Welcome to canDID Expressions
Our nonprofit organization is a community of people with trauma-based dissociation who explore and share our lived experience through writing and other expressive arts.
You are invited to join us in exploring the power of writing and other expressive arts with the goal of deepening a shared understanding of ourselves, others, and the world.
We look forward to getting to know you!
Why we’re here
Living with DID was isolating for me. I was consumed with shame, and exhausted from trying to present myself as a single/unified being. The only time I met others who had the same diagnosis was through treatment. It was nice to be with people who related to what I was going through, but we were together because there was something “wrong” with us. Our interactions were shaped by the language of therapy and with the goal of “getting better.”
Then something wonderful happened. I met an entire community of people with dissociation who didn’t hide/mask, explain themselves, or apologize for being different. They accepted, claimed, and even celebrated having DID. Such an empowering experience!
Continuing to spend dedicated time with others who dissociate in a safe and open environment has led to a deeper understanding and appreciation of myself and others. It’s helped me live more freely. I want this freedom and happiness to be available to others.
This space is created to gather and share our experiences with dissociation and how our daily lives are impacted by physiological and emotional responses to our past. It’s a place to be all of who we are in community with others who have firsthand knowledge of life with trauma-based dissociation.
Recent Expressions
Just Be Yourself! Really?
What are the rules? I often wonder because I know I don’t know the rules. It seems everyone plays by a different set of rules. I know they are different from mine. Others seem to expect me to know their rules. I never expect others to know mine. Do I have any? Do they...
The Menu
The last two weeks have been particularly stressful, probably more than I realize. I’m one that makes a point not to be a burden, not to offend or distress or bother anyone ever … if I can help it. That’s totally from childhood trauma conditioning. I default to...
Threshold
I count the petals on the flower. Sitting on my favorite boulder by the lake, I watch clumps of cotton ball clouds drifting across the sky. Birds chatter in the distance, though occasionally one swoops close by. I like the sound of the wind swishing the tall grass...
Parts and Writing Group
I wanted to be in our writing group this afternoon, as I do every Sunday, even though writing has felt distant to me. It’s often easier for me to write “off the cuff” as I do during our time together (compared to being more deliberate with my larger writing...
Rachel’s Dilemma
They call me sassy. It's a name that fits. I can be something of a smart ass when I'm in the mood to be. All I need is an excuse to pop off with some witty retort. But then, that's not the whole of me. I get to be chill sometimes. But that's where there's a problem....
Inner World – Outer World
I’m Randall. Some might call me a protector, but in fact I’m more of a logistics professional, historian … and when occasion requires, a traffic director. Knowing what I know about this system, it’s my job to ensure things run smoothly – as smoothly as possible. It...