A look into the disorder

A disorder depicted in films and books yet surrounded by misconceptions and controversy in everyday life, dissociative identity disorder was once known as multiple personality disorder and characterizes a condition in which there is a disturbance in identity, and multiple, distinct personality states exist. Some individuals may have two identities where others can possess up to 100. The average is 10.

The most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, describes DID as someone who has two or more distinct personality states, which may be described as involving a marked discontinuity sense of self. These differentiated identities may have an altered effect, behavior, consciousness, memory, perception, cognition and/or sensorymotor functioning. In other words, they are identities that may be entirely different from one another in the way in which they think, act and feel.

Some of the more well-known depictions of DID in popular culture include the 1976 television film “Sybil,” the 1999 cult classic “Fight Club” and a number of other characters from both box office hits and lesser-known films. These representations of the disorder may give a more dramatic understanding of DID, but it remains that the condition can be debilitating and significantly affect the person’s ability to function.

While the disorder occurs in only 0.01 to 1 percent of the general population, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health, the symptoms of DID are considerably significant. Many symptoms may exist in addition to experiencing two or more personality states including depression.

According to the NAMI, individuals living with DID may often become suicidal or selfmutilate. Other symptoms may be anxiety, substance abuse problems, flashbacks or memory problems, eating disorders, confusion, disorientation or delusions.

A component to the symptom of experiencing two or more personality states, according to the DSM-5, is that some individuals may feel as if they have become “depersonalized observers” of themselves in the ways in which they behave and speak. This experience may leave them feeling powerless to control their behaviors, and additionally they may hear the perceptions of other voices. The voices may include a child’s voice, crying or the voice of a spiritual being. In many cases, these voices are considered independent thoughts in which the individual has no control.

Emotions, impulses, attitudes, personal preferences on food, activities or dress, and outlooks or world views may shift suddenly and then shift back. Some individuals report that their bodies feel different like that of a child, of another gender or a different build. They may also feel as if they are not under their own control or that they body they’re in does not belong to them.

Dissociative amnesia, a significant symptom to those diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, exists in a number of ways. The first being that there are gaps in specific personal memories of life events such as in childhood, death of a loved one or a marriage or divorce. The second is a lapse in memory that includes recalling the events of the day or of skills such as driving, how to do their job, reading or using a computer. Finally, dissociative amnesia may present as a discovering items or evidence of common tasks that they do not remember doing.

While there is no one cause or definitive answer as to what causes DID, it is suggested, according to NAMI, that there is a relationship between physical or sexual abuse in childhood and the disorder. Treatment is given by trained psychotherapists commonly utilizing hypnosis in an attempt to create an alliance and understanding with personalities that may inflict self-harm or other self-destructive behaviors. The DSM- 5 reports more than 70 percent of those with DID have attempted suicide and that multiple attempts are common.

Establishing a rapport with the identities which hold traumatic events is critical in treatment of DID; the therapist communicates with them in order to achieve the unification to one identity. Dissociation is a common defense mechanism for children experiencing trauma and abuse; it allows for the child to disconnect as if the abuse were not happening to them but to someone else. This creates a pathway in which the child might, over the course of time, both behaviorally and cognitively split into other identities, according to NAMI.

For friends and family of a person living with dissociative identity disorder, seeking help for both the individual and for personal support it necessary. Ultimately, for those with a loved one with the disorder, it’s important to know as much as possible about the diagnosis. Go to www.nami.org.