Cat Day with some pictures and stories of my cats.

Little Jedidiah Jao Chai

More commonly known as Little Jedi (rhymes with Freddy).

This little guy unexpectedly showed up in the big expansive woods directly across from my front door.  I couldn’t see him, but he cried and cried outside, through the dark of the night and into the next day. 

It took me a few tries to find him as he was pretty hidden at first.  He stayed in the same general area of the forest across from my front door, but he was highly skilled at hiding!  Eventually, I called to him, using soft meows of my own.  He stopped doing those loud echoey scream cries and started to listen to me.  Soon, he softly meowed back to me.  We meowed back and forth a few times.  Cat-speak, lol.  He calmed down a little, and his softer meows didn’t echo so much — they helped me get a more accurate sense of where he was. 

I carefully walked around trees in the forest, looking and looking, until I could finally see his tiny little self, hiding under a fallen branch.  He knew to hide under brush, and leaves. Smart little kitten.  But very scared and definitely asking for help.

Oh my goodness, that tiny little guy did not need to be alone in the 100 Acre Woods.  There are all kinds of dangers for an itty bitty kitten alone in the woods.  Coyotes, foxes, wild pigs, and a whole lot more.  Nope, I wasn’t going to just let him cry out there.  He needed to come into a sheltered and safe home. 

He was oh so scared, and very anxious out there by himself. No little baby wants to be alone in the woods, that’s for sure.  No doubt he was hungry and thirsty too.

He really was pretty tiny when he first got here.   As you can see, sitting next to big ol’ Jorgie, little Jedi boy is a lot smaller. 

The last thing I needed was another little kitten, but see his gorgeous face? 

Jedidiah is fitting in very nicely with the other cats.  He’s learned to make himself quite at home.  He’s a brave little guy, and extra playful.  

Little Baby JJ

Except now, he’s not the baby anymore, so, he’s just JJ.  “J-Man” when he’s feeling big and tough.

JJ was another rescue kitten.  A very desperate rescue kitten.

JJ was determined to get help, and he showed up in a loud panic during the heavy winds and rains of Hurricane Beryl, back in July 2024.  He took shelter under my parked car, and just screamed and screamed with weird haunting sounds until he was heard over top the noisy, windy storm.  

Baby JJ was in terrible trouble.  He arrived with a broken leg, a compound fracture, a busted ripped up mouth, broken and lost teeth, fully flea covered, skin issues and hair loss from the excessive bug bites, starving, malnourished, and extremely small.  Oh dear,  poor little guy! 

I have no idea how this little injured kitten made it to my yard.  However he got to my house, I felt honored to help this poor little kitten. 

He looked to be the size of a 5-week old kitten, but we found out later, when his mouth healed and his adult teeth came in, that he was actually almost 4 months old at the time of his arrival.  He was just so small due to lack of food and nutrition. 

It turned out that JJ and Jorgie were the same age!  Potentially, little JJ was even a week or two older than Jorgie, but he was so much smaller.  With proper nutrition and healthy snacks, little JJ has grown to be a full size cat.   

What about his health?  How did little JJ recover?

The good news is that JJ has recovered in many ways. 

His lip healed, and even though he has a little disfigurement, he’s still very handsome. 

His adult teeth all grew in correctly, thank goodness.

His broken leg was already partially fused when he showed up, so after several x-rays and numerous veterinary appointments, with a lot of extra care, his leg has healed.  He has a permanent bent hockey stick left leg, and uses it like that.  He doesn’t seem to be in much pain, and runs and plays and has the best time.

Jorgio Orangio Mikikiki III

Jorgie is one of the DDCF kittens(opens in new tab) that was found and rescued at one of our SGI (small group) events.  An outdoor momma cat had her seven kittens while we were together that week, and our DDCF forum community ended up adopting the whole group, momma and all.   

Nowadays, those DDCF kittens have all grown up and are having happy lives.  It’s good to still see pictures of the kitten and hear their stories as they’ve grown up.  It’s fun to see the similarities and differences between them! 

JJ and Jorgi have spent most of their lives together.  You can image all the trouble they’ve gotten in, playing together. 

And, I’m happy to say, they love to dance.!

I think they’re looking pretty good here, right?!

Okay, okay, just kidding.  That’s not Jorgie and JJ but it sure looks like it could be!   

JAZZY

My original pretty little cat, was found by JoeJoe.  Jazzy was a teeny tiny kitten, barely 3 weeks old, if that, crying and abandoned in a deep dark hollow trunk of a tree.(opens in new tab)

Oh, little Miss Jazzy, 

Jazzy, Jazzy, the oldest cat who is all of 3 years old right now, is my only girl.  And you know it — she runs the roost like she knows best.  At the same time, she’s very protective of her group of boys, and she defends them, no matter what. 

She has adopted each of the boys — maybe with a few growls at first — but she has taken them all in, under her wing, and she cares for them all.   

If only people could learn to get along together as well as these cats do!

~ ~ ~ ~

Jazzy taking a turn in Pinky’s fluffy bed.

Oh, to be so relaxed and comfortable as Jazzy girl…

First, Jazzy built a friendship with Jorgie.

And….. Jazzy tending gently to little JJ:

The tuxedo cats, aka, my Tuxies.  A matching set? Sorta. 

What do your cats mean to you?

You probably see me writing and talking more about my dogs, because those kelpies are most certainly important to me.  And the dogs get to go to the Retreats and the SGI’s, and they have had the opportunity to meet a lot of the trauma survivors who participate in DD activities and events. 

But these little cats have their own important role around here.  They don’t get to travel, but they get to stay home with me.  They get to provide their companionship, their fun natures, their playfulness, their funny ways, and their closeness.  They are officially part of my personal emotional support team, there’s no doubt about it. 

I can pick up a cat, hold one for a minute, do a breathing exercise or two, and my stress level drops immediately.  I can feel the calming effect these cats have for me.  That’s incredible.  It’s wonderful, and I hope I give back to them the same way they give to me.

As International Cat Day comes to a close this year, I still hope that you and your cats have had a wonderful day! 

Do take gentle care, and from Jazzy, Jorgie, JJ, and Jedidiah…. we all wish you the very best in your healing journey, and we wish that many soft fluffy cats will find their way to your home too! 

Warmly,

Kathy

The DDCF kittens:

The post Enjoying International Cat Day 2026 – from my cats to yours appeared first on Discussing Dissociation.

Rainbows of Hope over my Land in Texas

As much as the stormy times during the Covid pandemic created confusion, and chaos, and uncertainty — leaving me stranded away from my then home near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia — new visions of hope began when I found a new landing place in rural Texas.  For example, this rainbow, going right over top my Texas property in August 2022, signaled a brand new beginning, a new era of hope, a promise of good things to come.  The unique opportunities provided and envisioned from this new chapter of time have been many. 

One of the bright new areas of change have happened in the areas of growth in the Discussing Dissociation Community Forum.  Not only have we added new members and new leadership, we’ve also added new areas of conversation.

Controversial Areas of Conversation  

I’ll give you a bit of background info.  For the first years of the DDCF Community Forum, we kept conversations about politics and religion as no-go zones. 

Politics.

1.  Obviously a peer support forum for trauma survivors who live with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID/MPD) doesn’t need the wildfires and explosive divisions that can erupt and explode over political differences.  Oh, no, no, no.  That’s a no-brainer!  There are many other places online to express popping political views, and everyone is, of course, more than welcome to go there, to wherever else that is, to express those hot-topic political opinions.

Political controversy can still stay somewhere else.  It’s still not welcome in DDCF.   

Community peace is desired far more than community politics! 

Spirituality and Faith-Based Issues.

2.  The second “No Go” area — speaking about spiritual issues, faith-based beliefs, religious trauma — was a bit different.  For years, these conversations were carefully allowed, to a certain point, sorta, gingerly, but with clear trigger warnings requested and required due to the delicate nature of these topics.

What is an important spiritual topic for one trauma survivor is a terrifying topic for another. Tip-toeing carefully seemed essential.

Spiritual issues are highly sensitive topics, and yet, all too many dissociative people have experienced spiritual trauma and spiritual abuse in their life.   This could come from the extremes of organized cult abuse, SRA / ritual abuse histories or from the simplicity of small neighborhood churches where deceitful pedophiles hid their disgusting behaviors towards children.  Or maybe spiritual abuse happened from violent parents claiming “God said” they could abuse their children and beat them into oblivion.  Or maybe there was some wild wacky weirdo claiming to be a Supernatural Spiritual Being who professed to have the power to destroy and harm to purge the land of evil by harming and destroying certain children.  The examples of spiritual abuse are many and varied.  Being purposefully abused in the name of God, by twisting up religions, or misrepresenting spiritual values, whether by individuals or family members or groups, creates spiritual harm. This spiritual trauma can happen in an unlimited number of ways. 

