Dissociative Identity Disorder, By Paula Stewart

The movie I chose for this paper is titled Frankie & Alice. The main character, played by Halle Berry, was named Frankie. Frankie had a history of traumatic events that took place as she was growing up which resulted in her being diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. Frankie was unaware that she had any type of disorder until she was picked up by police and chose to receive treatment instead of going to jail. The paper includes a synopsis of the movie, along with an analysis of the symptoms Frankie’s character experienced to lead to her diagnosis. Also included are evidences about dissociative identity disorder and what may lead to its diagnoses in an individual. Prevalence of the diagnoses along with treatment selections for the diagnoses is also discussed.

In the film, “Frankie and Alice,” the viewer is not only able to see the manifestation of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) but also its momentary yet lasting effects on the life of a person living with it. The film also serves as a catalyst for discussing the nature of disassociation, why there is such a need for debate on dissociative episodes, and how DID challenges the very existence of a “personal identity.” One’s personal identity can be defined as having continuity and making possible the unification of “earlier and later parts of subjectivity and, viewed from the outside, of persons and lives” (Radden 133).

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a psychological condition in which a person will create one or more alternate identities. DID (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) is just one of three dissociative disorders. This disorder is set apart by the way the identities “switch” from one to another. Patients who suffer from dissociative identity disorder can often lead normal lives when diagnosed properly and treated accordingly; sometimes, they cannot. People suffering from dissociative identity disorder often have similar causes, symptoms, and treatments.

The movie that I chose to watch is the 2010 film Frankie and Alice starring Halle Berry. I chose this film because Halle Berry is a very talented actress. This film was also an interesting film that I haven’t watched before which is very rare.

The film Frankie & Alice starring Halle Berry is based on a true story of a woman who is living with a dissociative identity disorder. Set a number of years back (likely the 1970s or 1980s), this film provides the audience with a close up look at what it might be like to live with a mental health disorder. While watching the film, I put a great deal of effort into understanding the symptoms and episodes of the disorder, as the main character experienced them. Through my findings, I have a greater understanding and appreciation not only of dissociative identity disorder but also of mental health in general.

In chapter 15 of Exploring Psychology, the author discuss the basics of psychological disorders. Within this assignment, the psychological disorder of my choosing is Dissociative Identity Disorder. The commonality of the disorder is rare. Although we’ve disassociated ourselves in some form or the other with our ability to daydream, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is more severe and is usually linked to trauma. Formerly the disorder was known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). Individuals who suffer from this disorder usually have more than one aspect of themselves or personalities, whom he or she is completely unaware of. Sufferers of the disorder have to deal with a variety of symptoms such as memory loss, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, black-outs, impulsiveness, and perception of being detached from the self. The severity of the trauma is usually extreme, repetitive, and long-term. The individual may have an extensive history of physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse.

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 (DID) is the “severe condition in which two or more distinct identities, or personality states, are present in—and alternately take control of—an individual” (psychologytoday,2018,1). Dissociative Identity Disorder was first diagnosed in the late 1800s by Doctor Jean-Martin Charcot. This disorder affects about 1 percent of the United States population. This disorder is more common in females than it is in males. For example, Britney Spears has suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder since 2008. Some of her alter egos include, “The British girl, other alter egos include the weepy girl, the diva, and the incoherent girl” (Ranker, 2018, 1). Therefore, many people have this disorder without anybody even knowing

This paper will detail a number of aspects regarding the case provided of Jerri and her parents specifically with his stepfather Jimmie. Jerri is 13 years old and lives with her mother and stepfather. Since the school calendar year started she has been caught severally, in this case three times sneaking from her room at nigh so that she can be with her friends. According to her, nothing illegal happens and they only hangout in the neighborhood. However, this concerns her parents who are afraid of her engaging in sexual or drugs activities at her age. The first time she was caught, her parents cancelled a trip that they had allowed her to take with a friend. In the second instance, they grounded her for a week. When she was caught the third time, she was grounded for a week and her parents withheld her allowances. A week after she was released from the long month grounding, during a school nigh she was by Jimmie her stepfather crawling through a window into a hallway that would lead to her bedroom. She threatened to crawl back out of the window and threatened to escape and never to return. When this was happening, her mother and the rest of the children were watching. Jimmie was exasperated that the previous punishments that they had subjected her to were not working and Jerri had only become more belligerent and defiant. This resulted into him grabbing her pulling her back into the window and slapped her into the face. According to Jimmie, when he was slapping her she

Marilyn (maternal grandmother) told the reporter (maternal aunt) that that same thing that was happening to Calin’s oldest child is happening to Nicholas. Marilyn would not tell the reporter exactly how Nicholas was being abuse/neglected by the reporter, but the reporter notes concerns for him. According to the reporter, Calin (mother) tried to drown her oldest child in a lake. That child is now ten years old, and the reporter got custody over her after that, a little of eight years ago. The reporter is now in the process of adopting that child. The reporter states someone needs to go and check out the wellness of Nicholas. The reporter states that Marilyn is an enabler to the situation. Marilyn mentioned to the reporter that Calin is mean

During sessions the mother described a history of domestic violence. She reported being beaten by her husband. The mother reported having facial injuries once. Ms. Halperin reported that mother describing the marriage as being forced to marry him. She indicated that Ms. Choi stated that she was intimidated and physically forced to marry Mr. Solestin. The mother reports that she married him because he raped her. The relationship was marked by sadistic tendencies by Mr. Solestin. The mother reported being forced to do things sexually and behaviorally. She has no examples, it based on her description of her feelings.

Sexual molestation, beating, neglect, burning, and verbal abuse. All of these horrible happenings are believed to be linked to a condition known as Multiple personality disorder (MPD). Multiple personality disorder, also known as dissociative identity disorder, is a mental illness in which a person has two or more identities or personalities. Single personalities randomly take control of the individual's behavior. Usually, the sufferer gives the personalities their own names. These multiple personalities almost always have characteristics that greatly differ from the person's primary identity. A person with this disorder always experiences some amount of amnesia. Most of the time the individual forgets

Imagine waking up in a new house, town, city, even state and not knowing how you got there. Now add onto that thought of forgetting almost a year of your life because someone else, or something, has taken over your body. That is just a look into dissociative disorders in general. Dissociative Disorders are ‘extreme distortions in perception and memory” (Terwilliger 2013). Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), or previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is often the most misunderstood dissociative disorder of them all. It has always been somewhat of a mystery. Seeing videos of the disorder can really give you an insight on what happens with the person who suffer from it. Almost everyone in the

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a psychological issue that is quite debilitating to the affected individual. Symptoms of this disorder often mimic those of other physical and mental disorders such as seizure disorder, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder (“Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder)”, 2012). The distinguishing symptom of Dissociative Identity Disorder, however, is the presence of two or more distinct identities that alternately take control of the individual and this symptom is the main basis and plot of The Secret Window. In addition, the person is plagued by memory losses that cannot be explained by ordinary forgetfulness and may even find items that he or she doesn’t remember buying. (“Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder)”, 2014). Also, the individual may experience unexplained changes in eating

This research paper aims to explore the mental disease known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder. I explore the meaning, symptoms, and effects of DID. My research describes those diagnosed with DID and the probable reasons of why they have the disorder. This study also explains the many different treatments and the effects those treatments might have on a person that has the disorder. I include a research study done on someone diagnosed with DID, the method used to help treat her, and the results of her treatment. Lastly, I state my opinion on DID and the methods I believe with help people prevent, treat, and cope with