Dissociative Identity Disorder by Dr. Kenna
” Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously referred to as multiple personality disorder (MPD), is a dissociative disorder involving a disturbance of identity in which two or more separate and distinct personality states (or identities) control the individual’s behavior at different times. When under the control of one identity, the person is usually unable to remember some of the events that occurred while other personalities were in control. The different identities, referred to as alters, may exhibit differences in speech, mannerisms, attitudes, thoughts, and gender orientation. The alters may even differ in “physical” properties such as allergies, right-or-left handedness, or the need for eyeglass prescriptions. These differences between alters are often quite striking. ” - National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Signs and Symptoms:
depressive tendencies, anxiety, conduct problems, amnesia, difficulty paying attention, hallucinations, lapses in memory (particularly of significant events like births, weddings, etc.), accused of lying when really they have no memory of it, having more distinct handwritings than their own, hearing voices inside their head, not recognizing themselves in the mirror, blackouts, feeling unreal, etc.
Causes:
There are no “specific” or proven causes that suggest one showing signs and symptoms of the disorder, but it is very common that when children show signs of Dissociation, they have experienced some for of abuse, mental, physical, sexual, or had to go through something very TRAUMATIC recently. Many doctors misdiagnose children who have Dissociative Identity Disorder and say that they have Schizophrenia… because Schizophrenia and Dissociative Identity Disorder have common symptoms and when the patient is younger it’s harder to tell. As the patient gets older it is easier to see the difference in the two disorders.
Treatments:
Some Treatments may focus on the actual symptoms of the disorder and not the disorder itself but, for the disorder itself PSYCHOTHERAPY is commonly used. Also, Behavior therapy is used to sit down with a patient with DID and only respond to one of the personalities, so that the personalities who are not being accepted or “listened to” will somehow go away.
What can you do to help?
If you know someone with Dissociative Identity Disorder, please do not “let it go” or ignore them. If you truly believe they have it and they are showing all the signs, and you’re not their gaurdian, talk to their gaurdian to get them some help. If they are not a child, and the person with the disorder is an adult, it is best to look into facilities or services in your area. http://store.samhsa.gov/mhlocator <- This link can help you find what you’re looking for if you enter your zip code.
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Dear Readers,
If you are looking for more information on Dissociative Identity Disorder,
please allow me to direct you to these links…
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Dissociative_Identity_Disorder_(formerly_Multiple_Personality_Disorder).htm
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder
http://www.dissociativeidentitydisorder.net/
http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec15/ch197/ch197e.html
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1780
Good luck,
Dr. Kenna