Spiritual abuse is a real thing.  It hurts, and it creates deep splits within the dissociative system. 

This very difficult area of trauma also needs time and space for healing conversations.

See the dilemma?  What was our DID peer support forum community to do?

Excluding or limiting conversations related to spiritual abuse as “too triggery” provided a protective safety measure in one way.  It also provided a more predictable boundary for those people who have zero interest, no willingness, too much fear, or too much PTSD to speak about such things.  Some dissociative systems are far too angry and far too disgusted to ever address faith-related topics.  It’s an absolute No-Go Zone.  For these folks, ‘No!’ or ‘No, not now’ are the best answers.

However, for other survivors of spiritual trauma, addressing spiritual abuse, and having these exact conversations are fully necessary because searching out spiritual healing is part of their overall healing process.  Even though they experienced damaging spiritual abuse, they find deep spiritual healing in doing the opposite from abuse.  Their spirituality is part of their healing, part of their values, part of their very essence.  For these trauma survivors, having healthy spiritual experiences, expressing their faith, and having freedom to live their faith, is essential. Spirituality can be the core of who they are.

Hmmmmm.  Two very different opposites.  Now what?!!

In a split community of dissociative trauma survivors, topics related to spirituality, cult-abuse, faith, spiritual fears, etc are still highly sensitive topics.  Of course.  However.  Excluding these conversations from everyone meant not including conversations that some folks needed.  Refusal and avoidance wasn’t always the preference.  Having peer-related, supportive conversations about specific areas of deep spiritual harm and trauma was requested. Ultimately, I believed it wasn’t okay to be preventing healing conversations from happening.  Someone else’s NO didn’t get to become everyone’s NO.

There had to be a way to address both sides of this fence. 

The dicey, spicy spiritual storm topic already existed.  How were we going to address it at the DD forums?  Were we gonna drive into that Texas-sized storm?!  Or avoid it longer?

The Spirit and Soul Forum. 

One morning, the answer came to me.  The dilemma of how to protect people on both sides of the fence was possible!  The inception of the Spirit and Soul Forum began. 

First, our tech gal created a whole new separate forum area.  We put in a few spiritually-titled sections, and started a few threads, and then left it for the the group to fill out. 

The beauty of this area is this.  By design, if a forum member doesn’t want to be part of the Spirit and Soul Community, they cannot even see it.  It is not there in their face, and they don’t have to read any of the posts.  They don’t have to think about it or put effort to block it out.  It’s just not part of their DD forum login access.

However, if someone wants to be part of the Spirit and Soul section, with their written permission and confirmed statement of interest, they are given access to see the Spirit and Soul Forum area.  They can share openly, and not have to worry about offending anyone. They are free to write about their spiritual experiences, struggles, questions, and concerns.  Trigger warnings are not necessary — freedom to speak openly exists.

Those who have eyes to see, can see.   Those who want to block it out, don’t see a thing.  Perfect! 

I used the famous idea:  “Build it and they will come.”  Or will they?!  I didn’t know. 

Quickly I found out.

Since early 2025, the Spirit and Soul forum has been active. There are well over 2000 posts in this area and nearly 200 topics.  Who says the dissociative community doesn’t need a place to discuss spiritually related topics?  It seems to me, this is actually very important!  Thousands of posts proves that.

If you’re talking about spiritual topics, does that make the DD forum a cult?

Absolutely not.

There are vast differences between the DD Forum Communities and a cult.  Not anywhere near the same.  Not even close to the same.  Different in a zillion ways and at some point, that topic will become a designated article, all of its own.   

Have you experienced what life is like in a cult?  If you have any genuine cult-life experiences, that reality in itself should already answer, address and decimate any gossip you may have heard.  Shake it off, and move on.  Keep the high road.  

Who knows why there are people in this world who feel the need to lie, defame, discredit, slander and troll around like a bad smell. Their behavior is about them.

The DD forum community rises far above and flies far beyond insidious allegations.  The truth about the forum community is in the forum.  Not on slander sites.

The quality of community and healthy connection shared in the DD forums is by far the best of the best of any DID peer support community out there.  We have amazingly powerful conversations — in the forum, during zoom groups, during retreats.  We build genuine connections and offer sincere support to each other.  The compassion, kindness, trust, and safety we’ve built together is not about control — it’s about having genuine relationships and honest connections with each other.  We are extremely proud and protective of what we’ve built together.  That is the truth about this community.

If you have any real and genuine questions for me, please contact me.   

We’re not offering this spirituality forum of great value or beauty to anyone who cannot understand, respect, cherish, treasure, or appreciate its worth.  If this faith-centered forum is not for you, then it’s not for you.  You’re free to go find your treasure elsewhere.

The Spirit and Soul Forum is a unique section of the DD forums in that genuine faith-based, spiritual conversations get to happen. We aren’t afraid to talk about the importance of true spirituality and accepting others who also carry a similar humble, compassionate spirit.  We do not belong to darkness.  We belong to the light.

“Your light may irritate a lot of unhealed people….  Shine anyway.”  ~ R.H.Sin

The Spirit and Soul Forum is active, alive, and well.

AND, it’s making a positive difference and allowing for some fantastic healing conversations.    

We work to help build each other up, and listen during times of pain and confusion.

Creating supportive spaces for connection, growth, and healing is what matters. Yep, its true:

Our lights are shining anyway.

What does happen in the Spirit and Soul Forum?  

In this area, we have a variety of conversations over a variety of issues.   We ask some of the hard questions.  For example:

• Why do bad things happen to good people? 
• What if your child parts feel more connected to God than some of your older insiders? 
• What do you do when your system is split and divided about their spiritual faiths and beliefs? 
• What if certain parts of your system believe in totally opposite religions / spiritualities? 
• How do you reconcile the trauma in your history with your need for grace, forgiveness, and peace? 
• What if you believe you have done something unforgivable? 
• What if you don’t believe that God could or would or should love you?

We share struggles and tears, grief and loss, heartache and pain.  Oh, but there are celebrations, and stories, and answered prayers as well.  We share great music, helpful messages, relatable sermons, and good books. Sometimes we share passages of scripture or spiritually based quotes. 

We have our own Zoom Groups, and yes, we say prayers out loud.  Yes, our faith is allowed to be real.  We share our pain and our gains.  We talk about our testimonies and our troubles.  And, we are free to include words and sentiments of faith.

When forum members participate in this area, they talk from their own life experience, from the place of their own beliefs. There is no proselytizing, and what you believe is what you believe.  No one is “converted” or pressured. Your spiritual path belongs to you.

Spirit and Soul forum members come from a variety of different spiritual / church / denominational backgrounds, and that’s totally okay.  As long as your spirituality isn’t based in darkness or harmful sociopathic beliefs and abusive behaviors, you are welcome. 

We come together to talk openly about faith-based questions and topics with the goal of helping the whole of the dissociative system find a healthy spiritual life that leads to genuine healing.  I’d bet your insiders have many many questions of their own!  After all the years of vile hurt and evil abuse, they can talk here, and explore their thoughts and feelings.

Yep, your system can find healthy spirituality.  And, find their own way to get there.

The Spirit and Soul Forum.

~ ~ ~ ~

That’s what we’ve got.  It’s worth thinking about.

I wish you genuine and true spiritual healing, here, or wherever you are.

Warmly, 

Kathy

Copyright © 2008-2026 Kathy Broady and Discussing Dissociation

The post Our Spirit and Soul Forum — for faith-based questions and conversations appeared first on Discussing Dissociation.

Freedom.

Freedom is essential. 

This week, during the week of national independence celebrations for both Canada and the US, I think of the ways so many people in our countries, and throughout the world still need their own personal freedom.   To me, this week feels  like Freedom Week.

FREEDOM matters.  FREEDOM is essential for every person.  FREEDOM from trauma and abuse is hugely important as well.

• Freedom for the abused, enslaved, controlled, owned, sold, entrapped.
• Freedom for those who were/are owned in organized sex trafficking networks.
• Freedom for those who grew up in high-control cults or extreme religions.
• Freedom for those with SRA or RAMCOA backgrounds.
• Freedom for those who were tortured in Organized Extreme Abuse (OEA) groups.
• Freedom for those who were forcefully used in pornography or sex rings.
• Freedom for those coerced and controlled via domestic violence or family violence.
• Freedom for those purchased or kidnapped by violent perpetrators and enslaved in any way.

