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Mental illnesses and disorders are far more common that we thought, say, even 30 years ago. Some of the reasons are that specialists know more and are better educated and researched. And diagnoses are up, and the stigmas attached to mental health are thankfully down.
Something called Dissociative Identity Disorder is far more rare than a mental illness like depression or a general anxiety disorder but it is sometimes seen in people who have undergone severe trauma in their past. This trauma is usually of the most severe : childhood sexual abuse, systemic beatings and physical abuse, as well as mental and emotional terror inflicted on helpless individuals. While the vast majority of DID cases stem from childhood trauma (usually before the ages of 8-10), it's not always the case.
DID is a very misunderstood illness because it has been so dramatically and incorrectly portrayed in movies and other media outlets. Once known as Multiple Personality Disorder, "patients" are seen in movies as permanently switching from one persona (known as "alters") to the other on often very rapid successions and many a character on screen has used the condition known as DID as a way out of taking responsibility for their crimes or moral transgressions. Another term used in the past has been "split personality".
So what is DID exactly?
Disassociate Identity Disorder is often considered the most severe of Mental Disorders and entails a person actually detaching from her original personality and entering another. Sometimes it's a stronger one (who protects the main personality), an angry one (who may want to avenge abuse) or even one that reverts to being a child again. DID serves to protect the patient from past trauma and allows an alter to speak for the patient instead, saving more pain and terror for the patient.
Sign of DID aside from alters:
-Sleep disorders
-Anxiety
-Panic
-Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
-Self medication with alcohol or drugs
-Hallucinations
-Binge eating or starving
-Self-harm
-Suicidal thoughts or actions
Another very frightening symptom of DID is what is called 'lost time'. Hours, or even days can go by with a person living their lives and possibly causing harm to themselves or experiencing trauma and emerging from lost-time with no memory of their experiences during those hours. This is dangerous for many reasons; they may be harmed and are unaware, they may have used drugs or excessive alcohol or not taken medications and not know it, or gone on binges like eating, shopping or gambling and be unaware for weeks until products or bills start piling up. This lost-time is dangerous time for any person living with DID.
Alters may be a different race from the patient or the opposite sex or even a non-human alter like someone from another planet or an animal. They may speak differently (with a higher or lower voice depending on age and gender), have a different accent or even speak in a different language. The patient may be unaware of what she does when her alter is in charge. For example, an alter could charge thousands of dollars while on an online spending binge and the patient may not know until the credit bill comes in. Alters may have no idea that other alters exist. The disassociation can be extreme.
Often times an alter will come out at very stressful times, in order to protect the person from current trauma. Associations with past traumas are common ways to see an alter emerge. Alters could be as few as one or as many as 50 or more and it can be terribly confusing and frightening for the patient.
Is there a cure?
No, there is no cure but treatment can be very effective. Since people suffering from DID often have other conditions like depression or physical ailments, a comprehensive plan including talk therapy, medication and a diet-and-exercise regime is considered the best approach.
Hypnosis and recreational and arts therapists can also provide therapeutic outlet.
A diagnosis is key and a strong support system from the patients family, friends, community, and medical team.
Support groups can also help - Out of the Fog that specializes in disorders like this. You can find them here :
http://www.outofthefogsite.com/index.html
Revolution Health has a support group and chat board : http://www.revolutionhealth.com/groups/dissociative-identity-disorder-support-group
The medical community also has great support and research tools. Here are some :
MedicineNet : http://www.medicinenet.com/dissociative_identity_disorder/article.htm
National Alliance on Mental Health : http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Dissociative_Identity_Disorder_(formerly_Multiple_Personality_Disorder).htm
Tell Us
Have you or someone you know been affected by DID? Would you like to share your experiences with us, or do you have questions that you'd like to ask? Please post your questions or experiences below, we'd love to hear from you-
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment7 Comments
There are two basic functions for people with multiple personality disorder: derealization and depersonalization. If a patient suffers from unreality, their perceptions are distorted others, and it is difficult to discern what is real in their world and what does not. On the other hand, depersonalization of the distortion of his real view of reality until it comes out of the car.
