the dissociative artist network
The Dissociative Artist Network is an entirely free, peer-run community space for artists with complex trauma histories and dissociative responses to connect, share/process their art, promote professional work/personal projects, learn new skills, and make meaningful connections!
We run creative workshops throughout the week and offer a 24/7 space to chat!
Check out our groups schedule and more about what we offer below:
About Dissociation:
Dissociation is the brain’s natural response to overwhelming stress or trauma, designed to create distance from intense emotions, sensations, or experiences. This is something most people have experienced at some point in their life.Typically, this is a temporary and helpful response that allows a person to manage stress and regain balance. However, if dissociation is relied upon as a primary coping skill, especially during formative early childhood years, it can greatly increase the risk of developing a dissociative disorder.Common symptoms of dissociative disorders include:
-frequent memory loss or “losing time”
-difficulty recalling certain parts of your life
-feeling persistently detached from your body
-feeling like the world around you is not real, or like
you are stuck in a dream
-feeling a persistent lack of self, or having multiple
selves managing different parts of your lifeIf you would like to learn more about dissociative disocrders check out our resource links at the bottom of the page.Art As A Tool For Trauma Recovery:
For as long as we have had access to recorded history, people have been relying on art as a lifeline to humanity. In times of strife, we need to create, and we need to watch other creating too. We need to sing and dance together, and make messes, and play!For individuals healing from complex trauma, processing and moving through emotions to a place of safety is often not about finding the right words; trauma lives deep within the body, and in parts of the brain that can't always access language.Art provides an alternative, safer outlet. A way to process without needing to know all the details, a way to explain without ever having to find the right words; and for many systems it becomes a core method of communication between dissociative parts.It can be adapted to any skill level, and utilized through any medium; the benefit comes from the process not the result.Healing In Community:
Shame thrives in silence. Isolation deepens wounds that trauma leaves behind.Within the modern medical/mental health complex, healing is often reduced to once a week therapy and reliance on pharmaceuticals. These can be indespensible life-saving tools, however without a stable, loving community to return to, our nervous systems never have a chance to fully settle.They need consistent supportive connection; familiar faces, a sense of belonging within a group of people that you care about and that care about you back, even on your hardest days, but healing also involves increasing our capacity to recognize and accept our own value.Many trauma survivors find it easier to show up for others than for themselves, but loving yourself does not have to be the first step to being loved - it is not uncommon for people in our community to offer support several times before they feel comfortable enough to recieve support.When we offer comfort and reassurance to others—reminding them they’re not too much, that they deserve safety, love, and space—it can slowly begin to affect our internal experiences as well.Even if we don’t fully believe those things for ourselves yet, the act of saying them, of holding space for someone else’s boundaries and needs, can start to soften the way we relate to our own.Over time, we can learn that we're not only capable of caring for others, but also of being cared for. That we are allowed to have bad days, and exist in relationships where we are supported, not just needed. Building this capacity doesn’t happen all at once—it comes through consistent connection, safety, and repetition.
more about us!
The Dissociative Artist Network is a small, grassroots initiative dedicated to supporting, primarily, DID/OSDD systems.Our goal is to make creation and community accessible for trauma survivors, even the most multipli-margainalized. Everything is free and virtual, if you can see this page you already have everything you need to participate!If you don't have access to physical supplies you can check out our vast resource library containing many great no-cost digital tools. We teach workshops with prompts and skills that can be adapted to your specific needs, and we are always happy to brainstorm with you to find ways you can still create even with physical and/or financial barriers!We believe that everyone is capable of creation, and that it is, in fact, a basic human need - along with being seen, heard, valued, and knowing you have a place you belong, with people who want to hear your story.We strongly believe in the importance of being able to share art that reflects your lived reality; that all stories deserve to be told and all art deserves to be seen.Because of this, no topics are strictly off limits - though we do have safety procautions around sharing potentially triggering material to protect folks that aren't up for seeing it!We aim to offer what we consider safe enough community. We do our best to create a framework that protects safety, but this is a trauma centric space, difficult topics will come up, and sometimes things can be retriggering in ways you didn't expect and weren't prepared for.If you are not up for heavier topics you can temporarily mute, or opt completely out of channels containing more sensitive content.
