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If you have any of the symptoms descibed below, check with your doctor.
Dissociative Identity Disorder used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder. The essential feature of this disorder is a disturbance in the normally integrative functions of identity, memory, or consciousness, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV). This manual is used by psychologists to make appropriate clinical diagnoses.
The purpose of this article is to explain further the signs and symptoms of the disorder and, in so doing, to erase any myths that may still exist re this 'neurotic' not 'psychotic' illness. Also, tips will be provided as to how to find a qualified licensed therapist to seek further assistance.
The essential purpose of the illness is to establish within the person two or more distinct personalities or personality states. The purpose in establishing these personalities or personality states is to afford the person the ability to cope with trauma, and yet, function in daily activities. In classic cases, two or more fully developed personalities exist; in other cases, there may be one distinct personality and one or more lesser personality state.
In classic cases of the illness, the personalities or personality states each have unique memories, behavior patterns and social relationships. This separateness in functioning affords the person the ability to adopt new learning or to access a new role. The purpose of the separation allows the person to not express prior feelings and difficulties that were a consequence of the trauma. In other words, the person has learned to compartmentalize the trauma as well as who they were when the trauma occurred.
In other cases, there may be varying degrees of sharing memories and commonalities in behavior or social relationships. Some personality states will even cooperate with one another in order for the 'host' to perform as expected. The number of personalities or personality states can vary from two to over one hundred. In addition, the personalities can be somewhat complex, confusing those who interact with the 'host,' as it may appear the individual has simply changed his/her likes/dislikes, occupations, marriages, etc.
At least two of the personalities recurrently take full control of the person's behavior. The transition from one personality to another is usually sudden and rarely gradual (over hours or days). A transition is triggered by psychological stress or meaningful social or environmental cues. In addition, the transitions can also occur when there are conflicts among the personalities or in connection with a plan they have agreed upon. Clinically, a transition may also be elicited through hypnosis or in a psychiatrically controlled drug interview.
Personalities may or may not be aware of each other; however, when they are aware they view the others as friends, companions or adversaries. What is most unique about this cooperation is the fact that only one personality at a time interacts with the external environment. Moreover, none or any number of the personalities may actively perceive or influence all or part of what is going on. Typically, the personality that presents for treatment has little or no knowledge of the existence of the other personalities.
Most of the personalities are aware of lost periods of time or distortions in their experience of time. When confronted with these absences or distortions, the person may confabulate memories to cover the 'lost' periods, or they will have access to the memories of other personalities, which they then will report as if they were there own. In other words, money may be lost, clothing or cars purchased, and the person may fictionalize a night of gambling to cover up the amnesia.
Interestingly, the individual personalities may be quite discrepant in attitude, behavior and self-image, and may even present opposites. Moreover, they may even differ in alternating approaches to a major problem area. This possibility ultimately helps to sever intimate relationships, for loved ones are at a loss as to explain the mood changes and reversals in approaches. At different periods in the person's life, any of the different personalities may vary in the portion of time that they control the person's behavior. This portion evolvement further confuses the 'host' who may have been able to build a sense of trust in a certain 'alter'.
Skeptics assert that persons who present with features of this disorder tend to have borderline personality disorders. However, what they cannot explain away are the studies that demonstrate different physiologic characteristics and different responses to psychological tests. For example, different personalities within the same host may have different eyeglass prescriptions, different responses to the same medication or even different IQ scores. One or more may report being of the opposite sex, of a different race or age, or from a different family than the other personalities. These possible features are not those indicated by other disorders.
Instead, theorists who work with those who have Dissociative Identity Disorder assert that the person creatively resolved a psychological crisis by compartmentalizing themselves and the trauma in order to avoid a psychotic break. This sectioning off of the personality allowed a young child to learn developmentally appropriate behaviors, attitudes and achievements while not having to confront the trauma itself which would have disintegrated the personality at the time of the trauma.
The best example of this is the experience of those who have survived an earthquake. Survivors of earthquakes explain that during those long seconds of tremors, they suspended their wish to panic and walked through the crisis in a trance-like mode. This trance afforded some to think and act with almost 'superhuman' strength and calm.
Unfortunately, the brain does not always fit nicely back together as in the unassembled pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. In other words, the person is not always able to reunite with the rest of his/her emotions after the trauma is finished. Instead, the amygdala (feeling side) and the hippocampus (thinking side) of the brain remain forever apart which means that the person may have problems reuniting events with appropriate emotions.
Fortunately there are qualified state and nationally licensed psychotherapists who can help. Look for registered and active licensed therapists who have an expertise in Dissociative Identity Disorders. Although the therapy is a long, hard struggle, survivors report that it is well worth the time and investment in themselves. The more people share of their experiences with this disorder, the more the myths will evaporate that say these people are 'quacks' or fictionalizing their accounts. Research in your area for a qualified therapist near you.
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