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Dissociative identity disorder, a mental illness, affects many people. DID patients have two or more distinct identities. At certain times, these personalities are in charge of their actions. Every identity has a unique personal history, character traits, and preferences.
People with DID flee reality in unhealthy, uncontrollable ways that make it difficult for them to carry on with daily activities. It's believed that the dissociative feature is a coping technique; the person figuratively disconnects from or dissociates from a scenario or experience that's too traumatic, violent, or unpleasant to absorb with their conscious self.
Dissociative identity disorder was previously known as split personality disorder or multiple personality disorder.
Dissociative Identity Disorder Symptoms
Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the involuntary division of a person's identity into at least two separate personas (personality states). Dissociative disorder symptoms might range, but they may include:
- Loss of memory for specific times, events, persons, and private information
- A sensation of separation from your emotions and self, a sense of distortion and unreality about the people and things around you
- An unclear sense of one's identity, troubles or stress in your relationships, at work, or in other significant aspects of your life
- Inability to manage stress, whether it be professional or emotional
- Issues with one's mental health, such as sadness, anxiety, and suicidal ideas and actions.
- Dissociative states can endure for only a few hours or days or for much longer periods of time (weeks or months).
It typically occurs in people who already have other dissociative disorders but can occasionally endure for years.
Types of Dissociative Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists these three primary dissociative disorders (DSM-5):
1) Dissociative amnesia
Memory loss is more severe than ordinary forgetfulness and cannot be accounted for by a medical condition, which is a key symptom.
Especially after a traumatic experience, it's impossible to remember details about oneself, events, or individuals in one's life. Some sufferers of dissociative amnesia find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings without being able to recall how they got there.
They might have gone there on purpose or might have wandered around lost. They can linger for a few seconds, several hours, or even days. Rarely, they may continue for months or even years.
2) Depersonalization-derealization Disorder
It involves having a persistent or sporadic sense of being detached from or outside of yourself and viewing your actions, feelings, ideas, and self as if you were watching a movie (depersonalization).
The world may look surreal; time may seem to have sped up or slowed down, and other people and things around you may seem distant, foggy, or dreamy (derealization).
You have a surreal sense of the surroundings. You might notice that the surroundings seem lifeless or foggy. Depersonalization, derealization, or both are possible conditions. It might simply last a short while or come and go over a long period.
3) Dissociative Identity Disorder
The condition, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is characterized by switching to different identities.
You might experience the voices of two or more individuals speaking to you or living within your head, as well as the sensation that you're being controlled by several personalities. A person with dissociative identity disorder could be unsure about who they are or of their identity.
Other personas with their own names, voices, histories, and mannerisms might be perceived by them.
How to Treat Dissociative Identity Disorder
The core of therapy for dissociative identity disorder is psychologically based, as there're no proven pharmacological treatments for the condition. To achieve general improvement, co-occurring disorders, including depression and substance use disorders, must be treated.
As anxiety and depression are common co-occurring disorders with symptoms of dissociative disorders, medications to address these conditions may occasionally be utilized in addition to psychotherapy. Psychotherapy (talking therapy) is typically used to treat dissociative identity disorder and focuses on:
- Educate someone about their illness
- Enhancing emotional sensitivity and awareness
- Attempting to control one's impulses
- Preventing the onset of new dissociations
- Controlling present relationships, pressures, and day-to-day activities
Living with a dissociative identity disorder can be easier to handle if you have a solid support network. Ensure that your family, friends, and medical professionals are aware of and sympathetic to your illness. Be honest and upfront with the people in your support system, and don't be embarrassed to ask for assistance.
Most people live their entire life managing the disorder, but a combination of therapies can lessen symptoms. You can develop better self-control over your actions. With better help comes better diagnosis for dissociative identity disorder.
Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a Master's degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.
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