Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a disruption of consciousness, mental function, and memory. In addition, victims experience a sudden change in their personality at a point that there is a complete separation from their original personality. Earlier Dissociative Identity Disorder was known as Multiple personality disorder.
Who gets it
It affects from 0.01 to 1 percent of the population. Women are more prone to dissociative identity disorder in contrast to men. At any age, people can be affected by this.
According to the American Psychiatric association among all dissociative disorder patients ninety percent of patients in Canada, the USA, and Europe have a history of abuse or negligence. Self-injury or suicidal attempts are very common with these people. The horrifying events that happen in their life make a great impact on their mental health.
Types of Dissociative Disorders
- Dissociative amnesia- people show memory loss, it is not like normal forgetfulness rather it is more severe. They fail to recall any information regarding themselves, surrounding most importantly any traumatic experience or any form of abuse.
- Dissociative identity disorder- the shifting of one identity to a different identity. They show different characteristics, identities, and different ways of behaving.
- Derealization or depersonalization disorder- they feel they are being detached from the ongoing situation. It may last for a couple of minutes or it may come and go for quite some time.
According to the American psychiatric association, these three types of dissociative disorders are included in the DSM 5 category. DSM means diagnostic and statistical Manual of Mental disorder.
Symptoms of dissociative identity disorder (DID)
- Perception of being detached from themself and their emotions.
- One of the basic symptoms is denial. They sometimes intentionally or sometimes unknowingly deny any traumatic experience they have had. It is the main obstruction of healing.
- Fear of the past or recent traumatic events makes them escape the situation anyhow, thus they sometimes show a different identity to escape their feelings.
- Loss of memory. In medical terms, it is called amnesia. There may be a loss of memory of certain events, periods, events, and personal information.
- Distorted and false perceptions regarding people.
- Obscure sense of identity, they are unable to cope with stress both professionally or personally.
- Stress is present in their personal life and professional space.
- Anxiety, depression, behavioral disorders, and even suicidal tendencies are seen in them frequently.
How many personalities a person have in himself?
Two or more distinct identities or personalities can be present in the same person. The change is found in their behavior, thinking, and even in their memory. It disrupts their personal, social life as well as their area of functioning. They present a significant gap in their memory about their past traumatic incidents as well as the current events.
Initially, two to four personalities are present, but during the period of treatment a maximum of fifteen personalities can be known.
It is like a psychological response due to environmental and personal stress, and later it becomes very difficult for them to remember the whole incident. Utter split of personality in contrast to their previous personality. Contradictory behavior is seen in the person. Therefore some people often address the situation as the display of astral projection which means consciousness may leave their body. They may experience this out-of-body experience. Sometimes some people with dissociative disorder shift from one identity to another identity, then again shift back to the previous one.
Is there any association present between soul transfer or supernatural activities and dissociative disorder?
Many countries and cultures describe it as being possessed, not being part of dissociative identity disorder. Some believe it is just some sort of imagination created by humans and some believe it is real. Some spiritual believers describe it as a possession of evil. On this occurrence two theories present-phasing belief and mystic belief.
According to phasic belief, astral travel occurs meaning minds to another local in the consciousness. In this belief, it is said the mind never leaves the body of the person, rather phase into new regions of the mind. According to mystic belief, the mind leaves the body for an uncertain time and returns to the body later-they describe it as out-of-body travel. Well, most doctors describe it as psychosis.
Diagnosis
After taking proper history and observing patients, doctors may be able to identify this disorder. By doing proper counseling and observation and knowing about their past traumatic events they may be able to reach the diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder.
Treatment
After getting proper treatment many people with dissociative identity disorders can function well and live a very productive life. Long time treatment may be required. Treatment helps them to address their major symptoms and helps them to live a better life. Well, there is no direct cure for dissociative disorders.
Medications help to treat related problems such as anxiety, depression and help them to resolve them. Some medications such as antipsychotics drugs, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety are used commonly.
Usually, treatment revolves around psychotherapy. It helps to gain control over the symptoms they have. The main object of therapy is to help in merging different elements of their identity. The main focus of therapy is to manage sudden behavioral changes, merge all the separate identities into a single identity and work to overcome abuse or post-trauma. Sometimes it becomes tough for patients as they have to again remember the traumatic past incidents they have already gone through.
Hypnosis is sometimes found useful in treating dissociative disorders. It is one form of guided meditation. Apart from them, Cognitive behavioral therapy is also one of the useful types of therapy given to the patients. If a person is having suicidal thoughts or any thoughts of self-harm, he should be taken to the doctor urgently. Also, any violent behavior seen in the patient needs immediate medical attention.
EndNote
It is one type of mental disorder in which the person displays and experiences disconnection between their actions, thoughts, identity, memory, even their surroundings, and also the absence of continuity of their actions. More Often they try to escape reality instead of facing them which leads to problems with their normal life and functions. Family and friends should take care of them and provide mental support to them.
References
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dissociative-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20355215
- https://www.learning-mind.com/dissociative-identity-disorder-astral-projection/
- https://amcog.arizona.edu/pdfs/kong_allen_glisky2008.pdf
- https://autumnasphodel.com/1566/dissociative-identity-disorder-from-a-spiritual-perspective
- https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/dissociative-disorders/what-are-dissociative-disoders
