Honors Project: Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder
You would have probably watched films or read books involving characters with multiple personalities. Famous characters like Bruce Banner from The Hulk, who faces a case of split personality disorder, where he becomes someone (or something, rather) else to act as a conduit for all his repressed feelings. It can be fun watching these characters switching from one personality to another in their stories, but outside of the fantasy world, there is indeed the clinical condition called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
How much do you know about it ?
What exactly is DID?
Dissociative Identity Disorder is when an individual separates from the world by turning into someone other than their true self. Simply speaking, it is when a person has at least two distinct different personalities. Often the alters do not know the existence of one another as each personality are in control of the individual at different times. Each personality has its own self image, name, identity, and experiences separately. Each alter will have its own voice, posture, way of speaking, acting, and relating to others. DID is caused by experiences of repeated severe sexual and/or physical abuse. It is a way to defend oneself from extreme stress, protecting the person from severe physical and emotional trauma impacted on the person, usually as a child.
Living with DID is nothing like whats portrayed in movies...
Fact #1 People with DID are not dangerous
This is a common misconception which comes from media portrayals of split personalities Those with DID are more likely to be a danger to themselves, rather than other people. There are no evil alters. There can be destructive alters, but they need the same amount of love as any people in the world.
Fact #2 People with DID can function and lead a normal life
There are many with DID having successful families and careers. Recovery requires time, which may include a number of treatment options and is an ongoing process.
The challenge of being more than one person
There are many challenges, but one of the most difficult challenges may be Memory Loss. Each alter has real memories of things actually experienced when they were in control. Memory lost can be confusing and frustrating for others, and can sometimes be misinterpreted as being rude.
What do they want you to know?
Shows and books have wrongly portrayed people with DID as evil. In fact, most people with DID are the victims of abuse. It is a survival tool rather than something dangerous and fearful. Unfortunately, as a way to cope with trauma, people with DID have carried it past childhood. They are human, just a little different.
How to support people with DID?
Embrace by giving them the unconditional love they need
Accept them with an open mind
Relate, to your best ability, to whoever is with you at that time
Great stories from people with DID
https://dissociativejess.wordpress.com
https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/category/blog/dissociative-disorders
https://diddispatches.wordpress.com
References
Dodgson, L. (2017, February 16). Dissociative Identity Disorder is nothing like the movie 'Split,' according to people who have it. Retrieved February 23, 2018, from http://uk.businessinsider.com/living-with-split-personality-disorder-2017-2/?IR=T
Jaide, A. (n.d.). How to Support Someone With Dissociative Identity Disorder. Retrieved February 22, 2018, from https://themighty.com/2017/08/how-to-support-someone-with-dissociative-identity-disorder/
About Dissociative Jess. (2017, October 28). Retrieved February 22, 2018, from https://dissociativejess.wordpress.com/about/
Discussion questions:
1) Have you heard of DID before? If yes, what are some of your initial thoughts on it?
2) Now that you have learnt about DID, what do you think you can do to support the DID community?
3) If you have DID, what are some of the ways you are coping with it and what do you wish people will do to support you?
@comfortableHorizon21
I have learnt about DID a lot, theoritically, but I've never actually met someone with DID. In a way, it is a defense mechanism against a trauma in the past, usually. However, despite the wrongly depicted DID of the movies, there are some facts that we should not ignore, in my opinion. They are not evil, that's for sure. However, the different personalities that appear in the DID usually consists of different "part" of one's personality. That means, the personalities may be more extreme than usual, and can hurt both the host and people around her/him. That's why people with DID needs special help with their condition. I wish people would try to understand more and judge less, though...
@ShadowMirge
Yes, it's very true that the personalities can be extreme and could potentially hurt themselves and others unintentionally. Thanks for pointing that out!
@comfortableHorizon21
It would probably be wise to consult a professional when speaking about topics this sensitive. It is far too complex to make general statements like the one above. I simply dont want you to carry a feeling with you that you need to be cautious because a person with DID many unintentionally harm you. I do appreciate the fact the person who posted above emphasized compassion as we should treat everyone with kindness and respect. It is honestly best if one sees clients directly as third party, nonfiction accounts and even some graduate programs portray things quite differently.
If you do have someone close to you with this diagnosis, the best thing you can do is treat them with respect, communicate often and openly.
I have a question. Does it ever happen that a person with DID doesn't experience blackouts? If someone doesn't have blackouts, but does have some very defined parts - is that DID or not? Where does one "draw the line" so to speak? Or maybe the diagnosis in itself isn't important?
@Chiaroscuro1
Hi Chiaro, There are different types of dissociation, if you would like to know more please read the Dissociative Disorders article I wrote in the 3rd edition of the trauma subcommunity newsletter: link.
