WHAT IS MULTIPLE PERSONALITY (DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER)?

FIRST OF ALL

 

- it is now called DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER (DID) in North America

- but still called MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER (MPD) in some countries in Europe

 SO… WHAT IS MULTIPLE PERSONALITY

(DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER)?

- when a person experiences himself as having more than one personality, each of which has a sense of its own existence; and

- each seems to have relative autonomy from the other personalities; and

- each may or may not take control of the person’s body and behavior, and may or may not influence the person’s experience and behavior.

- an alternative self-structure and psychological reality.

- a condition formed in response to extreme early childhood trauma


Some with the condition are high functioning in their day-to-day life, while others expend tremendous amounts of energy just trying to get through each day.

 

IS IT REALLY AN ILLNESS?

I often refer to multiple personality as a condition rather than an illness.  Although it is recognized world-wide as a mental disorder, I hesitate to call it an illness because it really is a defense mechanism, a very creative psychological tool for survival, often against harm caused by others

 

HOW IS IT A PROBLEM?

It can wreak havoc on a person’s life.

Multiple personality is caused by dissociation, (see GLOSSARY) an extreme form of tuning out what’s happening. Dissociation can lead a person to be very vulnerable to other people taking advantage and causing her harm.

 For example: a child personality coming out and making the person as vulnerable and helpless as children can be

For example: a personality engaging in very risky behaviour such as being very promiscuous or getting involved in prostitution

 For example: the person may have created alter personalities who soothe or numb her against pain. When she is an adult those personalities may turn to over- or under-eating or drugs to numb against pain causing more problems for the person

My name has many, so many am I. I am a lady, but yet I am a man. I am an adult, yet I am a child. I am meek, yet I am bold. I have many talents and speak in many different voices, yet I am one. I have many in my family, big and small, yet I have none.

    I can be many things at one time. I can be happy, but then be sad. Or I can be fun and then afraid. I like to be at peace with myself, and yet I am only a piece of myself. I can remember almost everything but yet I forget all things. I have pain, but yet feel none at all. My thoughts are many, yet I hold only a few. My eyes see many things, yet my mind holds illusions. (Multiple Personality from the Inside Out see Books, Articles)