Inside our server you will find:☆ Lots of text/forum channels for different topics☆ Gallery Channels for different forms of art☆ Voice channels for events, as well as a digital open art room that can be accessed at any hour☆ Channels, galleries, and groups specifically for younger parts☆ Peer-led workshops
(feel free to apply to lead one if you have a skill/activity you'd like to share!)☆ Social Events☆ A space to promote your art and personal projects☆ A used supply marketplace for buying, selling, and trading supplies that would otherwise go unloved
Accessibility:☆ No cost☆ 24/7 access to community☆Channels organized by topic, with the ability to opt in and out of what you'd like to see☆ a weekly in-server "newsletter" to keep you up to date with any events or changes☆ Lots of friendly pals to help you out if you are struggling with technology
Ongoing Events
This community is an entirely peer-run passion project, created and maintained by The Monster Exhibit, a queer multipli-disabled artist creating out of California, alongside a few wonderful team members.All of our moderators, workshop coordinators, and tech support are disabled peers volunteering their time and skills.We have no external funding or non-profit status (cost prohibitive, unfortunately), this means we are unable to have financial separation as an official organization so all contributions go directly to my (the monster exhibit's) personal venmo account to help sustain the work we do here.Even a few dollars here and there can significantly help cover basic overhead costs - things like website fees, bot upgrades, and future projects.That being said, please take care of yourselves first!! If you are not consistently financially secure, with reliable access to food, shelter, medical/mental health care, etc. please do not give us your money!We intend to remain an entirely free resource with or without donations!If you would like to contact us you can reach out via discord for fastest response times, or by email:
Discord -- monster.exhibit
Email -- [email protected]
This is an abreviated version of our Community Guidelines, you will read the full version upon joining as part of the verification process!
☆ Community Members & Inclusivity ☆
This is a community for complex trauma surivors with dissociative responses. We welcome anyone who feels like they fall into this cateogy!We would never mandate disclosure of any diagnosis or personal history, we just ask that you respect the intentions for this space.The majority of our population is made up of DID/OSDD systems, but we are happy to have others as long as you come in kind!Due to the nature of the content that will be shared here, we ask that every member be bodily over the age of 21 but we welcome the engagement of alters of all ages, and even have a specific channels and groups just for younger parts, who are respected as equal community members and are welcome in any channels or groups their system feels comfortable with.You do not need to consider yourself an "Artist" to join, though we strongly believe that anyone can be an artist! There are no skill prerequisits, nor do you need to be actively creating on your own.There are social channels and events you can participate in if you arent feeling ready to create. Just come with an open mind, and engage at your own pace!
☆ General Guidelines & Expectations ☆
Be kind! We are committed to maintaining a respectful and compassionate community: Any form of bullying, bigotry, or harmful behavior will not be tolerated.Comparing traumas, bad faith conversations, and deliberate overstepping of personal stated boundaries with intent to harm will also not be tolerated.Always use content warnings and spoiler material that could be generally disturbing for other members to see. Content warnings should be clearly labeled so everyone can consent to what they are about to see.This is a trauma centric space, even with safety precautions content shared/conversations had here may be triggering! Take care of your personal safety, step away and reach out to your local crisis supports if you need to!
⚠ Please keep in mind that we are not crisis care!! If you are feeling triggered and unsafe please step away to take care of yourselves and seek local safety support if you need to!! ⚠
we take privacy and personal safety very seriously:Artwork shared here is NOT to be shared elsewhere or downloaded for personal use without the explicit permission of the original artist! This extends to any self disclosures or other personal information shared by members.
Proxy-bot users: in order to maintain a safe and well-moderated environment, we ask that you use your system/user name (or whatever we know you as) as your proxybot system tag! This helps us ensure that moderations is consistent and that we can easily recognize and support your whole system!
☆ We do have a lovely team of moderators but if something has been missed please dont hesitate to reach out! ☆
Everything we have to offer takes place within our Discord server!
Discord is a free-to-use online communication platform that combines text channels, forums, video/voice calling, accessibility tools, and lots of customizable features through the use of bots!bots and accessibility features:
"proxy bots" allow systems to send messages AS different parts, with their own names and profile pics. (we have both pluralkit and octocon)
our music bot lets us share songs and listen together in groups
we also have a text to speech bot (coded by one of our members!) to allow folks who cant speak to still participate out loud in voice chats if they would like to
there is also an inbuilt chat features for all voice/video calls so people can participate through text when thats more comfortable
Discord can be a little tricky to learn at first, if you're a familiar user feel free to follow the join link right away!If you are a new user, we recommend check out Discord's own beginners guide before getting started!
Upon first joining the server you will not have access to all the channels, there is a verification process to minimize safety risks!There will be clear instructions in your welcome message, and we are happy to help out anyone struggling with verification, as well as any general adjusting-to-discord struggles!