I have previously posted my view that integration should not be held up as the goal in therapy. This is because the same dissociative pathways used in the past will be accessed once again to deal triggering stresses. I believe it is far more realistic for the therapist to encourage teamwork within a system so that the strengths of different alters, of ongoing grounding exercise strategies, and of developing internal support can come together to help when the system is once again under stress. And, as we know from our own lives, stress of some kind can be encountered with little to no warning any time – whether we are DID or otherwise.

From this point of view, healing means working towards the point where the hyper-vigilance of a DID system is lowered to the level of vigilance. That way, when difficult thoughts come up or stresses/triggers are encountered, one isn’t immediately launched into an uncontrollable flashback. In effect, healing means developing the capacity to navigate life without past trauma overwhelming you in the present moment.

My suggestion is to view healing as a path one travels. Empower yourself by using the tools of empathy and kindness toward all parts of your system, and grounding exercises to ease that path. A good therapist can open the doors to that path and guide you on it, but you are the one that needs to take the actual journey.

While the journey at times may be frightening and difficult, it is worth it. For safety and to avoid re-traumatization, the path begins and continues one step at a time. Best wishes.