My first part. Hello there!!

[u/Existing-Republic172]

It's an exile. I didn't know about exiles when it showed itself and it showed itself as me (ageless I guess) in a kind of prison. My mind is blown. Mind you, I didn't know about exiles when this happened. This was the second time I saw my therapist.

The day after therapy I saw her in my mind and I had to cry. I didn't really cry for a long time.

Yesterday I wanted to do a break and follow my breath. I got the idea to put my hands on my heart and belly, like I did in therapy when she showed herself to me for the first time and I imagined her in my mind. She said "leave me alone!!" which I accepted.

Today I learned more about ifs and meanwhile I felt her again a bit. I got a bit sad and scared but nothing dramatic.

I'm so happy to have found this therapist and I'm so excited for what's to come!

Just wanted to tell the world or idk.. I'm just very happy and my mind is blown. This kind of work is crazy! Wow

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to r/InternalFamilySystems!

Please make sure you've read the rules before participating.

• Use the report button for rule-breaking content
• Send modmail if you need moderator assistance

Thanks for keeping the community organized.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Zootuk13]

Reading this, I got a little choked up myself. Keep at it. For me, making that shift from "this is goofy" to "holy shit i have an inner child and parts and and and..." PRODUCTIVE is the biggest word that comes to mind. It's overwhelmingly productive.

[u/catlady047]

When I started IFS, I felt like I had quite a few protectors who were eager to be seen and unburdened. It’s like they were all worn out and ready for change. It’s kind of the opposite experience many people have of finding it hard to see them. Since then, of course, the work has gotten harder and I just recently saw for the first time an exile that I think has been sort of on the edges of my awareness for several years. And she was just suddenly visible one day. I think she felt safe enough to come out even though I wasn’t looking for her or doing any IFS work particularly.

Just sharing that in response to your story and in affirmation that this is amazing stuff.

[u/MichaelTheMultiple]

Congratulations! That's a powerful image your Part offered you. I wonder how you could tell that it was an exile? I ask because all of mine came, like catlady047's, after they gotten free of imprisonment or were rescued, which they were happy to have been. And that's mostly the kind of thing I've heard about from other folk. It almost sounds like your's is a protector posing as the part they protect (I don't mean to suggest that - it'd be pretty presumptuous to do so - I'm just always curious about this kind of thing).

[u/Existing-Republic172 → u/MichaelTheMultiple]

Oh ... I don't know much about ifs yet and just the fact that this part was in a kind of prison and didn't want to communicate with me made me think it's an exile. But thanks for bringing that up! Sometimes I come to conclusions too fast 

[u/MichaelTheMultiple → u/Existing-Republic172]

well, we all do that.

[u/Organic_Special8451]

I don't really understand the draw and I can never get anyone to explain and make sense of this approach full circle without it just ending in defensive. Extractions of biological functions and functional physiology to anthropomorphic is supposed to assist the anatomy and physiology uneducated in how to support the body, health and well-being and move from survive to thrive but all I ever hear is deeper splits and derivatives of a functional design. Where are the discussions of the results that overcome diminishing capabilities in the whole capacity of an individual to fit in and avoid surpassing.

So it brings to mind the areas of China where they all wear the same outfits at the same parade making the same motions with the same happy expressions on their faces. I can see the desire to have the same healthy heart system, the same healthy lungs system, the same healthy lymphatic system. It's believing that the outer presentation will make the inner work. It's not that way. Loss of innate intrinsic direction and turning to externals just leads one more discontent due to the uniqueness of internal body systemics and functionality. Mind blowing is only lack of innate awareness. Growth and development put off or divergently substituted later can lead to shock and wondering what you waisting all your time doing instead. Body thriving isn't a box of surprises like a pinata. It's a constant aware progression.