Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder
Introduction
Dissociative identity disorder is a condition of mystery that is not clearly understood because of its way of presenting in a patient. In this research article there will be in depth analysis of the condition that is so publically recognized by Hollywood but at times ignored by medical professionals. There will analysis of demographics and who is affected more; male or female will also be looked at closely. There will also be a review of what factors predispose individuals to Dissociative Identity Disorder, and how it is diagnosed. There will also be information of how the disorder is treated via therapy and medication. The usual signs and symptoms will also be discussed and
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The idea behind this is that alters were developed during the trauma as form to escape it and they evolved into personalities that followed them later in life it is a form of dissociating with the trauma and coping mechanism. This can occur as early as three years old because that is when the human brain starts developing memories (Haddock, 2001). The most common signs and symptoms experienced by patients with Dissociative identity disorder are amnesia and depersonalization. The amnesia in patients with DID is typically manifests with gaps in their memory often gaps in memory in their past or even their entire childhood. The majority of patients with DID have memory gaps when a personality has taken over the host (primary personality). Some patients may describe as being outside their body and watching something take place in front of them that they cannot control, which is also known as depersonalization. According to Hart (2103), another sign is derealization, which is when the patient may not recognize people such as friends and family, which can lead to difficulties maintaining a healthy relationship. The most common sign is identity disturbances because the patient fears their person because they have no control over them when they take over. They fear them because they have no control their actions and even some times even the host may be female or male the alter may identify as that opposite sex. The alters also may disrupt daily
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a condition where there are two or more distinct identities that are and will become present in an individual. These personalities can and will eventually take control of the individual, many people consider having dissociative identity disorder an experience of being possessed. The individual can and most likely will experience memory loss that is more extensive than ordinary everyday forgetfulness (Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder). Around two percent of people will experience dissociative disorder, women are more likely than men are to be diagnosed with DID. "Almost half of adults in the United States experience at least one depersonalization/derealization episode in their lives, with only 2% meeting the full criteria for chronic episodes” (Dissociative Disorders).
Dissociative Identity Disorder is a mental disorder where an individual experiences two or more distinct personalities. When an individual is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, one personality has dominant control of an individual. This personality controls how a person may act and how they live everyday life. A person diagnosed with this disease may or may not be aware of their alternate personalities. Each personality is contrasting of each other with distinctive likes and dislikes. They can differ in eyesight, prescriptions, language, and education levels. Many people who suffer from Dissociative Identity Disorder have experienced severe childhood trauma. Many Psychologist and others argue
Dissociative Identity Disorder, commonly referred to as Multiple Personality Disorder, has been one of the more controversial diagnoses in psychology and psychiatry. On one side of the debate, many psychologists and psychiatrists believe the disorder to be an actual phenomenon that occurs in individuals that have suffered through some traumatic experience. On the other side of the debate, however, are the many psychologists and psychiatrists that believe the disorder is simply the result of a therapist’s suggestion and guidance. The present paper, therefore, aims to look into this debate. In particular, the paper discusses the criteria in which one is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, explores the history of the disorder, and presents both sides of the controversy of the disorder.
Dissociative Identity Disorder is a disorder distinguished by the existence of two or more distinct personality states. It is also known as DID or Multiple Personality Disorder. It is very rare, with only 20,000 to 200,000 known US cases per year. Currently, there is no known cure, but treatment can sometimes help. Many believe that DID can be caused by a significant trauma and is used as a coping mechanism to help avoid bad memories. The disorders most often form in kids victim to long-term physical, sexual or emotional abuse or, sometimes just a home environment that 's frightening or highly unpredictable. The stress of war or natural disasters close by also can bring on dissociative disorders.
This mental disorder affects the patient in every way because their mind is "broken into pieces". Like the article mentioned, patients with DID experience periods of amnesia and periods of depersonalization. It affects every aspect of that person's life, for example: they might meet people that know them, however they have no recognition of. The alters are kind of like a defense mechanism, when the host isn't capable dealing with a certain situation a personality more fitted to handle the situation
If a person describes a pathological trance or possession trance of external spirits or entities taking control over his body, then he would get a diagnosis of Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified instead of DID. DID resembles other disorders such as Schizophrenia, other Psychotic Disorders, Bipolar Disorder with Rapid Cycling, Anxiety Disorders, Somatization Disorders and Personality Disorders; however, DID can be distinguished from the aforementioned disorders by the presence of clear-cut dissociative symptomology. Additionally, DID is differentiated from Malingering when a person seeks forensic or financial gain. Lastly, DID is distinguished from Factitious Disorder which is when there may be a pattern of help-seeking behavior.
