It might seem paradoxical, but successful efforts to heal can leave you feeling as though your situation worsened for a period of time. This can happen because you become more aware of your system and how it is functioning, such as becoming aware of lost time you hadn’t noticed previously. It can also happen because focusing on healing often involves focusing on the issues that you want to heal. Your attention may be focused more on issues than it was previously.
Healing involves change and even desired change can feel uncomfortable until it becomes your new normal. When dissociative systems are involved, change can cause ripple effects throughout the system. Some parts may welcome change while others are distressed by it.
This page is part of the Why Healing Can Feel So Hard section of the CommuniDID site, which explains why these experiences are common, including the role of protective parts, internal conflict, safety-based concerns, and external constraints.
Explore more:
Have a question this page didn’t answer? Click “Yes” or “No” below and a comment box will appear where you can leave your question. Comments are reviewed but not made public.