Freedom is a big big topic here at Discussing Dissociation.  

This is a very big topic, and for many dissociative survivors, living a dissociative life goes far beyond the reality of being split into separate selves and separate identities in order to survive and manage the trauma that happened. 

Dissociative Identity Disorder isn’t created from happy times or Hollywood movies.  It doesn’t happen upon suggestion or implication.  Dividing one mind into separate selves is created from repeated, severe and chronic trauma forced onto young children, and solidified by living with the ongoing impact that sustained trauma has on that person, without sufficient comfort, protection, or safety.  Becoming many people with numerous dissociative walls helps to carry the load, especially when the load is extreme and excessive.

Notice, that in addition to extreme trauma, in these situations, freedom, safety, protection, and comfort were severely lacking for those children. 

Without radical intervention in these families, these little children, would have grown.  They would become older children, then tweeners, then adolescents, then teenagers, then young adults, and then even adults — all stages of life — still held tightly as captives, highly controlled, and fully owned and used by organized abuse networks.

Sometimes, many dissociative people (insiders) are / were needed to live these highly complicated lives, especially when the trauma and abuse occurs for decades of time.

Obviously, not every dissociative trauma survivor was owned by an organized network — and yet, all too many were.  And still are.  This article specifically refers to those who have been owned and controlled by domineering, high-intensity perpetrator groups.

Walking alongside dissociative trauma survivors as they find freedom in life — gaining safety from extreme family violence or organized networks — is one of the highest callings and deepest goals here at Discussing Dissociation.  Freeing the enslaved.  Supporting the courageous.  Offering hope and providing healing experiences for those who have been deeply wounded and forcefully contained within OEA network limits.  Encouraging the freedom for every survivor to have a life not filled with violence, or to not live in fear of ongoing abuse.  No more sex slavery, as most of the enslaved are used on those environments.

Help set the prisoners free!  It can happen, and it does. 

Controlling, organized abuse groups come in all forms.  I’m not going to glorify them in any way, as they are all equally vile as can be, and the goal here is not to go after those groups, but to help those courageous individuals who want out, those who are determined to find their personal freedom and safety, those who feel the call to the depths of their soul to create a life not controlled by a cult or trafficking network. 

Can you see the hugeness of this problem?  It happens in countries all over the world — not just here.  Everywhere.

If this world problem bothers you too, let’s join together to help the enslaved find freedom. 

If you are a dissociative trauma survivor with this history, you can find understanding, compassion, acceptance, and assistance here in the DD communities.  We know this stuff happens.

Stopping the Generational Cycles

All too often, dissociative trauma survivors are born into families where participation in cult groups, RAMCOA groups, and/or sex trafficking networks was already occurring.  Right from the very beginning of life… these young infants are already owned, already used, and already abused.

* Can you imagine being the child of a pedophile?
* Can you imagine what it would have been like to be a very young child who was taken to cult meetings or sex trafficking assignments?
* How is a 3-4-5-year old supposed to protect themselves from abuse in organized networks?

In these situations, when the young innocent child was born into an organized group, the little child doesn’t have a chance for safety or freedom.  They are going to be forcefully abused and used in these groups even before they are old enough to read and write.  They are going to be used and sold into abuse before they are able to call for help.  They start their innocent young lives already fighting against heinous evil that is deliberately dumped upon them.   

How unfair is that!  There is NO freedom offered to these young children.  They are shoved into slavery right from birth. 

Interrupting and stopping this generational trend is hugely important.

Stopping the cycle — preventing as many children from being born into this horrific lifestyle is necessary.  Helping children be born into freedom, instead of being born into slavery, is essential.

Stop the surface abuse, AND the hidden, underground abuse.  What is hidden underneath?  What happens down there?

Gaining Freedom for Self and Others

Freedom goes beyond the one dissociative person gaining freedom. 

Each dissociative person who gains their freedom from trafficking networks, high-control groups, SRA groups, OEA networks, or RAMCOA cruelties makes a difference. 

Each freedom achiever holds and provides a positive impact and creates beautiful encouragement for others who are still fighting for their freedom.  Survivors who are steps ahead can offer insight, encouragement, inspiration, and peer support to those who are also on the journey TO freedom.  What you achieve can help others do the same.

Freedom and safety can be shared and encouraged.  You don’t ever ever have to believe you can’t get out.  That’s simply not true.  It’s been said, or threatened, all too many times, of course, but if you want out of organized trauma groups, you can do it.  It won’t be easy, and there will be costs, heartbreaks and challenges on your way out.  However, if your life goals don’t include being the world’s best sex slave, then consider fighting for your freedom.

Does this issue feel too huge for you??

Well, it is huge, there’s no doubt about it… not everyone can manage this level of work or offer this depth of support. I get that.

And because it’s so huge, let’s slow it down a little.  Start where you are.

Do you already know a dissociative trauma survivor?  Are you helping that DID system gain safety and freedom from anyone who was harmful and dangerous to them?  If so, you’re already making a difference.  Help who you know, and thank you for doing so! 

Safety matters, and safety makes freedom and healing possible for every trauma survivor.  Every dissociative trauma survivor who makes a safe and beautiful life for themselves is an inspiration to others.

Even if your favorite dissociative trauma survivor doesn’t have OEA memories or that kind of trauma history, you are helping to stop the cycle of extreme family abuse and neglect.  Every child’s life matters, and the more children who are born into healthier homes, or grow up in healthier homes, the better.  It’s never too late to make a positive impact and to make healthy changes.

Are you the dissociative system who has made steps to get away from any form of abuse that has happened for you?  Many kudos your way!  You are one of my heroes, and I truly encourage you to keep on your healing journey.  It takes a lot of courage to address the depth of trauma you’ve experience.  Keep reaching all of your insiders, even those ones who are hiding in those dark spots — the ones you are scared to talk to.  You’ll find out how those insiders need safety and support as you find the courage to reach them.

FREEDOM for EVERY System 

FREEDOM is important for every single insider of every single system.  In my opinion, the healing work doesn’t stop until every single one of your insiders is found, and genuinely rescued from any trauma they have been stuck in.  With your internal world, find any hidden layers, and have all areas of your internal world become fully reconnected to you.  Have your own internal landscape fully available for you, where you aren’t too scared to venture into those areas with those system people, and they aren’t resistant for your visit with them.

If you have insiders still hidden from you, still hidden in dark outer edges of your internal world, or hidden in other layers, or blocked behind internal walls, you still need to find a way to reach these inside selves.  They are still at some level of risk.  If they are blocked and hidden from you for a reason, usually, that’s not for a pleasant reason.  Find your courage, and do what you can to connect with every single insider you have.  Let them have the freedom and safety with you to tell you whatever they need to say.

Freedom to exist inside, freedom to move around, freedom to speak, freedom to feel, freedom to live.  If your insiders still feel like captives internally, you’ve got more work to do.  Help them feel fully free internally too!

Freedom applies inside and out!

If they need your help to gain true external freedom and safety, be willing to do that with them.  There are people who can help, and people who can understand.  They don’t have to stay excluded in the darkness that stole them away.  You won’t know what they have survived until you talk with them. 

Even if they have some terrible news for you, talk with them.

If you’re committed to a life of safety and freedom, let that apply to all of the people in your system.

Freedom is essential.

~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~

As always, I wish you the very best in your healing journey. I send you kindness, joy and hope that all your days and all your insiders have freedom, peace, and safety.

Happy Freedom Week to you and all of yours.   

Warmly,

Kathy 

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I want to make a quick acknowledgment to the First Americans, the First Nations of Peoples who lived here in the Americas before they were so rudely invaded and harmed by other cultures.  It was not okay that one Peoples’ dreams of freedom took away the freedoms of others.  I send my heartfelt apologies to those who were hurt during those terrible years.  I thank you for sharing this beautiful land with us now.  May goodness and peace shine on you again.

Copyright © 2008-2026 Kathy Broady and Discussing Dissociation

The post Freedom! Freedom for the Abused, Enslaved, Controlled, Sold, Entrapped. Freedom is Essential. appeared first on Discussing Dissociation.

Will you help and support the P4 DID Retreat 2026?

The preparations for the 2026 DID Retreat have begun, and this year, we’re going to a brand new-to-us location.  The venue is awesome, of course.  I take a lot of time studying available options and selecting a place that can work properly for us.  That takes me weeeeeeeks of time to decide.  It’s not a quick process, that’s for sure.

