update on 7/9/2002
What is Dissociative Identity Disorder ?
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). According to the Diagnostic Statistics Manual version IV (DSMIV) which in commonly used by professionals in identifying Psychiatric Disorders. DID/MPD is understood to be the result of severe trauma in early childhood. DID/MPD is most characterized by extreme and repeated physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Dissociation is a mental defense which produces a Identity a lack of connection in a person's feelings, thoughts, actions, memories or sense of identity. During a traumatic experience a person may dissociate the memory of the place and circumstance of the trauma resulting in a temporary mental escape from the fear, and pain of the experience, and in some cases will cause a memory gap of the experience. This process can cause a change in memory, a person who dissociate frequently may find his/her sense of personal, history and identity affected. Dissociation is not as much a mental illness as it is more of a survival technique developed by the brain for self preservation. People who develop DID/MPD have a history of repetitive, overwhelming and most often life threatening trauma at a sensitive stage of childhood ( before the age of nine). They may possess an inherited biological predisposition for dissociation. The most frequent precursor to DID/MPD is extreme physical, emotional, and sexually abuse in childhood. However it may not become apparent to others or to the individual until a later age. The degree of impairment ranges from mild to severe. DID/MPD affects females primarily, however there an increase among the male population. Men with DID/MPD are most likely to be in treatment for other mental disorders. It is estimated that 3 out of 5 children that were severely abused have some form of DID/MPD. 100% of children that are severely abused suffer from Dissociation.
The development of DID (MPD) is when a child is repeatedly abused, the brain develops a coping mechanism to ensure survival. The abuse may be physical, psychological, sexual, or any combination of these. When a child is forced to endure such trauma repeatedly, and there is no physical escape, he/she may resort to " going away" inside his/her own head. This mechanism is used by the child as an extremely effective defense against acute physical and emotional pain or anxious anticipation of the pain. The dissociative process thoughts feelings, memories and perceptions of the traumatic experiences can be separated off psycholgically, allowing the child to use it when he/she feels threatened or anxoius - even if the anxiety- producing situation is not abusive. After the traumatic circumstances are long past, the leftover pattern of defensive dissociation remains. Chronic defensive dissociation may lead to serious dysfunction in work, daily activities, and social activities. Dissociation may result in a series of separated and distinct personality or mental states, which eventually takes on their own identities. They become the internal :personality states" of a DID system. Each personality has its own personal history, self image, feelings, experiences, and behavior that is distinct. The changing between these states of consciousness is known as "switching".
Symptoms of DID/MPD
1. Recurrent depression
2. Mood swings
3. Sleep Disorders( Insomnia, night terrors and sleep walking)
4. Suicidal tendencies
5. Flashbacks( Phobias and triggers not due to drugs or alcohol intoxication )
6. Panic attacks
7. Drug and alcohol abuse
8. Eating disorders
9. Hallucinations
10. Anger and rage
11. Low self-esteem. feeling damaged and/or worthless
12. Shame
13. Relationship and intimacy difficulties
14. Sexual Dysfunction ( addictions and avoidance)
15. Sense of unreality
16. Hyper vigilance
17. Alternative states of consciousness or personalities
18. Inability to recall important information
19. Unexplained loss of time