DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) explained and how to help
Kyoshi
July 23rd, 2021
Since the community on 7 cups is growing every day, more members/listeners with DID are joining.
DID or any dissociative disorder has a lot of stigma surrounding it. Let's start breaking down the wall surrounding DID, to make a safe environment for DID members.
What is DID?
DID is a mental health condition caused by childhood trauma, people with DID have 2 or more "alters"
These alters can be different age and gender, they can have a very different personality and interests.
Each identity has its own personal history, traits, likes and dislikes
DID can cause gaps in the memory
DID is one of several dissociative disorders. These disorders affect a person’s ability to connect with reality.
The disorder is a way for someone to distance or detach themselves from trauma.
Myths and misconceptions
-Myth DID is very rare
Not even close. It's yearly prevalence rate (1,5 %) is actually more common than young women with bulimia and even on par with well-known conditions like OCD
-Myth people with DID are very dangerous
Contrary to popular belief, survivors with DID are no more dangerous than those with any other mental health condition or the general public.
-Myth switching in DID will be dramatic
False. Only a very, very small percentage of the DID population has an over presentation of their alters or switches (5-6%). While some hints of detection can be seen amongst friends and therapists, most changes are passable as completely normal human behavior.
-Myth DID is multipe personalities
Having separate identities is merely the byproduct of something greater, not the sole disorder. The real dysfunction lies in the complex trauma and the countless effects it had on the child’s mind and their neurology -- including flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, dissociative amnesia ('losing time'), depersonalization/derealization, emotion dysregulation, somatic symptoms, and heightened vulnerability to a long list of other medical and mental health disorders. Most of the healing from DID revolves around the processing of traumatic memories and sifting through the layers and layers of pain, sadness, anger, betrayal, grief and trauma that each alter holds.
DID is ultimately a trauma disorder, NOT a disorder of personality.
-Myth DID can develop at any age
DID only develops in early childhood, no later. Current research suggests before the ages of 6-9 (while other papers list even as early as age 4). Prolonged, repeated trauma later in life (particularly that which is at the sole control of another person, or breaks down a person’s psyche and self-perception) may result in Complex PTSD- which does have overlapping symptoms - but they will not develop DID.
How to support someone with DID:
If someone you know has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, it doesn’t mean that person is no longer who you think they are.
People with Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID, often refer to their overall consciousness and way of living as a “system.” In some cases, the system works together well and the various states of altered consciousness support each other through their days. In other cases, the various “alters” in a system may struggle to navigate their days and to manage stress and trauma.
Learn what you can about their disorder.
Take advantage of educational opportunities and any therapeutic involvement in your loved one’s treatment. Only with a greater understanding of their experience living with dissociative identity disorder and the possibilities for recovery can you play an active role in the process. Simply by learning more, you are also working to reduce the stigma around this serious disorder, paving the way for compassion and the responsible care of our overall mental health.
Learning more about this condition can help you understand what your loved one is going through and teach you how to support someone with dissociative identity disorder.
Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the presence of one or more personalities in the same person, typically referred to as “alters.” These alters are all part of a greater system that makes up the individual. While some of these alters may be aware of each other, others may have no concept of the different personalities and may have completely different sets of beliefs, ideas and maturity levels. In many cases, people have difficulty remembering events that happened while different alters were present.
Stay calm during switches
In many cases, switching between alters happens very subtly. However, sometimes the change can be more dramatic and disorienting. One moment you’re talking to your friend and in the next moment, it’s as if an entirely different person is inhabiting their body. While this situation may be stressful and surprising, remaining levelheaded and meeting your friend where they are mentally can be enormously helpful. As confusing as witnessing a switch can be for an outsider, it’s often even more upsetting for the person experiencing it directly, especially if they are met with hostility or fear.
Learn how to recognize and avoid triggers
For people with dissociative identity disorder, personality shifts are brought on by “triggers,” or external stimuli that cause them to switch between alters. Individuals with this condition may be triggered by anything that elicits a strong emotional response, including certain places, smells, sounds, senses of touch, times of the year or large groups of people. These triggers are highly individual and can vary dramatically depending on the specific trauma that caused a person to develop dissociative identity disorder.
Take care of yourself too
Being close to someone with dissociative identity disorder can be emotionally taxing. It can be difficult to stay vigilant of triggers and different alters. Often, people with this condition have been through intensely traumatic experiences. And hearing about these experiences can be difficult. The best way you can serve your friend is to make sure that you’re tending to your own physical and mental well-being.
DID or any dissociative disorder has a lot of stigma surrounding it. Let's start breaking down the wall surrounding DID, to make a safe environment for DID members.
What is DID?
DID is a mental health condition caused by childhood trauma, people with DID have 2 or more "alters"
These alters can be different age and gender, they can have a very different personality and interests.
Each identity has its own personal history, traits, likes and dislikes
DID can cause gaps in the memory
DID is one of several dissociative disorders. These disorders affect a person’s ability to connect with reality.
