I have a friend who I think has developed another personality. I'm not sure what to say to this other person when she switches over, I don't want to upset the other person, but she shouldn't be there and I don't know what to say.

Does anyone know anything about this?

this stuff is seriously difficult to handle. my neighbor has a friend with several - 3 or 4 personalities, and she has shared the stories. maybe you could go online and start checking it out. she (neighbor) quickly learned which personality was present and reacted accordingly. she also learned NOT to talk about one with the other, especially when the aggressive one was present.

it's all a mystery to me.

I think I learned this today. It's scary, b/c the strong one has control and will get pissed. They are aware of each other however the strong one wants to take over completely. I feel a little out of my depth and don't want to make it worse. Better to talk to them as individuals, seperately.

yes, that's what i learned. it's so weird, isn't it!

when did you figure this out about your friend? i have no idea how it would feel to have a friend like this. i guess you work it out just like other friends. i wonder how it would feel to BE that person. ick - struggle!!

I was talking to her and she got a headache, that seems to preceed the swithch, returned after a few minutes but it wasn't her, she didn't know me or know anybody actually and her memory was full of holes; a person remembers specifics about their childhood, has stories, memories but she didn't really, just a very basic personality. Some things were similar, but the history of the new person was different. She couldn't answer questions that any person could. Now it happens all the time, almost with no reason, I had thought stress was triggering it, but now it seems random. the new person appears more frequently; she's actually pretty nice, but it's not a full person...

It's very scary for her and depressing to not have control and find that you've said things to people or didn't know people and people can see something is wrong b/c you're not you. Idk what to say. I don't think there is anything. Sometimes I wonder if the first person was the second person and the second was really there first...but I don't think so.

does she get help for this? like meds or therapy or anything? does everyone (family/friends) know she has these personalities?

that's interesting about the headache and how she shifts so quickly. i feel for her. it would be awful to deal with.

i can't imagine being you, either!

She was in therapy but she stopped b/c she feels like the new person has total control now, she has other things going on too, alot, which is what triggered this in the first place I think; it was too much for her to deal with and so she switched to somebody who dosen't have any of the painful past.

Yes, the headaches seem to be the warning. Originally she only showed up at a particular time of day. If I asked her what she (the new person) did all day she would just say she slept, but nobody sleeps 22 hours a day, she slept "inside". Now she seems to wake up whenever. People know about it and I think it's very embarressing for her--the real person.

At first it was a curious thing, but I thought with therapy and meds it would go away, but it's gotten seriously out of control it seems. Now she is very suicidal. Idk what to say to help. She needs to go to the hospital. I think they don't believe her.

dang, this is very complicated and serious. is she the friend you posted about last week or so that you felt was suicidal?

can you go to the hospital with her? they would believe you and you could vouch for her condition. maybe you should do that, just to be sure she doesn't do anything and gets help. not a good position for you to be in tigs. i'm sorry for you too.

Her therapist thinks she's lying, pretending just to get attention. I can't imagine that would be true.

It's very complicated. I would if I could, but now she dosen't want to do anything about it. She sorta gave up. The truth is she would have to be admitted, she tried to get admitted but they wouldn't. apparently it's not that easy to do. there has to be an imminent danger to yourself or others.

She tried to kill herself last night with pills and booze. She was doing so well until this thing. Coming around and then this... Sometimes I honestly wonder...

her aggressive person is keeping her needy person from getting help. there has to be an answer! this is awful.

sometimes you honestly wonder....i hear you. and i agree. and i cant believe i agree.