Then, once that huge decision is finally made, the fun can begin!   One of the most happiest parts for me is approaching each of the individual spaces, and turning those places into peaceful, creative, interesting, DID-inspired designs so the whole dissociative system sees something they can relate to.  That’s a big challenge for sure!  Have you ever tried to create a space that is suitable for layers of inside people?  It’s a fun task, but enormous at the same time.  Especially when the goals are to promote healing, create connection, stay friendly, and remain memorable, in all the good ways!

Using puzzle themes and adding splashes of teal everywhere are automatically included around here.  It wouldn’t be a Discussing Dissociation event without teal and puzzles! 

Every new retreat location has a new list of requirements, and some supplies simply need to be refurnished.  It’s a big big job… one that takes months of planning.  I’ve already started process, and… there is a lot to do. 

This year…  well, I’m putting this out here.  First time ever.  Our DD Retreat Wish List is available for you to see.  AND…   I’ve got a message written for you about that.

** If you are not interested, please read no further! **

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Hello, hello Avid and Awesome DD Reader,

THANK YOU for being here and for reading here so consistently.  You are greatly appreciated, for sure.

At this time, here at Discussing Dissociation, we are excited to announce our upcoming event, our annual P4 DID Retreat, October 6 – 16, 2026.

Since 2020, we’ve been hosting in-person, peer-support events where Dissociative Trauma Survivors can come together safely, in a compassionate, protected environment.  These are unique opportunities, when the whole event is specifically DID-themed, and purposefully designed for different insiders, sharing life experiences, finding joy, and creating healing connections. 

There are sooooo few places on earth where folks living with DID will be the majority.  Will be already understood.  Will be included.  Will be viewed with respect.  Will be welcomed with full acceptance. 

Our retreats fill those needs — for dissociative systems to be the guests of honor, to be treated kindly, to play and have fun as a system, to have permission to be their full selves.  We get to push away typical societal rejections and refusals, No more hurts and horrors!  Not here.  Not at the DD Retreats.

Our annual DID Retreat is a fantastic opportunity for dissociative trauma survivors to have many incredible healing experiences.  Being peer-support focused, we have numerous group discussions on specific DID-related topics, we share ideas for living successfully as dissociative systems, we explore ways to support and advocate for the overall trauma community.  As trauma survivors dedicated to healing and creating healthier lives, we strive to spread this hope to others who are still struggling to overcome the heaviness of trauma, pain, heartbreak, grief, loneliness, and abuse. 

WE KNOW life can get better for dissociative survivors, and our retreat gatherings absolutely help to prove that.

These P4 DID retreats are truly amazing events, and yes, of course, they require months of planning and oodles of resources.  We’ve done a good job in the past, and this year, we would appreciate any additional help and support to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. 

Would you please consider chipping in a donation by looking at our DD Retreat Wish List?   

Amazon is having its big annual Prime Days sale this week — this is a perfect opportunity to contribute to the DD Retreat needs by selecting something off the DD Retreat Wish List!

DD P4 Retreat WISH LIST

DD P4 Retreat WISH LIST

With your gracious, generous help, we can ensure that the healing resources and creative supplies needed for the P4 DID Retreat: TEXAS 2026 can be provided. 

Supporting this event is a beautiful way to help with heal those hurting hearts.

If you’d like to select a gift, please visit our Retreat Wish List page here.

Or, click here to contact us to discuss our upcoming event and ask how you can get involved.

Thank you so much for your support, and we hope to see you soon!

I wish you the best on your healing journey!

Warmly,

Kathy

Retreat Art Projects

Lots of Art Project Opportunities

Creative Spaces for Group Discussions

With Puzzles, of Course

Copyright © 2008-2026 Kathy Broady and Discussing Dissociation

The post Will you Support the P4 DID Retreat 2026? appeared first on Discussing Dissociation.

Has there been Light in your Year?

As we’re sitting here, near the half way point of this year, near the weeks of the longest sunlight days, the extra length of light brings up the question — How much light is in your life?

Light can appear in a variety of ways.   As much darkness that happens out there in the world, light can be a true comfort.  Light can feel safer, light can feel inspiring, light can feel encouraging.

As hard as any year can be, this past year has also been full of many light-filled moments.  For me, and for you too.

I’m aware, that the summer solstice weekend can be pretty difficult times, certainly more traumatic than other regular weekends.  A weekend of trauma for too many dissociative survivors — creating such a stark contrast to the meaning of light and the goodness that LIGHT represents.

At the same time, this year, at this bright time of the year, I want to focus on some lighter moments.  Let’s bring some brighter, lighter times to mind as well.  I hope to encourage you to find ways to bring more LIGHT into your life, especially as you interact with your dissociative system folks.  Your light-filled leadership of your insiders matters greatly during your healing process.

I’ll highlight a few of the good moments when LIGHT shone on me, and while I do, I encourage you to consider what light you’ve experienced this year as well.

Hilo Bay Sunrise

Sunrise, wherever you are, brings a beautiful expansive, growing LIGHT at the beginning of a new day.

Wherever you are in the world, you can experience a new dawning of light, each morning.  You have the opportunity to spend a little time recognizing the beauty of that new day, welcoming it’s new adventures, new discoveries, new moments. 

What will you do with your new day?  Do you ask your insiders what they want to accomplish that day?  Do you check in with them, at least for a few minutes, to see how they feel?  To hear their heart?  To share a moment?  To even say good morning?

Each sunrise, each morning, gives you another day to help your people get a little more healing.  How will you make this day make a difference?  Who will you give more of your day’s time to?  How will you help those little ones have a better day than they used to have?

Each morning, with each day, full of light, be mindful of what you can do to help your system.  You have inside people who need your time, your attention, your compassion, your understanding, your guidance. 

How will you share the light of day with them today?

Kīlauea Iki Trail

On the big island in Hawaii, in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, you can do an incredible hike across the solidified lava lake floor of the Kīlauea Iki crater.  Out in the middle of the crater, you are in a world of sun, in a wide open space, not a single shadow around.  LIGHT is everywhere.

This light-filled space is so very quiet and peaceful at this point in time.  However, while standing in the middle of a massive yet extinct volcano, your mind wanders back to what this exact land once powerfully displayed.  Once an erupting enormous explosion of lava, giant fiery extensions of glowing bright red and yellow lava bombs, creating colossal bursts of energy that were permanently island-changing, life-changing.  The explosion light of hot lava would have been awe-inspiring, but frightening, intense, and even dangerous.  This area now sits, a quiet, calm, peaceful strip of sun-baked, hardened-still lava.  You are invited to share in the light of the sun without all the outbursts and blowups that active volcanoes create. 

This massive 2-4+ mile hike is a challenge for sure.  Would you challenge your system to walk down the rim of a volcano, cross its solid top, and climb back up the steep sides?  Would you circle the rim of the volcano only?  Would you dare to cross the entire crater, or go half-way then return?  How adventurous are you and your crew? 

This challenge is a good metaphor for how far and how hard you will work to reach the needs of your system.  There are moments when a hike of this size is thoroughly exhausting.  The bright searing sun is hot, and hopefully, you brought enough water, sunscreen, snacks and solid shoes. There are no convenience stores out here!

Instead, there are countless cracks and fractures dropping down in the ground, and sharp cutting edges of lava poking up.  It’s an adventure walk, for sure, and one that requires attention to detail and solid preparation  It’s not easy.  There are a zillion places to trip and fall.

Isn’t your healing journey like this?

After the explosions and lava bombs of trauma, and years of abuse, all the hardened areas of your life still need time, attention, exploration, examination. 

Do you have the strength and courage it takes to walk deeply into the areas of stress, strain, separation and pain? 

Do you have the willingness to see the deep crevices in your dissociative system  and the most difficult gaps hidden within your trauma history?

You will find times when the healing process is exactly this exhausting.  When you feel totally isolated and alone from your other insiders.  When finding that one lost child feels far too big of a task.  When digging up that excruciating memory feels too intense.

When the bright light of day shows so much of the pain you were trying to forget. 

When the hardened soil feels too inpenetrable.  Too sharp.  Too dangerous.  Too much. 

When the healing journey is intensely difficult, do you continue onwards?

Or do you quit early?

Kīlauea Iki Crater

Wow! 

When you do finally climb up the side of that deep volcanic valley, you can see the path you were on.  Look what you accomplished!  Look at how far you’ve come!  Do you see?  Do you see where you were, compared to where you are now?

