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Albert2Senior Contributor
Hi All, my first post.
My psychiatrist is treating one of my alters for PTSD. This alter is a protector, sometimes he “edits the truth” of what he tells me, supposedly in my best interests. My psychiatrist won’t tell me what they have discussed, does anyone think this odd or does respecting my alters privacy override my wish to know?
In response to: DID Alter PTSD treatment
Unknown userMember
Welcome to the forums @Albert2 😁
I am Sunshineandsea, one of the Peer Support Workers at Sane. You may get some feedback about this on the forums. There is a wealth of experience and knowledge across this community.
I am not even sure about how to tackle the ethical questions you raised. It is a very tricky and good question though. How do you feel about it? Did you share your concerns with Psych? Did they explain what you might experience when treating the PTSD?
Also, not sure if you are familiar with our forums. If you want to chat or respond to someone, you can type @ and their name.... such as @Former-Member
Hope we can find some people who have had similar experiences to chat with you 💜
In response to: Re: DID Alter PTSD treatment
Albert2Senior Contributor
Hi @Former-Member
Thanks for your reply. I am not in a good place right now, this may have been part of why my Psych hasn’t shared this info and probably why I didn’t ask questions. I feel as though things are happening behind my back, this is not good feeling. I also feel like my head is about to explode, Psych has just upped my AD meds so that should help.
I don’t have much of a support network, apart my Psych who is not a great communicator anyway. That is why I have joined these forums.
Thanks for the 💜 and same back. “Little” things like that are nice when I’m in a hole.
In response to: Re: DID Alter PTSD treatment
Unknown userMember
This must be very agonizing for you 💔. I don't have personal experience with alter personalities, but your story really reached me. I can't imagine what it is like for you, but it is not for want of trying! I am doing a little side reading on it now to help me with some insight.
The forums reduce many pressures around interaction and communication. Much of the community here find it difficult to communicate in the more traditional means. Hopefully we can offer you some support and connection on here 💕
In response to: DID Alter PTSD treatment
chibamSenior Contributor
Hi @Albert2 . Welcome to the forums! 🙂
I'm no lawyer, so I can't attest to the accuracy of what I have to say. But my understanding is that, in the eyes of the law, you and all your alters are classified as just one person. I haven't heard anything about the laws of doctor-patient privelage specifically forbidding a doctor from disclosing patient conversations to other alters in the same body. I suspect that this is probably such a niche issue, the law hasn't ever stopped to think about drawing up clear standards on it.
My understanding is also that a person always retains the right to see their own file that their doctor/therapist keeps on them. Since, legally, you classify as a single person, I would assume that legally, all the alters in your body retain a legal right to see that file, and hence find out what all the other alters have been saying in therapy.
In response to: Re: DID Alter PTSD treatment
tymeModerator
Hey @Albert2 ,
Welcome to the forums!
I hope you find the support you are looking for on the forums 🙂
See you around, tyme
In response to: Re: DID Alter PTSD treatment
Unknown userMember
Hey @Albert2,
Just checking in... how are you doing?
Xx
In response to: Re: DID Alter PTSD treatment
Albert2Senior Contributor
I am “ok” and thanks for asking. I will reply further tomorrow. Xx
In response to: DID Alter PTSD treatment
NatureLoverSenior Contributor
Hi and welcome, @Albert2 ...
I am not an expert, but I would have thought that you would have the right to know.
Can you ask your psychiatrist why he is not letting you know what your alter said?
It seems a strange move on the part of your psychiatrist, as I thought that integration was often the goal. Do you know if integration is your psychiatrist's goal?
Good luck...
In response to: Re: DID Alter PTSD treatment
Albert2Senior Contributor
@chibam yes I am sure I would have a legal right to “my” patient records but I am not looking to force the issue. I was originally asking if this confidentiality with alter/psych is common or is it odd? If my protector alter doesn’t want me to know things (he has memories that I don’t) I am sure he has his reasons.
@NatureLover there has been no discussion of integration, there are some of my alters I wouldn’t want to integrate.
@Former-Member thanks for your support including reading up on alters. Something non DID people don’t often grasp is that alters are real people, sharing a body. When they are out they interact with the world the same as anyone else and they have the same emotional needs as anyone else. Sometimes they have very different personalities to the host. I have had two (that I know of) changes of fronting alter in my life. Once when I was 27yo, previously I had been shy and introverted, a protector alter took over and “I” became a more confident and outgoing person, this worked really well. The second change was when my heart stopped in my mid fifties. This trauma triggered something in my subconscious mind back to early life traumas, another alter took over.
In response to: Re: DID Alter PTSD treatment
Unknown userMember
Wow, that is an amazing insight @Albert2 and @NatureLover.
Have yours thoughts around this matter become more clear today @Albert2?
Hope you have had an ok day 💛
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