Posted by Sean01 on December 29, 2002, at 21:28:47
In reply to Re: just wanted to wish you luck » Lorelai, posted by terramiller on October 10, 2002, at 22:16:30
Hi. I came across this thread and learned a lot. I am not a therapist, nor a psychologist, but I have a strong suspicion that my girlfriend suffers from dissociative disorder. I have researched a great deal - mostly on-line - to educate myself so to better understand what she is going through. I love her very much, and she loves me...but there is a "part" of her that runs away (fast) whenever she allows herself to trust, feel happy, and love openly. She struggles to stay in the present, has profound memory lapses, adores and wants to spend every second with me one minute, then will be distantly detached, cold, and even heartless the next. I have seen her in various stages of dissociation - sometimes it is so acute it is scary. But I don't judge her because I know there is something else going on.
she speaks of her "secret garden" (do you know bruce springsteen's song?) where no one is let in. But she HAS trusted me on several occassions to enter that garden where she reveals to me incredible stories from her past. I fear she has suffered gross abandonment and emotional abuse - from EVERYONE close to her. I also fear she may have been sexually abused. I want to help desperately. I think she is only partially aware of her dissociation. She is seeing a therapist. I have asked her to let me go with her. I feel I can help. not surprisingly she says no way. I wish I could speak to her therapist. Should I approach her therapist on my own, or is this a betrayal? Inappropriate? My GF is a great actress (as I think is common for this disorder) and does a good job of fooling most everyone. Maybe she fools her therpaist as well? I am very concerned for her...is there anything I can do? I don't want to abandon her like everyone else has. your advice would be greatly appreciated! sorry to try and explain something so complicated in a short note, but I suspect you can fill in the blanks.
thanks. sean.
poster:Sean01
thread:1196
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20021109/msgs/1975.html