DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER

Dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder) is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a condition in which a person displays multiple distinct identities or personalities (sometimes known as alter egos or alters).

Symptoms can include:

  • Multiple mannerisms, attitudes and beliefs which are not similar to each other
  • Unexplainable headaches and other body pains
  • Distortion or loss of subjective time
  • Depersonalization
  • Derealization
  • Severe memory loss
  • Depression
  • Flashbacks of abuse/trauma
  • Sudden anger without a justified cause
  • Frequent panic/anxiety attacks
  • Unexplainable phobias
  • Auditory of the personalities inside their mind
  • Paranoia

    • Sufferers may experience an extremely broad array of other symptoms that may appear to resemble epilepsy, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, and eating disorders.

    This disorder is theoretically linked with the interaction of overwhelming stress, traumatic antecedents, insufficient childhood nurturing, and an innate ability to dissociate memories or experiences from consciousness. People diagnosed with DID often report that they have experienced severe physical and sexual abuse, especially during early to mid childhood.

    Treatment involves reintegrating the separated alters using Hypnosis, ‘Parts Therapy’, Psychotherapy techniques and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.