This was a very fascinating conversation! I feel like I/we are probably the reason why Billie mentioned DID, because we have had some conversations with Billie about our DID, and we have made some contributions to Billie’s project “Listen Up, Kid”.
DID stands for dissociative identity disorder, it’s the same thing as what used to be known as multiple personality disorder. (The terminology was changed back in 1994, but most people still know it better by the old term.) I haven’t read the book Billie and Lavender were talking about in this conversation, but from what they were saying, it sounds more like IFS, which stands for Internal Family Systems. That is a mode of therapy that is based around the idea that everyone has parts of their self that try to protect them in various ways. But IFS is geared toward people who do not have DID, and the “parts” that IFS talks about are not quite the same thing as DID alters, which are also sometimes called “parts” (I know, it can be confusing!)
But the difference between the “parts” that most people have and DID alters is not really just the fact that alters can “take over” the body, as Billie put it. It’s a difference in how separate we are. With DID alters, we are technically still all parts of one human being, but our sense of identity is separated from the other parts of our self much more than it would be with a non-DID person. When we switch, it’s not really a “taking over” so much as trading places. So, if Doug is “out” in our physical body, and then I, Leyna, come out, Doug doesn’t get taken over by me or become me, he just goes into the internal world inside our mind, while I am coming out from the internal world. When we are not out in the body, we live in our internal world, and can interact with each other. I realize that this is probably a lot to understand for those who haven’t experienced it… Let me know if you have any further questions!
Anyway, thank you for sharing this lovely conversation, it was very thought-provoking!
Hello Leyna! Thank you so much for this thoughtful message and for sharing more about your experience with DID. I really appreciate the clarity around the differences between DID and IFS, especially the nuance around internal parts and alters. That was really helpful. And really apologise for not remembering what DID stands for #adhd.
In terms of The Untethered Soul, I think what Michael Singer points to isn’t quite IFS or DID, but something else entirely. More like a non-dual lens where the “voice in the head” is not a part or a protector, but a byproduct of the ego-mind trying to control or narrate reality to keep us safe. He’s asking us to observe that voice, not interact with it as a part or integrate it like in IFS. It’s more about disidentifying from the voice altogether.
That said, I do think childhood trauma — and the coping mechanisms it shaped — can definitely influence how loud or persistent those voices become. So while I wouldn’t say I relate to DID personally, I do sometimes wonder how far the spectrum goes between internal fragmentation and full dissociation. And I really respect how you describe your experience so clearly! It’s powerful, and I’m grateful you felt safe enough to share.
Also, thank you again for contributing to Listen Up, Kid. Your voice matters in this work. And I will get my act together soon and restart it again. Haha! 🖤
Yeah, I think my ability to explain my/our experience clearly comes from years and years of over-thinking about it LOL! The others in our system used to call me “the therapist” of our system, because I was always analyzing all of our thoughts and emotions. (To be clear, none of us are actually a therapist as a profession). But now, I think my role in the system is more as our “PR person.” I’m the one “out there” in the public, on podcasts, social media, etc., trying to educate others about our system and DID in general.
Looking forward to more “Listen Up, Kid”! We will probably write some more contributions for that at some point.
You're doing such important work to educate people about it, Leyna! And yes, I'd be reaching out when I finally get to finishing redrawing the first 7 letters since it's gonna be a book and has to look and feel consistent!
Hello Leyna, Billie, and all you beautiful souls! 👋✨
Thank you so much for this thoughtful discussion and for sharing your wisdom here. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to learn from all of you, and Leyna, your insights on the differences and interplay between DID and IFS are incredibly helpful. This is a topic I feel so drawn to explore, and you've given me a beautiful moment to pause and reflect.
I welcome all of you with a huge heart and open arms (or a high-five if you're not "a hugger"!). Your energy is so appreciated. 🪷🙏✨ Namaste.
Nah I'm so happy to finally see you and know you more. I cuss a lot too 😂 Damn your story is truly Inspiring and thanks to Lavender for putting it out there 🙏🏽 I know I've said this over and over, but your book is amazing! And to know the deeper story behind it makes it even more meaningful and rewarding 💯🙌🏽👏🏽
Looking forward to see/hear more form both of you ❤️
Billie!! Nahhhhh girl, it's okay! It's how you express yourself! I just gotta do that for the Podcast channels 😆✨
So grateful you are here, Astrid!! Billie is an incredible guest, and I'm so grateful she's shared her story here in this lovely space we call Substack.
