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Dissociative Identity Disorder
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Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a severe condition in which two or more distinct identities, or personality states, are present in -- and alternately take control of -- an individual. The person ... experiences memory loss that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness. The disturbance is not due to the direct psychological effects of a substance or of a general medical condition, yet as this once-rare disorder has become more common, the diagnosis has become controversial. Some believe that because DID patients are easily hypnotized, their symptoms are iatrogenic, that is, they have arisen in response to therapists' suggestions. Brain imaging studies, however, have corroborated identity transitions in some patients. DID was called Multiple Personality Disorder until 1994, when the name was changed to reflect a better understanding of the condition -- namely, that it is characterized by a fragmentation, or splintering, of identity rather than by a proliferation, or growth, of separate identities.
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Formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a condition in which a person has two or more distinct identity or personality states, which may alternate within the individual's conscious awareness. The different personality states usually have distinct names, identities, temperament, and self-image. At least two of these personalities repeatedly assert themselves to control the affected person's behavior and consciousness, causing long lapses in memory that far exceed typical episodes of forgetting. Additionally, physiological conditions, such as direct effects from substance use or general medical conditions such as seizures, must be ruled out.
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People with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) typically have an "innocent" host personality who was spared from the abuse. The host personality is the part that most people with DID identify as "me" when they enter into therapy and begin to heal from their traumatic past. The host personality interacts with the world most of the time, with other alter parts taking over when triggered by a perceived threat of more abuse. This is why people with DID report that they "lose time." After the host personality integrates into the core of the person's spirit, he ceases to lose time and stays co-present whenever another alter part emerges. Here is how to integrate a Dissociative Identity Disorder host personality.
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Dissociative Identity Disorder appears to have a fluctuating clinical course that tends to be chronic and recurrent. The average time period from first symptom presentation to diagnosis is 6-7 years. Episodic and continuous courses have both been described. The disorder may become less manifest as individuals age beyond their late 40s, but may reemerge during episodes of stress or trauma or with Substance Abuse.
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Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder (MPD) is an adaptive response to a very maladaptive environment. It is an extreme response to extreme trauma where people have had no other option to handle the trauma except to split themselves off from it. By forming other selves to handle the traumatic situation, the person could compartmentalize and dissociate from its very occurrence. This allowed the person to maintain a sense of self even when forced to participate in activities that absolutely could not be tolerated
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Dissociative disorders such as Dissociative Identity Disorder (multiple personality disorder) usually result from trauma or abuse in early childhood. A controversial disorder in some circles, the evidence is mounting that this is a legitimate diagnosis.
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Dissociative Identity Disorder