March 25, 2011 - 3:03amWhat is multiple personality disorder
This Comment
My husband has admitted (after a lightbulb went off in my head today) and agreed with me to having an "affair" with another personality. The last 9 out of 10 times we have been fully physically intimate I am under the influence of alcohol and play an active role as initiator and sexual partner). I also have sensory integration disorder and Aspergers' traits so I normally (soberly) have issues wtih being touched if a long time goes by that I am not touched by my husband (in any way .. hugs, simple gestures like stroking my hair etc). I am a childhood sexual abuse and other intense emotional trauma survivor and have literal YEARS that I am unable to remember from childhood up until the last few years (I am in my mid 40's now). My main writing is to get any feedback with this realization that my husband is having an affair with another "me" .. I know that counseling will be out of the question but would appreciate any remarks. Thank you so much.
March 2, 2011 - 1:37pmThis Comment
I have been seeing a psychiatrist for 10 years. I have been diagn. with depression, anxiety, bipolar, personality sdisoder but never MPD> The psychiatrists here do not believe or even pretend to believe in MPD>
When asked about MPD they say I dont know what that is.
I have started to see a therapist who has heard a little girls voice who we call maggie.
Not sure where therapy is leading.
Anyway, take any meds for mpd?
August 21, 2010 - 4:11pmThis Comment
I have no idea if I have DID or not. I have depression, anxiety and sometimes hypo manic. I get frequent sleep problems and also frequent headaches at times.
I have this person that I call Maggie. I can sometimes hear that she wants to speak or say somesthing and I just let her say it - its my voice that sounds like a little person. Sometimes she types things to the counsellor and I know I am typng them.
Someone suggested perhaps I was using her as a way to say things that I might not want to say but want to say.
I hate men. I might like women not sure. One thing for sure I have issues with sex. I want to but I dont for some reason and I have a fight with myself. If I do its usually under the influence.
I dont know who I am sometimes and often have a poor memory
August 19, 2010 - 7:50pmThis Comment
Susan - in your list: Sign of DID aside from alters: I wonder if you would consider putting "Lost time" as this is often the real teller for folk - they lose time and don't know where it went.
Thank you for starting this -
March 22, 2010 - 4:42amThis Comment
DID has me, also - and I have come across folk who have tried to fake it in the TDU (Trauma and Dissociation Unit) I attend for treatment, but they don't fool the staff for very long. The staff there are very experienced and have watched a huge range of patients presenting with unique symptoms; and their alters, for over 10 years.
I am very sad to hear you say that Mayumarri is like that - I have heard of it, and hoped that it was a place for care and kindness - I know someone who worked there long ago as a volunteer, helping in the kitchen and etc, not as a counsellor, though she no longer has anything to do with the place, as it has changed a great deal. I believe that it was started with very high ideals, but maybe was too controlled by one person - I know very little about it, really, though I was told that it was more or less becoming like a cult, which I really hope is not so.
Like you, Anonymous, I hate having DID. It has cruelled my life - and impacted enormously on my children. As you say, anyone who has it knows what it takes to get it, and would not wish that on anyone. I denied the diagnosis for a long time, and have now accepted it, which has enabled me to start working on the impossible tangle in my mind. Hard work, but I have made some movements, and am starting to be able to distinguish some of the "pieces" that have always before just been noise.
I hope that you find a place that can help - from your mention of Mayumarri I deduce you are in Oz - there are two places in Oz that treat DID that I know of - both private, unfortunately, so you would need Health Cover - Delmont Hospital in Melbourne, and Belmont Hospital in Brisbane. I think the similar names are just a coincidence - good luck.
March 22, 2010 - 4:26amThis Comment
i have DID. the hardest thing about it has to be people who pretend they have it. i know that sounds crazy but it happens. it seems to be almost a badge of honour - "my trauma is worse than yours because I have DID". It's so awful. i hate that i've got DID, but only because of what it means i've survived. People who pretend make me feel ashamed i have it, in case people think i pretend. For a list of people who pretend, you just need to look at places like mayumarri. it's awful. makes me really sad.
March 19, 2010 - 3:29amThis Comment