Uffffff! What a conversation! Loved every bit of it. 🌸💕
Can resonate so much with the two of you having worked and left corporate to retire and live a life on my own terms, this feels like a warm soup sipping on a cold evening.
It takes so much courage, faith, and belief in oneself to rebuild and start - again and again and again.
Billie - you were beautiful sharing your journey. you are brave yet so soft in your approach to live an authentic life.
Lavender - you are magical in what you do. bringing the light in the world.
We're so glad you enjoyed it, fellow passionate retiree! You're right about this journey taking so much courage, faith and belief over and over again. It's not that easy but we will get there
My goodness, I feel so honored you are here, and you got to see us chatting! It is such an honor to learn more about Billie's life journey, and I appreciate her greatly for sharing it here with all of us.
This is so excited! Two humans who I appreciate and adore so much!! Yay!! I love see this web of connection between us all.
Isn't it just the BEST!? Gah...I feel so incredibly humbled and grateful to be here with you. SO grateful for YOU, dearest Alicia!! 💓✨
This was a very fascinating conversation! I feel like I/we are probably the reason why Billie mentioned DID, because we have had some conversations with Billie about our DID, and we have made some contributions to Billie’s project “Listen Up, Kid”.
DID stands for dissociative identity disorder, it’s the same thing as what used to be known as multiple personality disorder. (The terminology was changed back in 1994, but most people still know it better by the old term.) I haven’t read the book Billie and Lavender were talking about in this conversation, but from what they were saying, it sounds more like IFS, which stands for Internal Family Systems. That is a mode of therapy that is based around the idea that everyone has parts of their self that try to protect them in various ways. But IFS is geared toward people who do not have DID, and the “parts” that IFS talks about are not quite the same thing as DID alters, which are also sometimes called “parts” (I know, it can be confusing!)
But the difference between the “parts” that most people have and DID alters is not really just the fact that alters can “take over” the body, as Billie put it. It’s a difference in how separate we are. With DID alters, we are technically still all parts of one human being, but our sense of identity is separated from the other parts of our self much more than it would be with a non-DID person. When we switch, it’s not really a “taking over” so much as trading places. So, if Doug is “out” in our physical body, and then I, Leyna, come out, Doug doesn’t get taken over by me or become me, he just goes into the internal world inside our mind, while I am coming out from the internal world. When we are not out in the body, we live in our internal world, and can interact with each other. I realize that this is probably a lot to understand for those who haven’t experienced it… Let me know if you have any further questions!
Anyway, thank you for sharing this lovely conversation, it was very thought-provoking!
Leyna Vincent
Hello Leyna! Thank you so much for this thoughtful message and for sharing more about your experience with DID. I really appreciate the clarity around the differences between DID and IFS, especially the nuance around internal parts and alters. That was really helpful. And really apologise for not remembering what DID stands for #adhd.
In terms of The Untethered Soul, I think what Michael Singer points to isn’t quite IFS or DID, but something else entirely. More like a non-dual lens where the “voice in the head” is not a part or a protector, but a byproduct of the ego-mind trying to control or narrate reality to keep us safe. He’s asking us to observe that voice, not interact with it as a part or integrate it like in IFS. It’s more about disidentifying from the voice altogether.
That said, I do think childhood trauma — and the coping mechanisms it shaped — can definitely influence how loud or persistent those voices become. So while I wouldn’t say I relate to DID personally, I do sometimes wonder how far the spectrum goes between internal fragmentation and full dissociation. And I really respect how you describe your experience so clearly! It’s powerful, and I’m grateful you felt safe enough to share.
Also, thank you again for contributing to Listen Up, Kid. Your voice matters in this work. And I will get my act together soon and restart it again. Haha! 🖤
Yeah, I think my ability to explain my/our experience clearly comes from years and years of over-thinking about it LOL! The others in our system used to call me “the therapist” of our system, because I was always analyzing all of our thoughts and emotions. (To be clear, none of us are actually a therapist as a profession). But now, I think my role in the system is more as our “PR person.” I’m the one “out there” in the public, on podcasts, social media, etc., trying to educate others about our system and DID in general.
