We just found out that @satanic_temple_ has a project named grey faction, which among it's many goals that align with supporting the false memory syndrome foundation, involves disproving/disbelieving in DID. We are incredibly disappointed and hurt.
Right on it's home page. "The notion that traumatic events can be repressed and later recovered is the most pernicious bit of folklore ever to infect psychology and psychiatry."
"A position we have made crystal clear: Multiple Personality Disorder/Dissociative Identity Disorder (MPD/DID) is not “fake,” but typically iatrogenic, cultivated by unscrupulous mental health professionals."
"We do not believe people diagnosed with DID are “faking” their symptoms; we believe people really do suffer from symptoms of mental illness... However, we are skeptical that people really can have multiple personalities... in an objective sense."
They also reduce alters down to "behavioral components" such as rocking back and forth. Which is especially reproachable to take mentally ill folk's description of their lived experience and twist it into something so 2 dimensional as this. Especially when it strips us of agency.
There is an important line to walk when it comes to the era of the false memory syndrome foundation. There are true, horrible instances of carceral care and medical malpractice forced on patients that must be addressed. But you cross that line when you disbelieve survivors & DID.
We're just really, really fucking disappointed in the organization that was supposed to be leftist, and is leaving one of the most harmed & stigmatized communities to rot in the pursuit of taking down some of the very the people who harmed us the most.
Adding this to the end of the thread, as it’s where we have continued our discussion of the issue at hand. I’d also like to note that they have offered to continue discussion with us off Twitter, and we reached out yesterday and are awaiting a response. I can keep folks updated.
Do you ever read a research on DID with no mention of proving or disproving the disorder, and then realize that the methods are set up in a way where it's clear the author believes people with DID are faking their symptoms?
Specifically, inter-alter memory was being tested on presentation of a stimulus, recognition, discrimination, and other stuff. Instead of following procedures on this topic outlined since 2002 that have wait times of 0-60 minutes between presentation/testing, they waited a WEEK
(really it's been outlined since the 1980's/1990s, but some of the biggest and foundational studies using it came out in 2000-2002 so same difference)
In @houseNYX 's keynote on plural dispersion, they mention how the ISSTD's current treatment guidelines state that DID systems in group therapy should not be allowed to socialize outside of the group, at risk of losing professional support they've worked for years to obtain.
While I don't want to re-hash their entire presentation, I'll give a quick overview with quotes from the ISSTD before talking about connections we've made.
You can watch their full talk here:
ISSTD guidelines admits group therapy is helpful for systems, stating "[it] assists in the development of specific skill sets (e.g., coping strategies, social skills, and symptom management) and helps patients understand... they're not alone in coping with dissociative symptoms.
Saw #GetSplitOffNetflix was making its rounds, and wanted to add our voice.
We’ve been told “it’s fiction, let it go.” Yes, it’s fiction, but it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Fiction like this draws upon and amplifies the fear in general population, often to a violent degree. (1/9)
#GetSplitOffNetflix There’s already violent underlying misconceptions about folks with DID, violent systems in place to demonize, institutionalize, and harm us. Split uses these to create a market for its audience, and to ultimately reinforce these perceptions and actions. (2/9)
#GetSplitOffNetflix Especially when Split is marketed as a “excellent, well researched portrayal of DID” it means that those enacting the violence will view it and think “I was right. These people ARE monsters, and we should continue pushing them out of society and harming them.”
Due to Tr!sha’s video drama, we’ve seen an uptick in phrases like “DID is living HELL how DARE you make fun of something that’s so horrible to live with!! This disorder makes life almost unlivable!”
We’ve talked about this extensively in this video here:
But in short, repeating statements like that leads to sections of the community with #didosdd feel like they have to hit some benchmark of suffering to be valid.
The DID community is varied and that includes the severity of how we experience this disorder - some systems love each other despite the PTSD and get along as a group.
These phrases can leave these systems feelings alienated or unheard, or can create internalized stigma.