cont. from

The code words "get it together" have been used by parents, teachers, and therapists with DID and DDNOS children who appeared disoriented and had uncontrollable switching of alters or ego states influencing the child to act developmentally inappropriate, exhibit extreme mood switches, or experience difficulty in performing needed tasks, e.g., homework or chores. This word signified to the child and his or her parts the need to come together in co-consciousness and cooperation.

The symbolic word "spike" was used by a DID child to report to her parents when she was experiencing intense feelings or new memories. Sometimes her parents would use the word when they suspected that their daughter was having a new memory, saying, "Are you having a spike?"

One child used the symbolic word "bubbles" to signify when he felt that he was "going to burst" with overwhelming emotions and might hurt himself or someone else. For one child the symbol of the child's hero figure, Power Ranger, was employed to reorient the child to the present when the child was experiencing a flashback. The hero figure was seen as the child's protector who gave the child the emotional support to come back to the present environment because his hero was watching over him. In order for code words or symbols to be effective, the child and alters should select the code words or symbols and agree to comply with the use of them. Sometimes children may become resistant or oppositional to using them. A frank discussion with the child about effective ways to help him to have control over himself to spare him any embarrassment or a long discussion may be required to regain the child's commitment to responding to the code words or symbols. Hypnotherapy (Kluft, 1985b) may be employed to instill code words to help stabilize the child, if the child is agreeable to this technique.

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References

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Written: 01/2003. Reviewed 04/2006