Integration

*NORTH AMERICAN FREEDOM FOUNDATION (NAFF)*
	Using Education and Remembrance to Advocate for U.S. and Canadian Victims and Survivors of Mind Control, Torture, Slavery, and Related Terror (Due to graphic content, this website is not suitable for children)

Integration: trauma survivors' and advocates' opinions and experiences

If you are a survivor or advocate and would like us to publish your opinion or your experience concerning the issue of integration, you can E-mail it to us at mail@naffoundation.org (please include NAFF in the subject line) or mail it to NAFF, PO Box 1328, Soddy Daisy TN 37384-1328 USA

All authors will retain their copyrights of any materials submitted for publication on the NAFF website. If you do not want to share your real name, please include an alias or alter-state name that will identify the material as yours.

Written by a survivor who is a mental health worker:

Integration is a personal choice; however, I feel that a person with potentially harmful alters may want to explore the possibility of integration as a responsible choice.

Excerpt from an E-mail written in 2001 by a social worker/survivor who no longer has a dissociative disorder:

I have a good friend who is a therapist and also chooses to remain MPD. That is her right and I support her in doing so. I do not live her life, and therefore do not have the right to tell her what is best for her. But we who choose to go towards full integration deserve equal respect and support from those who do not...many have told me that I was so shattered and so repeatedly traumatized for so many years that I'd never be able to integrate...I take that as a challenge. I have the right to integrate. I have the right to be what is unrealistically called a "mono." I have the right to be like other people who have not been traumatized. I have the right to grow and learn and stand strong and accept what was done to me as reality, and grieve what I was not allowed to be.

Excerpts from postings written by a support group facilitator who is an advocate:

These views express a 16 year journey toward a greater understanding and love of my friends who shared their multiplicity with me. This is simply an attempt at honoring their experiences and courage. I wanted to share what they have taught me.

Individuals who have endured the greatest suffering often develop the greatest sensitivity and compassion.

I do not consider multiplicity a disorder. Many multiples are highly intelligent and creative. Multiples are simply "different" and not disordered.

I've had the honor of knowing several multiples as friends. These courageous souls continue to teach me a great deal. They are all highly intelligent, sensitive people. : )

Multiplicity is an adaptation, not a disorder. Many multiples hold advanced degrees and earn more than most "singles" do. In addition, survivors tend to be more sensitive and empathetic; something we can all learn from! : )

Consider this when addressing any reference to Multiples as having MPD/DID. Courage and strength are not a disorder. Nor are suffering and pain a disorder.

Friends and loved ones of multiples have essentially been given a very special gift.

Those who have suffered severe abuse have, for whatever reason, to grant you their trust and love. Anyone who knows a survivor multiple would understand. It is a great accomplishment to have befriended such individuals and such relationships should be considered sacred by those who are fortunate enough to know such individuals.

All multiples possess the unique ability to see potential problems and challenges from many points of view. When encountering life's difficulties, a multiple has the combined intelligence and resources of many unique individuals; each with their own experiences and perspectives. This encourages teamwork and the ability to compromise with others. This exceptional ability often allows multiples to excel in their careers as well as their personal relationships.

A multiple friend or loved one can offer the combined love and friendship of all the individuals in their [internal] system. All they ask in return is an open mind and a true heart!

Multiplicity...is a unique adaptation to a difficult world. Many multiples are highly intelligent and have exceptional amounts of inner strength and creativity. We "singles" have much to learn from these unique individuals. And they have much to teach us if we are willing to learn...

I think we could use more diplomats and teachers who are multiples. Even a highly intelligent person of great ability can only offer one perspective on things. A multiple, however, has the ability to offer many perspectives simultaneously with less effort. These unique people are often undervalued and underutilized in our society. This will change in the future.

I feel that all multiples are highly creative people who have much to offer us. The concept of multiples having a "disorder" simply because they are multiples is both unfair and inaccurate.

Pain is not a disorder but a sign that we are human. Multiples have no apologies to make to anyone. This "disorder" has produced some of the most gentle, creative and intelligent people I have ever met.

All multiples should be proud of their great strength and courage. No multiple should feel ashamed or embarrassed about being multiples. They all possess a wonderful gift of hope and creativity.

Multiples are very unique and special people who deserve great respect and love from the rest of us. It is amazing how strong and creative these souls have become. I don't like the term MPD, because it implies some disorder. People who are multiples possess great survival skills and an incredible will to live. That multiples became multiples is not a disorder but an evolution in spirit.

