Disassociation Identity Disorder

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DISASSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER

What Is Disassociative Identity Disorder? Disassociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a severe dissociative disorder that involves a disturbance in both the memory and identity of an individual. The individual uses defense mechanisms involving splitting, idealization, devaluation, denial and/or taking on the personality of another in order to cope with trauma experienced in childhood. 9 times more women than men receive therapy for DID 97% of the individuals with Disassociative Identity Disorder have been physically and/or sexually abused an individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder develops an average of 8 13 personalities There are three factors which determine if a person has Disassociative Identity Disorder: Two or more personalities exist within the individual each is dominant at certain times. The dominant personality determines the individuals behaviour. Each individual personality is complex and integrated with its own unique behaviour patterns and social relationships. What Causes Disassociative Identity Disorder? Multiple personalities are formed through dissociation. Dissociation occurs when an individual splits with their primary personality (also known as the "host" personality) and develops a secondary personality in their subconscious. The dissociative splitting of the self into two or more personalities usually occurs in childhood due to extreme physical, sexual and/or psychological abuse. In most cases the existence of Disassociative Identity Disorder represents an attempt by the child to deal with overwhelmingly negative events in their life. The ongoing abuse experienced by the child somehow increases their capacity to detach themselves, compartmentalizing lifes trauma into autonomous units rather than a blended whole. When a particularly abusive experience becomes unbearable the highly hypnotizable child simply exercises their capacity for self-hypnosis, to go to sleep, as it were, and allow another person to emerge who can handle the situation better. In many ways the altered personality of abused children resemble the imaginary friends that "normal" children describeexternalized versions of cartoon figures, superheroes or animals; however, what begins as a protective fantasy is kept within until the individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder becomes that character. What Are The Symptoms?

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Disassociation Identity Disorder

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Most people with Disassociative Identity Disorder start to show signs in their 20s and 30s. It is not uncommon for an individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder to experience many of the following characteristic symptoms: Auditory or visual hallucinations Sense that ones body is being transformed or changed Feeling like one is in a dazegoing into a trance Feelings of confusion and/or disorientation Feeling ones thoughts are out of control Vocalizing words one did not think or utter Difficulty understanding others Depression Multiple suicide attempts Severe anxiety attacks and/or numerous phobias An inability to maintain stable relationships Physically damaging acts such as cutting oneself Due to the various debilitating symptoms, the "host" personality gets to a point where they feel they need to get some kind of help. Approaches to Recovery Despite the complexity and severity of Disassociative Identity Disorder, identifying and diagnosing it is the most difficult obstacle to recovery. It is common for people seeking treatment for their confusion and amnesia to be treated for secondary symptoms like depression and anxiety before a proper diagnosis is made. However, once the individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder is teamed with a specialist who employs special therapeutic techniques, about 80% of the people with Disassociative Identity Disorder recover. The goal of the therapy usually consists of placing the individual into a self-induced hypnotic trance and reliving, in the character of each of the personalities, the significant traumatic events in his or her life. The therapist guides this process and eventually helps the individual integrate all their memories into a gradually developing central consciousness. The individual does not lose the other personalities, rather they become part of the whole person. Once the individual begins to remember and deal with their history, they no longer need the alternate personality. The process of therapy for adults is long and difficult, often taking 3 - 5 years. Source: Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division
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