Can you begin to feel proud of your healing journey?

Can you feel and acknowledge that you are making progress? 

Even when the whole picture is still not visible, can you appreciate the gains you’ve made?  Even when there is more to do, can you give yourself credit for trudging through as much as you’ve done?

Working through a lifetime of trauma issues, with the layers of your dissociative system, it’s a long journey, for sure.  You’ll find those parched areas of dry lava fields, even in your world.  Maybe even in your internal landscape.  And yet…  Yet, your insiders need you.  You need them.  And the relief will come.  It won’t always be this hard.

Reconnecting with what was traumatically torn apart will be one of the most rewarding things you can do for your heart and soul.  And yet…. Your deepest healing and your upmost safety and your fullest freedom all depend on you having the strength to walk through even the most parched and sharp of areas, no matter how large that lava field may be.

The LIGHT of day can help you see what has been unmanageable.  You’ll be able to find the insiders who were hidden in the dark, lost and abandoned by their terror and pain.  You’ll be able to find them, reach them, help them, rescue them, and provide a new life for them.  You can accomplish more than you knew you could.  I encourage you — go turn that light on, and go look for your people.  You’ll find them.  And they are beautiful.

The healing journey is intense, no doubt, but every single one of your insiders is worth it.  Every. Single. One. of. Them.

Ocean Edges – Hilo Bay

Good news!  Despite all the hard times, eventually, many days of the healing process can feel like swimming and wading in the bright teal blue ocean waters. 

The jagged rocks of pain and trauma may still be scattered around, but sitting peacefully with the relief of the calm, cool waters can be there too.  Comfort, reassurance, connection brings healing back to a system of people who were once exploded apart. 

Group your insiders together, in safe places where you can openly see each other.  Connect together where the light of day creates a beautiful place to gather.  Separation and isolation may feel “normal” to you, and learning to reconnect to your people will take some practice, and yet… there is a deep, soothing, filling feeling to being reconnected. 

Can you imagine your insiders finding healing in the teal blue waters, sheltered from storms, refreshed from the heat, enjoying bright, warm sunlight instead of deep, dark trauma? 

If more of your people were feeling comforted and safe, instead of terrified and forgotten, how would that change your day?  How would that change your mood?

Jedidiah Jao Chai 

Yep, it’s true.  An intruder arrived! 

Another kitten has found his way to my home.  Suddenly, unexpectedly. Loudly!  With much panic and wailing.

You might wonder, how is this possible??   

Don’t you already have enough kittens, Kathy??!!  

And of course, I do already have enough kittens, for sure, that is true!  I wasn’t looking for more kittens, but this little guy went out of his way to make a big scene, just to get invited in. 

He is tiny and beautiful and was definitely looking for a home. 

I’ll tell you more of his story later, but for now, rest assured, little bitty Jedidiah is definitely bringing LIGHT into my life this year.   

The quickly-mentioned moral of Jedidiah’s story is that sometimes, some little tiny one can reach out to you, unannounced, totally invited, and yet despite their sudden intrusion into your life, their very appearance can bring a smile to your heart on even those difficult days. 

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Aren’t these places amazing?!

I have more to share.  I have more to say about bringing LIGHT in our lives.

I’ll continue on with additional pictures and stories in my next article.  Stay tuned.   

Many more light-filled adventures ahead! 

And for now, as always, I wish you the best in your light-filled healing journey.  

Warmly,

Kathy

Copyright © 2008-2026 Kathy Broady and Discussing Dissociation

The post Has there been LIGHT in your Year? appeared first on Discussing Dissociation.

Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day.
It’s DID Day!

Yep, March 5th, each year, we recognize, remember, and celebrate those with Dissociative Identity Disorder.  It’s DID Awareness Day.  

Much of the time, the focus is on public advocacy and increased education about DID.   We all know that DID is still poorly understood, and all too often, misrepresented in the most bizarre of ways out there in the world.  I’m sure there will be plenty of other articles and sources of information related to the general world education about the reality of DID.  We do need to advocate and teach the truth about DID, that is for sure.  Three cheers for those of you who are daring to do that — I applaud your efforts.

So today, here at Discussing Dissociation, I want to take a different approach.  I want to talk with you — the dissociative population.  My thoughts and questions are related to you and when it comes to your dissociation, what you may or may not be aware of.   But first…. 

You are AWESOME, Amazing, and Exceptional!

First, I want to re-stress the concept that you are awesome.  Yes, you’ve developed a set of unique skills, complicated abilities, and unusual talents that all come with their own inherit problems, but also those very skills and abilities helped you manage and survive all those horrible traumas.  Not for one second do I think that the trauma and abuse was okay — it clearly was NOT!  Not for one second do I think it was okay you were hurt — that was NOT okay.  Not at all.

But since those abusers and perpetrators didn’t adhere to human decency, and since you were hurt…  I think it’s important now, however many years later, to find the hidden gold in what you survived.  Reframe the pain.  Look for the silver lining.  And yes, I do see, recognize and applaud you for finding the most amazing ways to manage such horrific situations.  I’ve heard the terms:

Dissociative Identity Gifts 
Dissociative Identity Miracles 
Dissociative Abilities
or simply, Dissociative Identities

I understand all that.  I really do see your ability to be dissociative as an incredible gift, especially in times of intense trouble.  You needed a way of escape, and even if your body couldn’t leave, your mind could go far far away, and that in itself has created some fascinating strengths for you. Thank heavens you found a way to dissociate and separate yourself from the pain.  The trauma and abuse have created many difficulties for you — but the dissociation — that has been something that helped you survive the unfathomable.

I recently posted the Dissociative Superpowers article, and I really do see you as having some super-human strengths and abilities.

Have you read these articles?

• My 100 Strengths, as Said by a Group of Dissociative Trauma Survivors
• My 100 Strengths, by a Group of Dissociative Trauma Survivors, Part Two
• My 100 Strengths, as Said by a Group of Dissociative Trauma Survivors, Part 3

Don’t ever ever believe that you aren’t wonderful.  Because you are.  Yes, yes, you are.

Now that you’re dissociative, how AWARE are you?

Let’s talk for a minute about your awareness, because of course, being dissociative means that your awareness often dissociated away….   

You learned to not look.  Not be there.  Not exist.  Not be real.

That was the whole point of dissociating, right?  To not see, to not know, to not feel, to not remember.  To NOT be aware. To not be the person who went through that, so that you could stay unaware or at least much further away from the difficult moments.   Splitting apart, stepping away, leaving the body, floating to the ceiling, going numb — all these helped you to survive by NOT being aware of what was happening. 

Healing means turning that NOT having awareness into YES, having awareness.

So today, on Dissociative AWARENESS Day, I want to challenge you to look at a few things.  Healing is about re-connecting to the various bits of reality that you dissociated from.  It’s reversing the “dissociating away” process and changing into a “connecting with” process.  It’s the bringing back together what was once blown apart.   

As you are going through your healing process, think about the ways you can increase your own awareness.

Dissociative AWARENESS includes system awareness.

• Are you aware of the whole of your system?  Do you really know everyone inside?  Are you aware of all your people yet?  Even if not, it’s not too late.  You can keep finding your insiders, and building meaningful, helpful connections with them. 

• Are you aware of what your insiders need for healing?  Do you know what they find comforting, helpful, inspiring?

• Are you aware of what your people have lived through?  Do you know what traumas they had to face?  Do you know their stories, their pain, their heartbreak? 

• Are you aware of what your insiders are afraid of?  What have they had the bravery to conquer? 

• Are you aware of your insiders’ strengths and extra abilities?  They will have them.  How are they amazing? 

• Are you aware of the insiders who are hidden in the deeper, darker areas of your internal worlds?  Just like the picture at the top of this article, some of the puzzle pieces are less visible than others.  Have you taken the time to meet and connect with those who are a little less obvious to you? 

Your system can become your best friends.  They can be the most loyal, and the most trustworthy people in your life.  It’s really okay to get to know them.  Communicate and connect with them.  As hard as it might feel at times, building solid, genuine bridges with your insiders will take you a very long ways.

Dissociative AWARENESS includes personal awareness.

• Are you aware of what your body needs, feels, experiences?  Or are you still so very separated from your body that meeting basic physical needs is a challenge?   

• Are you aware of your feelings and emotions?  It’s pretty typical to split off and dissociate away your feelings.  Feelings are difficult, and often painful, and certainly complicated. 

