Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID is a mental disorder, often referred to as split or multiple personality disorder. Dissociative identity disorder causes individuals to experience two or more uniquely different personality traits or identities. Each personality trait in the DID patient exhibits a consistent and distinctive way of relating to their surrounding environment. Research statistics about dissociative identity disorder cases show that DID is more prevalent in women. While medical professionals debate the nature, diagnosis, and characteristics of DID, there are theories that relate dissociative disorder symptoms to memories of childhood abuse and trauma.
Dissociative Disorder Signs and Symptoms
There might be a genetic predisposition toward DID if a family member has shown signs of dissociative identity disorder. Though there aren’t any specific dissociative identity disorder tests that can be used for diagnosis, psychiatrists frequently use psychometric tests and psychological assessment parameters such as childhood history, structured interviews, family background check, and physical examination. Psychotherapy remains a potent treatment tool for multiple personality disorder.
Listed here are the top five dissociative identity disorder symptoms:
- De-realization- DID patients may refuse to recognize their own images in the mirror and feel as if they are two different people caught in a single body. There are instances of people with DID hearing imaginary voices in their head from someone who they don’t recognize. A continuous conflict in the mind about who they really are and what they want may be symptoms of this disorder.
- Dissociation- This is the most common symptom of DID. In an attempt to forget the traumatic past, the dissociative disorder patient may simply dissociate themselves from those unpleasant memories. They seem to completely forget about various special events in their lives such as their birthdays, weddings, or even birth of their children. Extreme cases may try to harm themselves by self mutilation to overcome their traumatic past.
- Feeling lost and lonely- Often, individuals with multiple personality disorder find themselves doing things that they don’t recall later. They often get accused of lying as they seem to find themselves in places where they simply don’t remember to have traveled.
- Difficulties in expressing themselves- Individuals suffering from this disorder usually don't share a good relationship with family due to their reluctance to express and share feelings. Presence of other similar mental disorders such as conversion disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder may also precipitate DID.
Dissociative identity disorder is a serious problem. Do not hesitate to seek medical attention immediately, if you or someone you love who suffers from this disorder.
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