Posted by just plain jane on January 26, 2005, at 9:53:18
In reply to Re: I like it too. But it's not my IRL name., posted by Susan47 on January 26, 2005, at 7:01:26
>Anybody have the figures handy on the percentage of people who have their names changed who have been in therapy?
<<Not me. Not interested in statistics.
>I'm being polite, I don't know how to say it. I vaguely recall having a discussion with my psychiatrist about this issue, when I had a psychiatrist, and he told me not to do it. I mean, really, he actually told me NOT to change my name! Don't you think that's different? Well, he said he liked my name and he said changing a name was unnecessary, but I honestly just don't know.
<< If you've never liked your name, any time is good to change it, IMO. And he can pissoff.
>Does it change something?
<<Certainly has for me.
>If so, what? Who here has experience with changing their name and what did it do for you?
<<My chosen, now legal, first name is the root of the nickname I had in high school. Changing it was the first real step of freedom from the grasp of my parents' abuse. My mother used my given first name as a bludgeon, I've always hated the name as mine since I can remember. I identify very happily and comfortably with my chosen name; fits me like skin.
>Dinah should I take this to another thread or is it okay here? And I'm really curious about this. Hm.
> I agree with what you said. If there's no deeper reason than the way your name sounds, why not?
<<It's your name. In several cultures a new name is chosen at "adulthood". Doesn't matter WHAT your reason is, if it's what you want.
> I guess I wonder about the psychological implications of changing your name. Seriously, I don't like my name but I kind of wonder right now if that's not because of the deeper psychological aspect of who named me.
<<Geez, so you'd grant yourself one really big step of freedom from the psychological chains? Can't see how that is a bad thing.
>I have issues around my own name, I think for that reason so maybe my psychiatrist was just saying I should look at the reasons why I want to change my name, that it didn't sound a bad name.
<< Who gives a shyt if he thinks it sounds good or bad. You are the one who identifies with your name, not him. Your name, as I feel, is a HUGE component of how you perceive yourself.
>I kind of wonder though if it wouldn't just be a nice fast track to feeling better.
>>Fast tracks have been given a lot of bad press.
Susan (and allaya)
If you have a birthmark, scar, anything about you that causes you personal discomfort, that you really dislike, and you could make it less visible, more comfortable, who among us would choose not to?just wondering jane
poster:just plain jane
thread:447827
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050123/msgs/448048.html