What Is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Dissociative Identity Disorder (otherwise known as DID, formerly referred to as “split personality disorder” or “multiple personality disorder”) is a complex mental health condition that is often demonized in the media due to a lack of understanding. In movies like Split and Psycho, those with DID are often mischaracterized as murderers at worst or as crazy people at best. It is because of these stereotypes that people with DID are actually more likely to be the targets of violence rather than the perpetrators. In order to get rid of these harmful stereotypes, there must first be an understanding of what exactly DID is.
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What Is DID?
DID is considered one of the more extreme mental health conditions, characterized by the existence of two or more distinct consciousnesses, each with their own memories, skills, abilities, and personalities, inside of one body. This disorder can cause someone to have lapses in memory during the times when their alternate identity (commonly referred to as an “alter”) takes consciousness. Other symptoms can include a distorted sense of time, out-of-body experiences, and a blurred sense of identity.
What Causes DID?
DID is typically caused by immense childhood trauma. Without having learned healthy coping mechanisms, a child may completely dissociate when confronted with traumatizing experiences. This can cause other “personalities” to split off and take over when reality is too much for the child to handle. Around 90% of patients with DID report having some kind of trauma in their early life.
How Common Is DID?
DID impacts about 1.5% of the global population. While this may not seem like a large amount, this percentage could be compared to that of people with red hair (1-2% worldwide). While this condition is not exactly common, it is still much more prevalent than it is commonly thought to be. DID is diagnosed six times more often in women than in men.
How Is DID Treated?
Currently, there is no cure for DID, nor are there any accepted medications used to treat it. Treatment often involves using talk therapy to untangle some of the person’s traumatic background. A method called “integration” may or may not be used in order to integrate each “personality” back into one unit, although this method is controversial within the DID community.
My Loved One Has DID. What Next?
Finding out that someone you love has DID can be overwhelming, for you and sometimes also your loved one who may not have known. Make sure to be patient with your loved ones, especially if they experience forgetfulness. Don’t try to force them to reveal their alters to you, but it can be helpful for them to have someone who is open to the idea of meeting them. If you are unsure about something, it is best to ask your loved one what would most help them.
Dissociative Identity Disorder is formed during a scary time in someone’s life, but it is not all that scary when you take the time to do a little research. If you know someone with DID, don’t be afraid of them. Instead, try to foster an environment of understanding and acceptance so that they feel comfortable around you.