To have DID you must have two or more personality states present. The identity alteration that comes with the switch between personality states is what leads to the amnesia about what has occurred when that other person is 'out' and the core personality is not in control of the body. It is possible that with therapy, the parts of the person with DID learn to co-operate and as such, some of the amnesia is no longer there because they become co-present. If you have 2 personalities, say an inner child without amnesia there maybe other diagnoses that are more appropriate. For example, I know 2 people, one with Borderline Personality Disorder who feels like that inner child at times but still knows it's 2018 and they are an adult in the present. I also know someone who has schizophrenia and has learnt to connect with their inner child and heal them. There are also other Dissociative Disorders that a person may be suffering from which you can read about in the article. The only way to know for sure is to seek a professional diagnosis but I hope that little bit of info helps in some way. 
@LifeIsMyCanvas - Thank you. I understand the other dissociative disorders (and I've already read your article 
). I think what confused me was that someone earlier in the thread spoke about co-consciousness. So, I thought 2 or more personalities could exist without the core having to lose consciousness. But I think I understand what you are saying. Thank you for your reply.
I am wondering what the old books refered to in 1983 when they said someone has a split personality
@sunnyTortoise1881
Hi Sunny,
I reviewed the literature readily available to me such as Graduate textbooks, the DSM-III-R, DSM-IV and others (some are quite old). I have been around for quite a while as one can see.
I did not find the term split personality as a formal reference in those which fall within your timeline. The only academic paper I can recall possibly using the term as a historical quote was referring to the case of Mary Reynolds. A reference that is more than 100 years old at this juncture.
There may be others but it is not something that I would hear in academia unless a researcher is trying to find the earliest documented cases and even then it would be used strictly in the historical context. It would not be synonymous to or referenced as an interchangeable term for DID, strictly speaking.
I hope this answers your question. If you have a specific reason for asking, please let me know and I will be happy to elaborate.
@Compassionatelistener108
I asked because as a child a child psychologist said i had split personality in 1983 a psychologist said that referred to
Schizophrenia and another said it referred to DID as well in any case I'm now diagnosed with DID
but the child psychologist wanted me institutionalized in 1983 my mom got a second opinion and that one said i did not have a split personality
@sunnyTortoise1881
I am very grateful that you have such an intelligent parent who was willing to question the diagnosis as well as the tremendous confusion surrounding the consultation. That must have been quite frightening for you to hear as a child. I am very sorry you had to go through something like that.
I am sure you know now that schizophrenia and DID (including the current spectrum of symptoms for each) differ in not only the basic diagnostic criterion but in the guidelines for treatment as well.
I wish you the best and am glad you clarified the context of the question. One thing that should be clearly understood as well is that both conditions can be treated quite successfully even though the paths are very different.
Take care of yourself and feel free to ask additional questions.
I just found out I have DID. I am still learning what this is all about. I have not completely accepted it yet. Sometimes it makes complete sense, sometimes I think it is riduculous.
I know that my eyes change color. My hair changes too. People are confused about the way I dress. I could be sloppy one day and extremely elegant the next.
Very friendly and open one day and extremey task oriented the next day.
This morning I was happy, hazel eyes, friendly. Now I have dark brown eyes, unmanageble hair and am a bit short-tempered.
I like the happy me more, she is nicer but she does not have to deal with all the emotions so it easier for her to just be happy.
Thank you for making this post.
@comfortableHorizon21
I've definitely heard about it before, even before I had the disorder. My most initial thoughts were most certainly about how it's not properly portrayed in media and such, I've always disliked that. I really enjoy seeing a constructively built and compelling character with DID. Some parts of the disorder are distressing to me, like dissociating and losing time from it, or perhaps the way my mom has reacted to it before. However others, like having someone always here for me, or just being "me" in general, kinda feels right. I feel a little bit better being more than one person, and my friends and significant other receive it as well as I do.
Honestly, I have several friends like myself who share my perspective, and who have DID as well. I always make it a point for myself to interact with them as I would any other person, just a package deal. They're all friends of mine, and when I like one, I like them all. I've definitely met destructive alters before, and I always try to be just as kind to them, if not a little more so to show that I'm doing it intentionally and want to support them, not just doing it out of some self perceived necessity.
3) If you have DID, what are some of the ways you are coping with it and what do you wish people will do to support you?
I don't necessarily cope with it, in a way. Since I rarely space out, the most troubling part of it isn't usually an issue. However, I don't have a way to directly combat it, so it can be and has been an issue sometimes (I once forgot my shoes when we went on a trip because I dissociated in the shower for roughly an hour). Aside from that, when I meet someone, and my alters have a high likelihood of talking to them (for example, in non-professional environments, like on chat platforms with friends), I'll try to make sure they're as informed as possible about me and my alters, what to expect out of them, when to expect them, and who they are as people.
I have to admit... I wish my mom would be more... Empathetic and understanding of me. She doesn't seem to like the fact that I'd be okay with having OSDD for the rest of my life (Reason I say OSDD is because I don't like losing time, cut that out and all of my problems are gone). She regards my alters very coldly and shows some kind of intrinsic contempt for them, which makes none of us happy, especially since we're all "me." It makes everyone except for me avoid directly talking to her (They will still front when she's around, but not initiate conversation), and it makes me feel pretty bad. So far it's one of the only problems I've had with support from those close to me, and hopefully the last.
Thank you for this interesting news. I've seen movies about this disorder but I've never really read about it before.