Dealing With Headaches

[Cammy]

Shadows: I still keep getting a strong feeling that if you used a journal to talk to yourself it might help you immensely. When you write to all your possible internal others, even though you don't specifically know them, you are still communicating with them. Speak to them respectfully as you would want others to speak to you. It may feel strange at first like you are playing a game of having imaginary playmates, but the more you write to them, the more contact you will make with them. Your daily journal could start off with an open letter that simply says, "Hello everyone! How's everyone doing today? I know that you are with me and a part of me, and I just want to let you all know that I acknowledge and respect everyone here. I am always open to listening to your concerns and having your views weighed. I don't want to leave any of you out." With a welcome invitation to communicate like this, even try imagining what the other would be communicating back to you. Even though you may think you are imagining the response, there may be elements of it that are actually coming from your alternates. As time goes by, the individual personalities will become more apparent. The journal is private, so it is a safe place for your alternates to begin to express themselves. Not all of your alters may respond to this method, but the ones that do will give you a way to start understanding them and being able to get to know them. The part of this that you find the most vexatious is the fact that it takes time. It is not something that can be rushed, but I do believe that the journal method will give you some sense of immediate satisfaction and like you are doing something right now that is reaching out to your alters (which in fact it is). Think of it as writing to pen pals far away.