The Disassociated Identity
Are you suffering from a severe case of a chronic condition?
In the case of heart disease you may be among the 4.3% of asymptomatic patients or 50% of symptomatic patients who do. Similar statistics prevail across other conditions like cancer and Diabetes.
In these cases a person like me is considered in-curable. That doesn’t necessarily mean we are going to die, it’s just that your condition is so severe the modern medical fraternity doesn’t have a cure for you.
Elsewhere on this website you can find out how severe my current condition is and how strongly I advocate for modern medicine and in fact all fields of medicine to Beat A Diagnosis.
When you are first diagnosed with a severe case of a certain condition, the first thing that typically surfaces is a case of depression and along with that, a bucket load of anxiety. I know, because I’ve been there and two things became very evident:
- I didn’t know I had depression until my lovely wife pin-pointed my unusual snappiness as something out of the ordinary.
- My therapist could see that I was struggling with the ‘in-curable’ part of my diagnosis.
It was during the first few consults that my therapist suggested we try something different.
You see, Conrad Bligh is a Pen name of mine, the name in my passport and amongst my family and friends is Paul Cobbin.
Conrad and I have been associated for the last 40 years and I dust him off when I write creatively.
Conrad was originally just a bit of fun to wear aware flying miles between site visits. Recently he has been dusted off yet again as a very effective tool I reflect upon nearly every day to help with my severe heart disease.
So when my therapist suggested we try using some of the characteristics of Dis-associative Identity Disorder, I thought, why not, I’ve already got two other chronic conditions so why not use another to fight one.
Now, let me raise a disclaimer. In my content I use the identity of Conrad Bligh as an educational edifice, but he is not real and there is a disclaimer at the end of all my content reflecting the same. Nor am I a mental health practitioner. I am only a patient explaining to other patients how I am overcoming my severe condition.
But let me tell you this. Using the key elements of dis-associative identities as one of the tools in my repertoire to #beatadiagnosis and it has worked exceptionally well to reposition the severely unwell me, to the recovering me zooming along my pathway to an empowered diagnosis.
My wife often jokingly says with a smile, “where’s my husband”.
The transition is so profound my body clock has even changed. Before I applied the Trinity Pathway to my life, I was a late nighter and was seriously grumpy about early morning rises. Since the transition onto the pathway I’m up every morning at 5AM and asleep by about 8:30PM and the morning grouch has completely disappeared. Talk about polar opposites.
So next time you see Conrad Bligh in an episode or at a workshop, know that underneath is the other genuine article, Paul Cobbin, and that every time you see Conrad, you see a real guy who is beating a diagnosis.
If you or someone you know is suffering from an incurable condition, have a think about whether key elements of a disassociated identity would work to help you Beat A Diagnosis. If so, why not talk to your mental health professional about whether it’s appropriate in this instance, and if so, they will help you develop the identity you need to Beat A Diagnosis.
Beating a diagnosis for an incurable condition can be rather difficult to get motivated over, because we often wonder what’s the point. I initially thought the same. In my case, I was given three to five years and I’m only 57. I’m not ready to toss it in by any stretch of the imagination but I’m told my condition is incurable, but is it really.
The least Conrad Bligh can do is help me live a fulfilling life while not getting dragged down to the depression of a shortened life span. Conrad is a fantastic tool I use to empower my diagnosis and if we can I’m going to roll back my condition to live long enough to be an embarrassment to my grandchildren.
I’m Conrad Bligh,
I’ve beaten death twice, now it’s your turn…
Please note: The content presented is for educational purposes only. Viewer discretion is advised, as some material may impact mental well-being. If you experience any negative feelings or mental distress, please seek support from a mental health professional.
Conrad Bligh is the disassociated identity of Paul Cobbin and is only used for educational purposes.