Dissociative identity disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder) is thought to be an effect of severe trauma during early childhood, usually extreme, repetitive physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
WHAT IS IT?
Most people have experienced mild dissociation, which is like daydreaming or getting lost in the moment while working on a project. However the disorder is a severe form of dissociation, a mental process which produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories feelings, actions or sense of identity. It is thought to stem from trauma experienced by the person with the disorder. It is like a coping mechanism - the person literally dissociates themselves from a situation or experience that's too violent, traumatic or painful to assimilate with their conscious self.
SYMPTOMS
DID is characterised by the presence of two or more distinct or split identities or personality states that continually have power over the person's behaviour. With DID, there's also an inability to recall key personal information that is too far reaching to be explained as mere forgetfulness. With dissociative identity disorder, there are also highly distinct memory variations, which fluctuate with the persons split personality. The 'alters' or different identities have their own age, sex, or race. Each has his or her own postures, gestures, and distinct way of talking. Sometimes the alters are imaginary people; sometimes they are animals. As each personality reveals itself and controls the individuals behaviour and thoughts, its called 'switching'. Switching can take seconds to minutes to days. When under hypnosis, the persons different 'alters' or identities may be very responsive to the therapists requests.
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