Are You a Womb Twin Survivor?

"A womb twin survivor is someone who started life as a twin but was born alone. That includes people whose twin died close to birth or in the womb. The womb twin may be lost because of the miscarriage of one twin, or the twin dies and is born dead or forms a fetus papyraceous. If one twin dies as a tiny embryo - this is called : "the vanishing twin" - then cells from the dead twin may be taken up by the surviving twin. These can form a dermoid cyst, a teratoma or even a fetus in fetu. There is a definite psychological effect on the survivor." (Althea Hayton)

There are many people who may fall under the category of womb twin survivor. These may include the following:

People who have been told by a therapist that they may be a womb twin survivor.

People with a fear of abandonment.

People haunted by a strange sense of vulnerability.

People who feel they have been searching for something all their lives.

Twinless twins whose co-twin died during pregnancy or around birth.

People who were told that they once had a twin.

Survivors of a suspected miscarriage.

Survivors of an abortion attempt.

People with dermoid cysts, teratomas, or fetus in fetu.

People who have always wondered if they once had a twin.

Most womb twin survivors don't know that they once had a twin and spend much of their lives going in opposite directions, not understanding why they do it. To understand what this feeling can be like, think of those days when you really want to focus on achieving a particular goal but, at the same time, you feel you can't be bothered to do it. You feel that as soon as you take a step forward towards something you want in your life (a better job, a loving relationship etc.) you take a step back in self-sabotage. Womb Twin Survivors can spend their whole lives living like this.

Other characteristics womb twin survivors often exhibit include:

Feeling unhappy for "no" reason.

Having A sense that life is incomplete -- even people who are enjoying fame, fortune and "success."

Having eating disorders.

Feelings of incompleteness.

A longing desire for the perfect relationship--finding that "soul mate."

Being extremely highly empathic and sensitive to the needs of others.

Going to many different "change professionals" (therapists) and still not being able to "solve the problem."

Being immature despite your actual age.

Having sexuality issues.

Having suicidal thoughts/tendencies.

Being a great starter (jobs/projects/**relationships)

**In relationships, many Womb Twin Survivors don't "do small talk". Instead, they form intense relationships quickly and in many cases, they let them go quickly. (Research explains this behavior as a reflection of what happened in the womb; They had an incredibly intimate non-verbal relationship with their twin only for the relationship to disappear inexplicably when their twin suddenly died.)

Althea Hayton, the founder of the term, womb twin survivor and a womb twin herself believes "...Womb twin survivors suffer more if they don't know why they feel as they do. Womb twin survivors can be misunderstood because they seem "weird" or "different." This has been called "lost twin syndrome" or "vanishing twin" syndrome, which sounds like have some kind of disorder, but in fact it's a completely normal state of mind. I know that sole surviving twins are not crazy, odd, different or even sick. They feel as they do because they are womb twin survivors. That's all. Just knowing that can be an enormous relief..."

Althea Hayton discovered in 2002 that she had a twin that died in her mother's womb. That enabled her to make sense of her own life and to devise a healing path for herself which now forms the basis for the freeing up of many other Womb Twin Survivors.

Sources: http://www.altheahayton.com/wombtwin/
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/178685/vanishing_twin_syndrome_vts.html?cat=52