• Are you aware of safety issues, such as, who the safe people are in your life, vs the dangerous people?  Are you aware of hidden motivations or secret relationships?  Are you aware of your own tendencies or blindspots?

• Are you aware of your behaviors in relationships?  Do you see how you treat people?  Are you repeating old family dynamics, unhealthy attachments, trauma bonds, or manipulative projections?

There is sooo much to learn as you become more and more aware of the info you used to dissociate away.  It’s okay to know.  The truth will do, and hopefully, you’ve already survived the worst of it.  That means the best is yet to come! 

Find your courage.  Stretch, grow, and find ways to be kind.  Kindness is sooo important.  Separate yourself even more from that painful history by becoming a better, healthier person. 

Gain more strength and self confidence as you gain the ability to see and remember.   Once your life is safer, you won’t need to rely on those dissociative skills as much.  It will be okay to be aware, present, and connected.

How are you going to celebrate your day?

Today, as you enjoy your DID Awareness Day, take some pride in yourself and your system. Y’all can be good people, and seriously, have some confidence in what you’ve overcome in your life.  Appreciate your system for how they’ve helped you survive, and remember, you’ve got what it takes to be great.

Today, I hope you do something fun with your people.  Celebrate with them. Take your kids out to see some ducks swimming on a pond, or go for a lovely walk on a scenic route, or pop out for a favorite treat.  Remember your teens and let them dance to their favorite music.  How about a pizza?  Anything fun, and whatever helps your insiders to feel a little bit happy and a whole lotta accepted and cared about.   

If you can, do something out there to give a positive Shout Out for the goodness in the dissociative community.  Find something supportive and kind to say, teach someone about the reality of dissociation.  Educate people online, or explain something to a neighbor.  You don’t have to out yourself as dissociative in order to teach others about the truth of dissociation.

We can make a difference.  We can teach the truth about dissociation. 

May both your impact and your awareness grow!

As always, I wish you the best in your creative, influential healing journey.  

Warmly,

Kathy

Copyright © 2008-2026 Kathy Broady and Discussing Dissociation

The post Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day. How Aware are You? appeared first on Discussing Dissociation.

Dissociative Superpowers. Bet you got one! 

(or two, or three…or ten!)

During a week when we’re hearing all about the Super Bowl in football, and the Winter Olympics with hundreds of superpower athletes, I have to think about those folks with dissociative superpowers.  

Yep, if you’re dissociative, you’ve got superpowers! 

Hopefully you’ve heard the term “dissociative identity gift” because yes, in many ways, the ability to be highly dissociative is exactly a gift.   Gifts, or superpowers.  Either way — the ability to create an incredible strength in extremely difficult circumstances.

I’m curious as to what you consider some of your superpowers to be.  A few come to mind for me.  I’m listing out 10 of your superpowers, but honestly, there are probably at least 100 of them.   

Superpower:  Super Ears! 

The ability to hear many different things at once.

Yep, if you’re dissociative, you may be able listen to inside and outside at the same time. 

You can hear numerous conversations at the same time, and while you might miss bits and pieces here and there, you can hear all that input, (all that noise), and still function.  You might even be used to hearing multiple conversations at one time.  For dissociative folks, what’s so unusual about that?! 

This is pretty amazing, really, because your ability to hear, contain, understand, and make sense of so many  conversations at the same time means your brain is able to handle that much input at once.  Even if you yourself aren’t hearing all the internal-external conversations at the same time, someone is hearing them. 

It’s impressive when that much activity can happen simultaneously, and you and your system as a whole can understand all that. 

Superpower:  Super Vision!

The ability to see many different things at once.

Just like being able to hear many things at once, dissociative folks can see many things at once, both inside and outside.  Being able to see more than one direction at once is pretty incredible.  You’ve got lots of people with eyes looking out.  You can see all kinds of things!  

For example, reading what’s in front of you, while also look over to the left or the right, seeing clearly what’s happening in those other directions, even on the other side of the room, without moving your eyes… wow. 

And also, simultaneously seeing inside, looking around in the internal landscape — seeing both the inside and outside world at the same time.  Seeing more than one world at once —  super cool.  The ability to be visually aware of so many different areas at the same time is pretty fantastic.  

Superpower:  Body Blocking! 

The ability to numb out or separate from the body, or parts of the body.

I realize this superpower was developed during traumatic, painful experiences, and I mean no disrespect here.  Despite the horrible ways you learned to block the body, you learned how to block off the body!  This can be so incredibly useful.  It was an obvious help during trauma, but now, even when not in such a frightening place, you can still separate from your body as you need to.  You can step back from the body, you can numb off certain areas, and you might even be able to stand fully outside of your body.  How cool is that? 

These are useful skills during times of illness, or uncomfortable medical procedures, or injuries.  Got a sore throat?  As long as you are in-touch enough to get adequate health care, it’s pretty snazzy-jazzy to be able to step outside of that body container.  You don’t have to feel everything if you can block much of that out. Kudos to you! 

Superpower:  Emotional Exit Strategy

The ability to separate those intense emotions away for a while. 

Oh yes, the ability to send all those difficult feelings over to another place, to another self, behind a separate wall, hidden to a secret place is an absolute superpower.  Big emotions are huge, and often feel impossible to deal with so having the ability to just scoot them over there for a while is a huge superpower. 

I certainly recognize this superpower probably can’t be (shouldn’t be?) used forever, but in certain places and times, this is awesome.  Having an excessively successful emotional exit strategy provides deep relief, space to breathe, a minute to relax, and the ability to something else for awhile. There are times in life when being overwhelmed by giant emotions isn’t helpful, so…. having that ability to push those big feelings away can be a superpower, no doubt.

Superpower:  Staying Forever Young

The ability to keep a child’s heart, the joy of youth, the wonderment of being a little one. 

So many adults, as they grow up, lose the ability to relate to children and childlike feelings, childlike wonder, childlike innocence.  Dissociative survivors don’t lose touch of that. The ability to connect with outside children, is truly heart-warming. 

It’s beautiful to see the joy that children hold, the freedom of expression, the energy when playing, the desire to have fun.  I understand that some of your traumatized child parts might be less adventurous than others, but most systems have at least a few kiddos who have big ol’ lovely bursts of joy, excitement, happiness, and fun.

Superpower:  Intense Focus

The ability to dissociate and block distractions to hyper focus intensity on a particular area. 

When you have a busy internal world, and a hectic external world, it can be hard to focus on any particular “thing”.  You can succumb and swirl into the feelings of chaos, or if you go to the other end of the spectrum.  By using your dissociative superpowers, you can separate yourself away from all the many other distractions and get an intensely successful hyper focus.

When purposefully using your dissociative walls, your ability to distance from other emotions, your ability to block feelings, your ability to create space from noise, your ability to separate from other insiders, putting all those skills together mean that dissociative systems can have an incredible  ability to hyper focus on particular tasks.  You can get a whole lot done in a short amount of time with that ability to focus.  Super impressive! 

Superpower:  Memory Mammoths

The ability to remember so very very much.   

Yes, as much having DID equals bouts of amnesia and loss time, the truth is, from my perspective, the dissociative person who talks well with their insiders, has a much better memory than the average person.   

Memory might be divided up into different compartments, or layers, or people, but… the ability to remember is huge.  For example, asking different insiders to remember separate pieces of information individually, and then pulling it all together means each insider can remember something without getting overwhelmed.  Teamwork means you can put those pieces back together. 

After all, this is a skill you’ve already done, separating into separate selves, remembering different pieces of life, so when you purposefully work together to remember larger chunks of info, you’ve got it made!

Superpower:  Vocal Variations

The ability to speak in such a wide variety of voicings, vocals, vocalizations. 

This is actually more of a superpower than you might think.  So creative!

Ask someone who is not dissociative, who already doesn’t have 20 different voices, and ask them to create that many different voices and stay in character whenever they use each one of those unique vocals. Challenge someone you know.  It is much harder to re-create this than what you’d expect!

Of course, there are voice animators who have conquered this multi-vocal skill, but for the most of the population, it’s much more difficult to have as many different, and unique voicings as dissociative systems have.  Frankly, it’s pretty cool, and highly creative, so I’m calling it a superpower.

Superpower:  Pain Pusher

The ability to push pain away. 

Yep, this is a dissociative superpower for sure. 

Being able to block out the pain, or separate from the body sufficiently enough to not feel the pain, or float away far enough to not feel the pain — there are several ways that dissociative folks manage pain.  Obviously, this has it’s benefits! 

