Hi! Welcome to my website, which is also a book in progress.
TL;DR: So that's how it is.
Originally Written: 29-Sep-2021
Word Count: ###
Read Time: ## minutes
Soup, that is.
Rather than tell, let me just show for a change.
A is for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
B is for Bipolar (Type II, mind you)
C is for Complex...PTSD, that is. Though one is sure most would love to think this one believes they are - it is you I love most here.
D is for Depression, gotta love Type II something, I guess.
E is for Eccentric, which I hear is actually the way we describe the revolution of the Earth. How natural can one be to the matter, folks!?
F is for Fag. Fuck you too.
G is for Gay. I would eat shit with a smile if it meant I could prove a point about choice. But heaven's no, please do not.
H is for Hater?
I is for Independent to to the point of absolute dependence on others to give me attention I am not giving myself at any moment one could pass words through mouth.
Just kidding. About literally everything. Maybe even about this whole thing. Who knows? Almost halfway though.
K is for Kid at heart. Oh yeah, and mind and soul and breath and body and being of which I am that.
L is for Love in me as essence, in truth, the least of which I would not pass a chance to question in you as real, alive, and beating.
M is for Mirror, by which I have this strange ability to placate to. I would say it is something, but it isn't really anything to look at there, is there? Oh, how it is what it is.
N is for Narcissism. I pity the fool for every moment they bothered to pluck themselves from their own context by which they perceive themselves to question.
O is for O
P is for
Q is for
R is for
S is for
T is for
U is for
V is for
W is for
X is for
Y is for
Z is for
Complex PTSD
Complex PTSD is short for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. CPTSD is a psychological condition that comes from prolonged, repeated abuse or neglect, usually in childhood. Understanding complex PTSD requires a look at a wide range of abuse types; while many people associate this condition with physical or sexual abuse, people can also develop CPTSD from verbal and emotional abuse, or even emotional neglect. He adds that CPTSD resulting from a long-term pattern of mistreatment separates it from the more commonly known form of PTSD, which can happen after a single traumatic experience.
In addition to any long-term injuries a survivor might have from physical abuse, chronic stress from CPTSD can cause severe ongoing damage to their body. For instance, constantly being tense can injure their muscles, or insomnia can weaken their immune systems and make them heal more slowly; in many cases, survivors also harm themselves even more by self-medicating with alcohol or other drugs.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) formerly multiple personality disorder
What it is: The presence of two or more distinct personality states (alters) that recurrently take control, with significant gaps in memory.
Symptoms: Identity confusion, different voices/names, feeling like someone else is present, acting in ways that conflict with one's usual self.
Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder (DDD)
Depersonalization: Feeling detached from your body, thoughts, feelings, or self, like an outside observer.
Derealization: Feeling that the world or surroundings are unreal, foggy, hazy, or dreamlike.
Key: The person knows these feelings aren't real (reality testing remains intact).
Other-Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD)
Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) is a diagnostic category for individuals experiencing significant dissociative symptoms that don't fully meet the criteria for specific diagnoses like Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Dissociative Amnesia, or Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder. It serves as a residual category.
Common Presentations (Colloquial "Types") of OSDD
OSDD-1 (related to DID): This presentation involves identity disturbance and distinct parts or alternate identities, but without meeting both core criteria for DID (either distinctness of parts or amnesia).
OSDD-1a: Amnesia occurs between parts, but the parts are not as distinct as in DID, feeling more like different "modes".
OSDD-1b: Distinct alternate identities exist, but there is minimal or no amnesia for everyday events between them. Individuals are generally aware of other parts' actions but may still experience emotional amnesia or feel actions are "not me".
OSDD-2 (Identity disturbance due to coercive persuasion): This involves changes in identity stemming from prolonged intense social control, such as in cults.
OSDD-3 (Acute dissociative reaction to stress): This is a short-term (hours to a month) onset of severe dissociative symptoms like depersonalization or amnesia following a traumatic event.
OSDD-4 (Dissociative trance): This involves episodes of narrowed or lost awareness, leading to unresponsiveness or temporary neurological symptoms not explained by cultural practices.
"Levels" of Dissociation
Dissociation is better understood as a spectrum than fixed "levels." While DID is often considered to involve a higher level of structural dissociation and scores higher on clinical measures, OSDD symptoms can still cause significant distress and impairment. The boundary between OSDD-1 and DID can be fluid, with presentations potentially shifting based on stress or therapy progress. The diagnostic distinction lies in the specific combination of identity fragmentation and amnesia according to official criteria.
Like other dissociative disorders, OSDD is strongly linked to severe childhood trauma and neglect. Treatment is similar to DID, focusing on trauma-informed psychotherapy to facilitate integration and manage symptoms.
Dissociative Amnesia
What it is: Inability to recall important personal information, usually traumatic or stressful, beyond normal forgetfulness.
Types:
Localized: Can't remember a specific event or period.
Selective: Can't recall parts of an event.
Generalized: Total loss of personal history (rare).
Dissociative Fugue: A subtype involving sudden, unexpected travel or wandering, along with confusion about one's identity or assuming a new one, linked to amnesia.
Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition affecting social communication, interaction, and behavior, characterized by diverse traits from mild to severe, making it a "spectrum" disorder with varying support needs. Key signs include challenges with social cues (eye contact, non-verbal communication), repetitive actions, intense focused interests, and sensory sensitivities, stemming from brain differences, often appearing in early childhood. While there's no cure, therapies help manage challenges, fostering an inclusive environment for autistic individuals.
Core Characteristics:
Social Communication & Interaction: Difficulty with back-and-forth conversation, reduced eye contact, trouble understanding body language, and challenges sharing emotions or interests.
Repetitive Behaviors & Interests: Engaging in repetitive movements (hand-flapping, rocking), strict adherence to routines, ritualistic behaviors, or intense, narrow focus on specific topics or objects.
Sensory Differences: Being over- or under-sensitive to sounds, lights, textures, smells, or temperature.
Key Aspects:
Spectrum Disorder: Affects people differently; some need significant support, others are independent.
Causes: Believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors, with brain differences being key.
Diagnosis: Often in early childhood, but can be later; early intervention is beneficial.
Support: Therapies (speech, occupational, behavioral) help develop skills, but there's no "cure" for the core condition.
Examples of Signs:
Not responding to their name or looking when pointed at.
Preferring to play alone.
Using scripted speech or repeating words (echolalia).
Becoming extremely distressed by small changes in routine.