Dissociative Identity Disorder
Meagan Bell
What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
DID, also known as multiple personality disorder (MPD), is a psychological disorder that is characterized by two or more distinct personalities that control an individuals behavior. DID is accompanied by memory impairment and extreme creativity that is not accounted for by ordinary forgetfulness, drug use, or seizures. Dissociative Identity Disorder is not easily resolved and does not resolve over time. Stress and or a traumatic event is the general cause for the formation of Dissociative Identity Disorder in adults; however, there are also cases of children who have DID.
What Causes Dissociative Identity Disorder?
It is common for those that have developed DID to have had a traumatic even occur in the lives before the development of the mental disorder. Awareness, memories and emotions of harmful actions or events caused by the trauma are removed from consciousness, and alternate personalities or sub personalities form with differing memories, emotions and behavior. Individuals that had a detached childhood with a history of no social support have been found common among DID patients. Some psychologists believe DID can also be caused by therapists using certain techniques to recover repressed memories during treatment sessions. The cause for development of DID in children is most likely from "copying stress" from their environment. The development of DID is usually the conscience trying to cope with tragic events.
What are the Symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Those with Dissociative Identity Disorder can be plagued with depression and headaches. Substance abuse, irregular eating, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder and other personality disorders are symptoms that also form after the development of DID. Psychologists suggest that rather than being a separate disorders, the definition of DID includes its common symptoms. Most DID patients have behavioral instability, thoughts of self-mutilation, and unpredictable mood changes and actions. Because of their common symptoms, Borderline Personality Disorder is often confused with DID. Therapists debate whether or not Dissociative Identity Disorder is over-diagnosed.
How can Dissociative Identity Disorder be treated?
There is no common ground in the treatment of DID. Different psychologists have different approaches including psychotherapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and medications. Therapy for DID is generally phase oriented because of the differences among patients. Some patients may finish one phase quickly but could stay in another stay for a prolonged period of time. The therapists tries to connect with the "host" personality and expose the traumatic memories or insecurities a patient may have. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation has published guidelines for phase-oriented treatment in patients; however, other forms of treatment are without guidelines. The first phase of therapy is to focus on the symptoms of DID, the second phase of therapy tries to reveal the repressed memories that causes the patient stress, and the third phase of treatment reconnects the multiple personalities to a single functioning identity.
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder
If you feel yourself, a family member, or friend has DID then consult a licensed therapist. The article above may answer many of your questions. The article lists symptoms, definitions and causes. It also acknowledges the other possible diagnosis-es for the recognized symptoms. It relates the experience of those who have DID to functions a healthy brain has everyday. "Most of us have experienced mild dissociation, which is like daydreaming or getting lost in the moment while working on a project." It may help you understand what having DID is like. Here is an excerpt from the article. "The "alters" or different identities have their own age, sex, or race. Each has his or her own postures, gestures, and distinct way of talking. Sometimes the alters are imaginary people; sometimes they are animals."
More Links
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/dissociative_disorders/hic_dissociative_identity_disorder_multiple_personality_disorder.aspx
http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2011/dispelling-myths-about-dissociative-identity-disorder/all/1/
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/20/141514464/real-sybil-admits-multiple-personalities-were-fake
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2007/10/28/BILLY.ART_ART_10-28-07_A1_EV89AGB.html
DID, also known as multiple personality disorder (MPD), is a psychological disorder that is characterized by two or more distinct personalities that control an individuals behavior. DID is accompanied by memory impairment and extreme creativity that is not accounted for by ordinary forgetfulness, drug use, or seizures. Dissociative Identity Disorder is not easily resolved and does not resolve over time. Stress and or a traumatic event is the general cause for the formation of Dissociative Identity Disorder in adults; however, there are also cases of children who have DID.
What Causes Dissociative Identity Disorder?
It is common for those that have developed DID to have had a traumatic even occur in the lives before the development of the mental disorder. Awareness, memories and emotions of harmful actions or events caused by the trauma are removed from consciousness, and alternate personalities or sub personalities form with differing memories, emotions and behavior. Individuals that had a detached childhood with a history of no social support have been found common among DID patients. Some psychologists believe DID can also be caused by therapists using certain techniques to recover repressed memories during treatment sessions. The cause for development of DID in children is most likely from "copying stress" from their environment. The development of DID is usually the conscience trying to cope with tragic events.
What are the Symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Those with Dissociative Identity Disorder can be plagued with depression and headaches. Substance abuse, irregular eating, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder and other personality disorders are symptoms that also form after the development of DID. Psychologists suggest that rather than being a separate disorders, the definition of DID includes its common symptoms. Most DID patients have behavioral instability, thoughts of self-mutilation, and unpredictable mood changes and actions. Because of their common symptoms, Borderline Personality Disorder is often confused with DID. Therapists debate whether or not Dissociative Identity Disorder is over-diagnosed.
How can Dissociative Identity Disorder be treated?
There is no common ground in the treatment of DID. Different psychologists have different approaches including psychotherapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and medications. Therapy for DID is generally phase oriented because of the differences among patients. Some patients may finish one phase quickly but could stay in another stay for a prolonged period of time. The therapists tries to connect with the "host" personality and expose the traumatic memories or insecurities a patient may have. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation has published guidelines for phase-oriented treatment in patients; however, other forms of treatment are without guidelines. The first phase of therapy is to focus on the symptoms of DID, the second phase of therapy tries to reveal the repressed memories that causes the patient stress, and the third phase of treatment reconnects the multiple personalities to a single functioning identity.
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder
If you feel yourself, a family member, or friend has DID then consult a licensed therapist. The article above may answer many of your questions. The article lists symptoms, definitions and causes. It also acknowledges the other possible diagnosis-es for the recognized symptoms. It relates the experience of those who have DID to functions a healthy brain has everyday. "Most of us have experienced mild dissociation, which is like daydreaming or getting lost in the moment while working on a project." It may help you understand what having DID is like. Here is an excerpt from the article. "The "alters" or different identities have their own age, sex, or race. Each has his or her own postures, gestures, and distinct way of talking. Sometimes the alters are imaginary people; sometimes they are animals."
More Links
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/dissociative_disorders/hic_dissociative_identity_disorder_multiple_personality_disorder.aspx
http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2011/dispelling-myths-about-dissociative-identity-disorder/all/1/
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/20/141514464/real-sybil-admits-multiple-personalities-were-fake
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2007/10/28/BILLY.ART_ART_10-28-07_A1_EV89AGB.html