Sadly, of course, this superpower would have been learned the hard way, but still… now that you know how to do this, claim it as your ability.

This is your superpower, your skill, your strength. 

Hopefully, moving forward in life, you won’t need to use this superpower as often, and I hope that you are working on releasing the pain that your body has hidden through the years.

Superpower:  Be Anybody!

The ability to be whoever you want to be! 

Oh, you already have this superpower in spades. 

Being a dissociative system, you already know how to switch to be whoever you want to be.  Your mind is already creative, and chances are, your life story experiences have already taught you how to fit in and change to blend in among different sets of people.  Look around at your people.  They are all so very different from each other, right?  Isn’t that cool?

Of course, it’s always okay to be who you want to be, but when you want to have a variety in life, you can already think of all the unique ways to exist, and you have people who can do it!  You’re not stuck in a rut, and in some ways, it’s a beautiful life being able to be so many different people with such a variety of tastes, preferences, skills, and interests.  How can you ever get bored?

Superpowers Galore! 

Well, the Super Bowl is starting, so I gotta stop this list at 10, but you truly do have many, many dissociative superpowers! 

I do understand that some of those powers were achieved the hard way, and I’m very sorry about that.   You’ve been through far far far too much.  The world is full of too many cruelties, and I hope you’re making genuine gains in your healing.

However, today, I’m celebrating the fact that you really do and already have those abilities!  And now that you have them, they are yours to claim, yours to own, yours to use.  Reframe your pain.  These are your superpowers now!

You’ve done a lot of hard work in your healing — be sure to take some time to find the silver linings in what you’ve accomplished in life. 

It’s okay to celebrate and enjoy all who you are.

I wish you the best, in your creative, superpower-influenced healing journey.  You got this! 

Warmly,

Kathy

Copyright © 2008-2026 Kathy Broady and Discussing Dissociation

The post Dissociative Superpowers. Bet you got one!  appeared first on Discussing Dissociation.

Support through the Storm.
You don’t have to be alone.

Hello out there, especially to you who are in the massive winter storm we have covering most of the USA.

I hope you are weathering this winter storm well so far, and that you are prepared for the cold and freezing temperatures that could be hitting your area.  This is a big one!

I’m seeing news reports that say this winter storm extends out around 2300 miles, covers 40 different states, and will be impacting 235 million Americans.  Oh my.  That’s a lot of us!  Sadly, my news station ignores the Canadians just across the border, but I’m quite sure the storm is headed up that way as well.  

Before the ice settles into my Texas area, I wanted to reach out to you and let you know I’m thinking about you, and hoping the best for you.  I hope you have all the hot chocolate you need, piles of warm blankets, extra fuzzy socks, good books to read, and plenty of goodies to nibble.  Mostly, I hope you’re tucked inside into a place of warmth, out of the wind, sheltered from the snow, and not struggling.  

Once the ice starts to cover this Texas area, it’s really time to tuck inside, stay inside, and hunker down within.  Driving is far too slippery and treacherous, and trees or power lines will tumble over, cracking and crashing down from the weight of the ice.  The world becomes unpredictable, and around every turn, you might suddenly see something else to slip, slide or smash into. 

So… when the ice comes, staying safely inside is the best option, whenever possible.

How do you feel when you’re tucked inside?

The ice can feel like a wall of protection, closing you inside the areas you live.  Maybe this feels entrapping to you, or maybe you will feel safe, being protected from the outdoor wildness of the storm.  Once you’re inside, do you feel comforted, detached and numb, or more terrified?

I’m guessing elements of your emotional state will depend on how prepared you are to navigate through the storm.  If you have enough warm resources, wind protection, shelter, water, food, entertainment ideas, your basic needs may be met.  You might feel ready for the challenge.  Maybe you have a variety of candles and flashlights in case the power goes out.  Or wood for your fireplace for added warmth.  Add in some foods that don’t need to be cooked, and a good supply of drinking water.  You might feel like a conquerer and feel all set. You’ve got what you need, and you’re ready to deal with it!  Staying inside away from the storm doesn’t have to feel horrible.  Not when you’re ready to be in your cozy little bear den.

Oh once you’re locked in by the storm, what about those other emotional needs?  What about those needs to connect to others?  (even if you don’t like to admit or accept that….)

Do you know how to feel safe and connected, even when you’re physically separated, isolated, and alone?

Do you have enough people to reach out to when you are feeling scared or isolated?  Do you have someone you can call, or text, or write to when you are feeling lonely?  Some of us can handle weather crises a little easier than others, but ultimately, having a sense of connection and community is still important for most people.

Losing our ability to reach out and connect with our family, friends, and loved ones — or anyone human — is one of the most upsetting parts of big storms.  Those power outages — losing our phone reception, losing internet, losing the ability to drive anywhere.  Loosing connection with the people you value — that can feel worse and more painful than being hungry or cold for a few days. 

When you’re isolated and separated, so many other deep, troubling feelings and fears can surface. 

Is your dearest person okay?  What if you are the one who desperately needs help?  Can you tell anyone who can hear when you are struggling? 

When does separation feel less safe than connection?

Isolation versus Connection

So many dissociative trauma survivors have already seen the worst of people.  Hideous things.  The world has far too many abusers, predators, bullies, and mean-spirited, self-centered narcissists, that’s for sure.

Folks with DID have already had waaaay too many bad experiences with people hurting them, leaving them, betraying them, destroying any sense of safety.  Sometimes being alone in the world and separated from people can feel like the safest thing ever, especially when people have been who have hurt you.  Who needs people when people have been the problem?

Maybe being away from people feels secure. Manageable.  More controllable.  Easier to navigate.  Less painful. Connection to birds, dogs, cats, trees, stuffies, books, music, spirituality, etc can feel a whole lot safer.  I mean really.  When was the last time your book refused to let you read it?  How many times has your stuffie walked out of the house, refusing to be held?  Emotional connection can be with anyone, or in many situations, with anything.  We all know someone who is more attached to their dogs than to most people.  It happens. 

And… as much as I can understand when isolation feels safest, for you, when does isolation stop feeling okay? 

Even if you need people for only a few minutes a week, or maybe a few hours a month, there may still be a deeply hidden place within you that craves for safe connection.   Even if you don’t trust that, or trust anyone to be consistent with you, that need for connection might still be there, even if you hate that.  Even if you despise that.  Even if you fear that.  Even if you deny that.

So many dissociative trauma survivors want to refuse to claim connection as important. 

I get it — it’s not the top of your list, and really, that is okay.  At the same time… to your surprise, it might not be completely erased off your list, even if you don’t want to admit that to yourself.   

Try sitting completely alone, 100% separate from people.  No phone, no tv, no radio, no form of any version of a human voice entering your day.  While there are certainly folks who find comfort in that silence longer than others, there will likely be a point when being sooooo isolated becomes hard for even the most seasoned trauma survivor who is an expert in self-seclusion.

Finding Places to Connect

So… when you do need someone (maybe) (temporarily) (not for always, just for a minute), in situations like heavy duty winter storms, for example…. where do you go? 

Of course, talk with your friends and family or trusted loved ones, whoever they are.  Your heart connection to them is important, and do keep those connections warm, kind, gentle and accessible.

Internal System Connection.

Also, for all those amazing warriors with Dissociative Identity Disorder, you have a whole world of people within.  And yes, many (or most, maybe even all) of those insiders will need connection, and they can provide a deeper sense of connection for you as well.  How connected you feel externally will genuinely be reflected by how connected you feel internally. 

Typically, the more detached, separated, removed you are from your internal selves, the more distant you will feel in the outside world.  The inside experience often gets reflected in your external experience. 

If you don’t know how to connect with your own selves, how can you truly connect with someone externally?

This is important to remember.  Doing the work it takes to learn how to connect to and attach in healthy ways with your internal system members may be the key to your social isolation issues, or relate to your fears of having people in your life.  There’s more to in than just system connection, of course, but I dare say that connecting with fully healthy relationships won’t happen externally if you refuse to, will not, cannot, or do not connect with your insiders.  Your inside people bring so much depth and meaning into your world, so to stay isolated and separated from them, you are creating blocks and limits for yourself in far more ways than you know.

Ask yourself something. When you are feeling alone and isolated in the world, at that same moment, how alone and isolated are you from your internal system?   Track that correlation over a period of time, and see if that rings true for you. 

