Dissociative Identity Disorder Conference
The
lady was sympathetic, listened attentively, asked many questions, and
replied that while such inability to acknowledge isn't directly linked to
dissociative identity disorder, Kristin may benefit from attending
a conference that her ministry organizes annually
for abuse survivors who suffer from dissociative identity disorder. She said the
conference, which is in a few days, is already full but if I wanted to bring Kristin
and can arrange for our own lodging, she will make room for us so that we can
attend all sessions of the conference itself.
Before the blow up, Kristin had read and watched some of the lady's content, commented that the lady actually knew what she was talking about, and had expressed interest in reading and watching more of her content. I mentioned the invitation to Kristin and offered to take her to the three-day conference; perhaps it could provide a breakthrough. Kristin remained angry but agreed to go, so we drove through two states to get there.
Gathered at a small secluded hilltop hotel, which had been rented outright, were the lady, her small ministry staff and affilaited counselors, and twenty-one abuse survivors, all of whom were Christians suffering from dissociative identity disorder and each of whom was chaperoned by a family member, a friend, or a counselor. Most of the attendees were women.
The lady taught her thesis of focusing on identifying and working with the lead alters, whose integration would automatically integrate all of the alters attached to them. The sessions were heavy on theory but lacked example and demonstration.
For most of the attendees, the biggest draw seemed to be the openness, love and camaraderie that permeated the conference. Many of them confided that they wait for this conference all year long because it is the only time when they can be themselves in front of other people, including Christians, as disclosing to their home churches that they were sexually and/or ritually abused as children and now suffer from dissociative identity disorder is a sure way to be ostracized and treated like a leper, and eventually having to leave the church.
When I shared some of the rejections that Kristin and I have experienced from churches after approaching them to seek help, I was almost laughed at for being naive. These Christians said that churches are the last places that people suffering from dissociative identity disorder or any other mental illness should go to seek help. This dissociative identity disorder conference was trying to provide the ministry and the edification that churches should have been providing and was a devastating indictment against them.