National Alliance on Mental Illness says that there are many dissociative disorders some are dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, depersonalization disorder and dissociative identity disorder that was called multiple personality disorder (NAMI, 2016). This paper will look at dissociative identity disorder and what brain abnormalities occur. According to Mayo Clinic, dissociative identity disorder (DID) is written off as the swapping of alternate identities in one person. The person may feel like there are one or more other people living inside them or talking to them. They may have their own names and different personality accompanied by different voices and even gender. People with DID usually have dissociative fugue and amnesia as
An article is Psychology Today, refers to individuals that is diagnosed with DID portrays personalities the controls their behavior and awareness. The personalities are referred to as "alters" which can have their own sex, race, gesture, posture, and that I own way of
Counselling is thought to be the best way to handle this disorder as well as something called supportive care which is mainly focused on making the patient feel more comfortable (Dissociative Identity Disorder, 2018). Additionally, The condition usually persists without treatment. (And) It is believed to affect about 2% of the general population and 3% of those admitted to hospitals with mental health problems in Europe and North America. DID is diagnosed about six times more often in females than males. The number of cases increased significantly in the latter half of the 20th century, along with the number of identities claimed by those affected ((Dissociative Identity Disorder, 2018). With the small amount of diagnosed DID patients, linkage of this disorder to people already suffering from mental illnesses, and inconsistent symptoms, it is easy to see why this is such a highly disputed disorder in the medical
Dissociative Identity Disorder formerly known as multiple personality disorder is a disorder that researchers and doctors have shown immense interest in over the past century. Even though DID has evident symptoms and causes, some professionals in the healthcare system doubt that this disorder is real or it even exist. Dissociation is something that happens to every one of us; most of the time this is like day dreaming or being lost in thought while doing something like a project. However, DID is a more complicated form of dissociation. In this state, there is a disruption in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity or perception of the environment (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV). When this
This paper explores 3 references. A website about Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), a book about this disorder and a couple of people who suffer from it, and a magazine article about one person that has experienced DID. This research discusses what DID is, it symptoms, what cause it, and two people that had/have this disorder.
It sometimes may surround a particular event, “such as combat or abuse, or more rarely, information about identity and life history” (NAMI). In addition, depersonalization disorder is characterized by ongoing feelings of detachment from actions, feelings thoughts, and sensations (NAMI). The last type of dissociative disorder, dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder (MPD), is a complex, chronic, posttraumatic dissociative psychopathology characterized by disturbances of memory and identity; emerging from severe, overwhelming childhood experiences (Kluft 337). Dissociative identity disorder is a complex disease that has multiple symptoms, causes, and diagnostic processes which can be treated correctly given
“The return of the voices would end in a migraine that made my whole body throb. I could do nothing except lie in a blacked-out room waiting for the voices to get infected by the pains in my head and clear off” (Jamieson). Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a condition where an individual's identity is divided into two or more distinct personalities. Sufferers of this disorder are victims of severe childhood trauma. Patients diagnosed with DID shift into an alternative personality, known as an alter, to escape and protect themselves from anything that reminds them of their abusive past. When the person’s alter appears they have no control of their body. The majority of professionals in the mental field want Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative identity Disorder, known in the past as multiple personality disorder, develops two or more distinct personalities, often called subpersonalities, or alternate personalities, each with a unique set of memories, behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. (Comer, R.J., 2016, p. 170.) The most distinctive feature of DID is the formation and emergence of alternate personality states, or "alters." Alters also have the ability to acquire their own name, to be female or male, background history, race, or a different age from the main personality. (Frey et al 2015.). Some patients have been reported with alters that are not even human; alters have been animals or even aliens from outer space. (Frey et al 2015.) In the movie Frankie and Alice, a young black woman named Frankie had an alter personalities and she didn’t know she had dissociative identity disorder. One of her personalities was a seven-year-old little girl who was a genius and also named Genius. Her other personality was a racist and white her name was
The definite cause of DID is unknown, but one main cause of the disorder is believed to be severe and prolonged trauma experienced during childhood, including emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Symptoms of DID can include: an inability to remember large parts of childhood, sudden return of memories, as in a flashback and/or flashback to traumatic events, episodes of feeling disconnected or detached from one's body and thoughts, hallucinations, changing levels of functioning, from highly effective to nearly disabled, depression, anxiety, alcohol and/or drug abuse, headaches, and eating disorders. DID is a serious mental illness that occurs across all ethnic groups and all income levels, but has been proven to affect women nine times more than men. Research has shown that the average age for the initial development of alters is 5.9 years old. Statistics show that DID occurs in 0.01 to 1 percent of the general population (Mayo, 2014).