Looking forward to more “Listen Up, Kid”! We will probably write some more contributions for that at some point.
Thanks!
Leyna
You're doing such important work to educate people about it, Leyna! And yes, I'd be reaching out when I finally get to finishing redrawing the first 7 letters since it's gonna be a book and has to look and feel consistent!
Hello Leyna, Billie, and all you beautiful souls! 👋✨
Thank you so much for this thoughtful discussion and for sharing your wisdom here. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to learn from all of you, and Leyna, your insights on the differences and interplay between DID and IFS are incredibly helpful. This is a topic I feel so drawn to explore, and you've given me a beautiful moment to pause and reflect.
I welcome all of you with a huge heart and open arms (or a high-five if you're not "a hugger"!). Your energy is so appreciated. 🪷🙏✨ Namaste.
Such a beautiful video to watch and listen to. Love you both, and I’m truly grateful to be sharing this Substack space with souls as radiant as yours.
Awww thanks for the beautiful words, Sae! We are so glad you enjoyed it.
My goodness, Sae! Thank you so much for your beautiful comment 💓✨
So very grateful for your beautiful energy, and sharing this Substack space with you (and dearest Billie, too!). 🪷🙏✨ Namaste
You girls are adorable! 🥰 Lavender such a great host and Billie you're one helluva woman!☺️ Love the beeps on the curse words haha
But that one final note..."Don't lose your wonder" 💯❤️👏🏽
Aww thanks, Astrid! It was super fun and I wish I cussed lesser. Lavender would have lesser work on the edits. Hahaha!
Nah I'm so happy to finally see you and know you more. I cuss a lot too 😂 Damn your story is truly Inspiring and thanks to Lavender for putting it out there 🙏🏽 I know I've said this over and over, but your book is amazing! And to know the deeper story behind it makes it even more meaningful and rewarding 💯🙌🏽👏🏽
Looking forward to see/hear more form both of you ❤️
Billie!! Nahhhhh girl, it's okay! It's how you express yourself! I just gotta do that for the Podcast channels 😆✨
So grateful you are here, Astrid!! Billie is an incredible guest, and I'm so grateful she's shared her story here in this lovely space we call Substack.
Sending you both so much Love and Light! 💓✨
Uffffff! What a conversation! Loved every bit of it. 🌸💕
Can resonate so much with the two of you having worked and left corporate to retire and live a life on my own terms, this feels like a warm soup sipping on a cold evening.
It takes so much courage, faith, and belief in oneself to rebuild and start - again and again and again.
Billie - you were beautiful sharing your journey. you are brave yet so soft in your approach to live an authentic life.
Lavender - you are magical in what you do. bringing the light in the world.
We're so glad you enjoyed it, fellow passionate retiree! You're right about this journey taking so much courage, faith and belief over and over again. It's not that easy but we will get there
Dearest Janki! 💓✨
Thank you so much for listening and being here.
And thank you deeply for your beautiful comment.
We are all on this gorgeous journey we call life, and I feel incredibly honored and blessed to be along this gorgeous road and space we call Substack!
Sending you both so much Love and Light! 🪷🙏✨ Namaste
This was so fun to watch! Love seeing you both and all your fun and connection!
Dearest Alicia! 💓✨
My goodness, I feel so honored you are here, and you got to see us chatting! It is such an honor to learn more about Billie's life journey, and I appreciate her greatly for sharing it here with all of us.
Sending you so much Love and Light 🪷🙏✨ Namaste
I couldn't stop smiling and laughing with you guys as I watched this.
Hehehe! We should have a group chat!
That would be fun. A group party chat!
Can I vote YASSSSSS to this!? 😆✨
omg yes… group party chat… with all our angels and guides it will be like a reunited celebration of lifetimes we all come together. 💞
When you share it like this — I’m over here like YASSSSSSSS!!!! 😆✨
I (literally) have goosebumps — this would be an epic time and reunion and celebration all wrapped into one.
Sending you so much Love and Light, Bougie! 🌸💜💓✨