The disorder is a way for someone to distance or detach themselves from trauma.
Myths and misconceptions
-Myth DID is very rare
Not even close. It's yearly prevalence rate (1,5 %) is actually more common than young women with bulimia and even on par with well-known conditions like OCD
-Myth people with DID are very dangerous
Contrary to popular belief, survivors with DID are no more dangerous than those with any other mental health condition or the general public.
-Myth switching in DID will be dramatic
False. Only a very, very small percentage of the DID population has an over presentation of their alters or switches (5-6%). While some hints of detection can be seen amongst friends and therapists, most changes are passable as completely normal human behavior.
-Myth DID is multipe personalities
Having separate identities is merely the byproduct of something greater, not the sole disorder. The real dysfunction lies in the complex trauma and the countless effects it had on the child’s mind and their neurology -- including flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, dissociative amnesia ('losing time'), depersonalization/derealization, emotion dysregulation, somatic symptoms, and heightened vulnerability to a long list of other medical and mental health disorders. Most of the healing from DID revolves around the processing of traumatic memories and sifting through the layers and layers of pain, sadness, anger, betrayal, grief and trauma that each alter holds.
DID is ultimately a trauma disorder, NOT a disorder of personality.
-Myth DID can develop at any age
DID only develops in early childhood, no later. Current research suggests before the ages of 6-9 (while other papers list even as early as age 4). Prolonged, repeated trauma later in life (particularly that which is at the sole control of another person, or breaks down a person’s psyche and self-perception) may result in Complex PTSD- which does have overlapping symptoms - but they will not develop DID.
How to support someone with DID:
If someone you know has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, it doesn’t mean that person is no longer who you think they are.
People with Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID, often refer to their overall consciousness and way of living as a “system.” In some cases, the system works together well and the various states of altered consciousness support each other through their days. In other cases, the various “alters” in a system may struggle to navigate their days and to manage stress and trauma.
Learn what you can about their disorder.
Take advantage of educational opportunities and any therapeutic involvement in your loved one’s treatment. Only with a greater understanding of their experience living with dissociative identity disorder and the possibilities for recovery can you play an active role in the process. Simply by learning more, you are also working to reduce the stigma around this serious disorder, paving the way for compassion and the responsible care of our overall mental health.
Learning more about this condition can help you understand what your loved one is going through and teach you how to support someone with dissociative identity disorder.
Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the presence of one or more personalities in the same person, typically referred to as “alters.” These alters are all part of a greater system that makes up the individual. While some of these alters may be aware of each other, others may have no concept of the different personalities and may have completely different sets of beliefs, ideas and maturity levels. In many cases, people have difficulty remembering events that happened while different alters were present.
Stay calm during switches
In many cases, switching between alters happens very subtly. However, sometimes the change can be more dramatic and disorienting. One moment you’re talking to your friend and in the next moment, it’s as if an entirely different person is inhabiting their body. While this situation may be stressful and surprising, remaining levelheaded and meeting your friend where they are mentally can be enormously helpful. As confusing as witnessing a switch can be for an outsider, it’s often even more upsetting for the person experiencing it directly, especially if they are met with hostility or fear.
Learn how to recognize and avoid triggers
For people with dissociative identity disorder, personality shifts are brought on by “triggers,” or external stimuli that cause them to switch between alters. Individuals with this condition may be triggered by anything that elicits a strong emotional response, including certain places, smells, sounds, senses of touch, times of the year or large groups of people. These triggers are highly individual and can vary dramatically depending on the specific trauma that caused a person to develop dissociative identity disorder.
Take care of yourself too
Being close to someone with dissociative identity disorder can be emotionally taxing. It can be difficult to stay vigilant of triggers and different alters. Often, people with this condition have been through intensely traumatic experiences. And hearing about these experiences can be difficult. The best way you can serve your friend is to make sure that you’re tending to your own physical and mental well-being.
StarlitSky4762
August 23rd, 2021
boosting this!!
1 reply
IceCream4IceCream
August 23rd, 2021
@StarlitSky4762
added to my profile!
load more
Youshine
August 24th, 2021
Thank you for this deep and well-explained post! It was really interesting and helpful, you did an amazing job 
AM2Wondering
October 12th, 2021
This also applies to OSDD-1 for the most part, OSDD-1 is a incomplete for Of DID, likely because the child was a little older or abuse not as severe. People with DID can also be moved down to OSDD-1 as treatment progresses.
DichotomousDetia
October 15th, 2021
You did your research, no misinformation!! I'm beside myself, thank you
rosessystem
February 23rd, 2022
@HelaHeals I would also add that switching doesn't have to be caused by triggers, especially in polyfragmented systems. For example, for our system to function, we normally switch every 30 seconds to 5 minutes. This could be either because nobody wants to front, or because everyone wants to. This can be linked to positive or negative emotions, or just complete apathy, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a trigger
Unwanted2022
February 24th, 2022
@HelaHeals
That's a very good post, well done @HelaHeals! 👍