So even if you are physically alone in a winter storm, you can use those days, those hours, that precious time to talk within.  Check with your people, do things together.  Talk out loud to them.  Share activities together — do puzzles together, share in some coloring or art work, encourage each other while you stretch with yoga exercises, breathe together while you do tai chi walking.  Address some internal landscape challenges, move more people into your internal safe spot.  Pull each other together and listen to the story one of your older ones can read to the kids.

When you’re in the storm, spend the time together with your system.  Feel the connection you have with them.  That will help you feel less alone, no doubt about it.  Besides, talking with your people about the issues at hand can lead to great problem solving skills and positive resolution to things that feel troublesome.  You and your crew — you can work it out! 

DDCF Forum Connection.

For the dissociative systems who participate in the DDCF Community Forum, the forum setting itself becomes a place of solid connection.  Right now, for example, while this winter storm covers most of America, we have a conversation thread dedicated to that very situation.  We are in communication already, talking about our experiences, relating to the cold, sharing ideas for how to navigate winter challenges, etc.  We’ve got lots of say, of course.  A few jokes, a few stories, lots of understanding.  We’re already creating the sense of community and connection even though most of us will be isolated within our homes while the storm passes over.

The whole process of being connected together, especially for a shared experience, deepens the bond we feel with each other.  We know we are a WE.  We are a group of folks, of all different shapes and sizes and every difference you can think of, but we agree to come together in a community focused on kindness, friendliness, acceptance, authenticity, etc.  We are not the same, but we share a space that creates that connection, so loneliness, alienation, separation and isolation don’t have as much room to exist. 

If you are dissociative, and feeling alone in the storm, you too have the option to join this community.  There’s room for you too.

.

Keep Reading Here.

And of course, if you still need time to process for yourself, please keep reading here.  There are many articles of helpful tips, and topics to consider.  The real question is — can you fully apply what you’re reading?  Can you really do the tasks I’ve described in these articles?   I challenge you to go deeper than lip service.  Yes, read the articles, but then put the concepts into real life practice.  Can you do that? 

AND, the connection pieces, beyond what you practice with your DID System Work, is also what you then share with your therapist, with your trusted friends, with your support group.   You can write a comment below, you can share your favorite  articles with someone else.   If you’ve learned something good and useful from Discussing Dissociation, share that with others.  Let’s keep a good thing going! 

~ ~ ~ ~

Well…  I need to go do a little more winter storm preparation around here.   So for now, I’ll sign off, and hope to hear from you during the storm if local power outages don’t interrupt that. 

Y’all take gentle care.  Please tend to your little ones and the insiders who feel the most fear of storms.  Keep those who dread the cold, all snuggled up and feeling extra warm.  Provide as much comfort for your insiders as you can.  Check in with them frequently, and really, don’t forget them!  Listen to what they are saying, and make your time together one that you can remember fondly.   You and your insiders can absolutely turn this winter weekend into a positive experience of warm  connection. 

Keep the light on!

And as always, I wish you the very best in your healing journeys.

Warmly,

Kathy

Copyright © 2008-2026 Kathy Broady and Discussing Dissociation

The post Support through the Storm. You don’t have to be alone. appeared first on Discussing Dissociation.

January 11th.
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
 
#WearBlueDay.

Do you know anyone who has been enslaved in human trafficking?

Have you listened to their stories?  Have you felt their pain?

Did you know that many dissociative trauma survivors are used in organized trafficking groups?

Do you understand that these dissociative systems — including their inside kids, inside teens, and a variety of adults — are used, sold and enslaved in organized sex trafficking?

Do you know that, for some DID Survivors, their inside kids and teens have been trained to do a wide variety of roles and the actual inside kids and teens are the ones forced to be out?

Imagine how devastating that is. Can you feel that in your heart and soul?

Are you wearing blue today?

Texas is ranked second in the USA for the most human trafficking.

Facts about Human Trafficking 

My life experience with victims of human trafficking is person-by-person (or really, system-by-system).

However, to provide a bigger picture, statistics, information and education, I’m going to share a variety of Human Trafficking Quick Facts, as listed on the Homeland Security website.  

Please go to the Homeland Security pages for more information.

Human trafficking is the crime of compelling a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was used.

According to the United Nations’ International Labour Organization, human traffickers victimize an estimated 27.6 million people worldwide.

• 77% of all victims are in forced labor
• 23% of all victims are in sex trafficking
• 57% are men and boys  
• 43% are women and girls
• Within sex trafficking
  • 78% are women and girls and 22% are men and boys
  • 92% are adults and 8% are children
• Within forced labor
  • 33% are women and girls and 67% men and boys
  • 73% are adults and 27% are children

Although there is no reliable estimate of human trafficking within the United States, human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, on Tribal land, and within U.S. territories.

 

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 defines human trafficking as:

• Sex trafficking — The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age. (22 U.S.C. § 7102(11)(A)).

• Forced labor — The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. (22 U.S.C. § 7102(11)(B)).

Populations At Risk

There is no single profile of a human trafficking victim because traffickers are willing to exploit anyone who can earn them a profit regardless of age, sex, socioeconomic background, nationality, or immigration status. The following are examples of groups that may be at increased risk:

• Individuals who have experienced childhood abuse or neglect
• Children and youth involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems
• People experiencing homelessness
• Individuals living in poverty
• Survivors of violence such as intimate partner or domestic violence
• Unaccompanied alien children
• Individuals displaced due to political instability, war, and disaster
• Individuals working in industries with fewer legal protections

Who are the Traffickers?

There is no single profile of a human trafficker; their only commonality is that they are driven by profit at the expense of others. Traffickers are men and women of all ages. They can be relatives, romantic partners, or close family friends. Or they can be the people behind an employment ad or a new friend on social media or online gaming.

Human traffickers can be part of a transnational criminal organization, a local criminal network, or a gang. However, they can also be the owners of restaurant in the community, a local business offering janitorial services, a farm labor contractor supplying harvesters, or the couple next door with a live-in domestic worker or nanny. On a larger scale, traffickers can be a factory owner producing garments or electronics, or the captain of a commercial fishing vessel out at sea for months. They can be a child sex offender traveling abroad or a pimp.

Traffickers Methods of Control

Traffickers use force, fraud, and coercion to compel labor or services and commercial sex.

• Force can include the threat of and actual physical assaults and sexual violence to the victim and others around them which makes the threat even more credible, or family members.
• Fraud is often false promises – of education, a relationship, a specific job, good pay and days off, paying off a debt, sending money home to support the family, or generally of a new more secure life – but the reality is something different and inescapable.
• Coercion can be subtle or overt. Some common tactics include taking identity documents and threatening arrest and/or deportation, inhumane treatment, blackmail, shaming, isolation, addiction, and economic coercion, which can be taking advantage of existing debt or creating a debt.
• Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was used.

If you or someone you know needs help,
you can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline
by calling 888-373-7888,
texting “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733,
or using their online reporting platform. 

What if you are both Dissociative and Enslaved in Sex Trafficking?

Think about how devastating this is — being both dissociative and enslaved in human trafficking.  

In these situations, not only does the DID survivor have to manage the external controls violently forced upon them, they also have their own internal system conflicts, dissociative walls, amnesiac barriers, and the whole range of difficult emotions (fear, terror, guilt, shame, humiliation, confusion, horror, embarrassment, sadness, grief, betrayal, etc).  Family relationships are typically dysfunctional, or strained, or destroyed.  Complex PTSD symptoms and extreme trauma memories from childhood to the current day can still haunt their hearts and minds, and shatter any self of self esteem.  Body memories and physical injuries can be a daily painful challenge.  The complexities of life for these dissociative trauma survivors are massive.

And yet…  Healing is possible.  Freedom is possible.  Safety is possible.  Your system can learn how to be safe from harm, and your life can change for the better.   Find someone who understands the complexities of trafficking and how that impacts the dissociative system.  Find your local crisis center, woman’s DV hotlines, or an experienced trauma therapist.

I’m not the only person out there in the world who helps free the enslaved, but you may contact me if you want to discuss your personal situation.

If you want out, you can get out.  It will take a ton of effort, but you can do it.  

Despite whatever they told you, your life belongs to you, not to the traffickers.

Fight your way out.

As always, I wish you safety and freedom in your healing journey.

Warmly,

Kathy

• National Human Trafficking Hotline: Call 1-888-3737-888, Text INFO or HELP to 233733, or use their website’s chat feature for 24/7, confidential help in over 200 languages.

• Emergency Services: If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. 

Copyright © 2008-2026 Kathy Broady and Discussing Dissociation

The post January 11th. National Human Trafficking Awareness #WearBlueDay. appeared first on Discussing Dissociation.