We "singles" should love and admire our multiple friends, for they have much to teach us. : )

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This web page was most recently edited on 11/17/2009.

Emergency contacts and resources

SOUTHEAST
TENNESSEE

Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, Inc.
Chattanooga Office
Phone 423-267-1297
Fax 423-265-4923

Children's
Advocacy Centerof Hamilton County County
24-hour child abuse hotline:
1-877-54-ABUSE

Domestic Violence
Resources

Focus Adolescent Services: Family Help in Tennessee
(410) 341-4342
(877) 362-8727

The Partnership
for Families,
Children and Adults
(Partnershipfca)
Family Violence
Services Shelter
and Sexual Crisis & Resource Center
24-hour hotline:
(423) 755-2700

Survival Necessities Assistance

Tennessee Dept.
of Human Services
Child and elder abuse
24-hour hotline:
(423) 266-0162

USA

Abuse Consultants
Suicide resource
page

Child Help USA
24-hour National
Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453

Cyber Tipline
To report child sexual exploitation
24-hour hotline: 1-800-843-5678

Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men
24-hour hotline:
1-877-643-1120,
pin # 0757

Friends of Battered Women and Their Children
Counseling and legal
advocacy
24-hour hotline:
1-800-603-4357

Hot Peach
Pages - USA
State lists of agencies against domestic violence

KID SAVE
"Referrals to shelters, mental health services,
sexual abuse
treatment, substance abuse, family counseling,
residential care, adoption/foster care, etc."
24-hour helpline:
1-800-543-7283

National Center
for Missing and
Exploited
Children (NCMEC)
24-hour hotline
1-800-843-5678

National Center
on Elder Abuse
State Elder Abuse
Hotlines

National Family
Violence Helpline
24-hour hotlines:
National Child
Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453
National Domestic
Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233 or
1-800-787-3244
(TTY)
Victims of elder abuse
1-800-879-6682

National Family
Violence Hotline
24-hour hotlines:
1-800- 221-2681
1-800- 222-2000

National Runaway/ Adolescent Suicide Hotline
24-hour hotline:
1-800-621-4000

National Suicide Hotline
(Centerstone)
24-hour hotline:
1-800-SUICIDE
(1-800-784-2433)

National Youth
Crisis Hotline
"...for children and
youth who are
abused, suicidal, chemically dependent, depressed over family
or school problems, runaway or
abandoned."
24-hour hotline
1-800-442-4673

Prevent Suicide
Do you feel you have tried everything, and nothing makes pain go away? Do you feel like your answer is suicide? Then please just take one minute and dial 1-800-SUICIDE
(1-800-784-2433)

Rape, Abuse, &
Incest National
Network (RAINN)
24-hour hotline:
1-800-656-4673

SAFE (Self-Abuse
Finally Ends) Alternatives)
Provides Information;
not a crisis number
1-800-DONT-CUT
(1-800-366-8288)

Stop Abuse for
Everyone (SAFE)

Stop It Now!
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Helpline
(office hours only)
1-888-773-8368

Suicide Prevention
24-hour hotlines
1-800-827-7571
1-800-784-2433

Virtual Global Task Force (VGT)
"...made up of police forces from around the world working together to fight online child abuse."

CANADA

Abuse
Consultants
Suicide resources

Centre for Treatment of Sexual Abuse & Childhood Trauma
Serves Ottawa-Carleton
613-233-4929

Hot Peach
Pages - Canada
Agencies against
domestic violence

Kids' Help Phone
National phone counselling svc. for children and youths
24-hour hotline
1-800-668-6868

Stop Abuse for
Everyone (SAFE)

Telecare Distress
Centre
Confidential 24-hour crisis and befriending phone support line:
(905) 459-7777
(Not toll-free)
Email address: telecare@on.aibn.com

Victims of Violence
For victims of violent crime - Ottawa, Ontario
(613) 233-0052
vofv@victimsofviolence.
on.ca

Virtual Global Task Force (VGT)
"...made up of police forces from around the world working together to fight online child abuse."

Many more helpful contacts are listed on NAFF's Recovery Resources and More Resources web pages.

Every day around the world, and even here in the United States, children are sold into virtual slavery or traffic for the worst forms of sexual abuse - President Bill Clinton, U.N. Protocol Orders Signing Ceremony July 5, 2000.

Copyright © 2004 North American Freedom Foundation

NAFF does not discriminate against any person due to religious beliefs, age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, disability, or national origin.