Dissociative Identity Disorder: Multiple Personalities

Dissociative Identity Disorder, previously referred to as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a psychological illness that has raised a lot of controversy and led researchers to question its validity. This disorder has been recorded as early as the 1800’s, but has recently been given more attention to by clinical researchers because of its diagnosis rates. The brain is a very complex organ and certain traumas can lead to the occurrence of this illness. Dissociative identity disorder is an illness in which individuals develop two or more very different personality states. In this paper, I will explain the causes of dissociative identity disorder, outline the symptoms, and elaborate on the

The phenomenal ability of humans is that we are able to change aspects of our personality by role-playing. Personality shifting is common and something we do everyday from having to go to work and be the boss to coming home and being part of the family. This is one reason why skeptics doubt Dissociative Identity Disorder as a real psychological disorder. Another reason for the skepticism is due to its short history which date back to 1791. The first official report of Dissociative Identity

Dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia are often confused and perceived as the same thing, but they are not. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that separates the relation and interaction of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. People with schizophrenia often think they live in their own world split from reality. While schizophrenia deals with a split in the processes of the mind, dissociative identity disorder deals with two or more separate identities that both try to control a person's behavior. People with dissociative identity disorder can sometimes be seen as outgoing and flirty at one moment and then angry and secluded the next. Dissociative identity disorder was formerly known as multiple personality disorder.

According to “Healthy Place”, 89% of people who suffer from Dissociative identity disorder (or Multiple Personality Disorder) are misdiagnosed (B.J.). Therefore, Dissociative identity disorder is labeled as “The Hidden Epidemic,” because it is never diagnosed as it really is, but hidden by other illnesses (Slack pg. 43). Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is often triggered with traumatic events like experiencing severe abuse. People with Dissociative identity disorder can come to a realization that they are diagnosed if they start having symptoms such as self harm, mood swings etc. Some people think it is some other disorder or disease, but majority do not know what DID is or of they are diagnosed with it. Although DID is incurable, there

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a condition where there are two or more distinct identities that are and will become present in an individual. These personalities can and will eventually take control of the individual, many people consider having dissociative identity disorder an experience of being possessed. The individual can and most likely will experience memory loss that is more extensive than ordinary everyday forgetfulness (Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder). Around two percent of people will experience dissociative disorder, women are more likely than men are to be diagnosed with DID. "Almost half of adults in the United States experience at least one depersonalization/derealization episode in their lives, with only 2% meeting the full criteria for chronic episodes” (Dissociative Disorders).

According to the (American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders pg 519) Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states that recurrently take control of the individual’s behaviour

Dissociation is defined as “a mental process, which produces a lack of connection in a person 's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity” (Grohol, 2016). The Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a severe condition in which two or more separate, distinct identities or personality states are present in an individual. In other words, a person has, what seems like, actual distinct and contrasting people in their head and these “alters” are able to take control of an individual’s mind and body at any time and act as a completely different individual. Each alter is capable of having its own set of likes, dislikes, talents, memories, and personal experiences. The alters’ usually have a specific name, age, gender and possibly race. According to Psychology Today (2014), the alters’ characteristics are typically very different from the primary identity, including their history, self-image, vocabulary, knowledge and predominant mood. The primary identity tends to be passive, dependent, guilty and depressed. A person with DID experiences extensive memory loss which is typically more extensive than what would be experienced by ordinary forgetfulness. For instance, if an alter were to take over, once the individual is back in control of his or her own body, they typically report not remembering anything that was done or said. Some individuals report feeling “familiar” with the conversations or experiences that were had by the alter, but as if they had only overheard

A common myth today is that patients with Schizophrenia have split personalities. While the roots of the word “schizophrenia” are Greek for split mind, being diagnosed with Schizophrenia is not the same as having multiple personality disorder. Paranoid Schizophrenia, one of the more well known subcategories of the disorder typically involves hallucinations, either auditory or visual. A Schizophrenic patient could reply to a voice, or acknowledge a visual hallucination, giving the impression of a second

Psychiatrics describe “Multiple Personality Disorder [often referred to as MPD][as] a chronic and recurrent emotional illness. A person with MPD plays host to two or more personalities. Each identity has its own unique style of viewing and understanding the world and may have its own name” (“Multiple Personality Disorder”). Renamed as Dissociative Identity Disorder in 1994 by the American Psychiatric Association, this disorder has been believed to be a myth by many, especially with the idea of its rarity (Lilienfeld). However, as psychiatrics have described, the disorder includes multiple personalities which have proven to be genuine and real, not a myth. Furthermore, with the information collected, research shows that about 20,000 cases have been recorded between 1980-1990 in the United States alone. The individuals who

Dissociative Identity Disorder, commonly referred to as Multiple Personality Disorder, exists as a bizarre mental disorder in which a person acquires two

Mental disorders are common in many people, all over the world, and affect all ages. It is characterized as “psychological symptoms or behavioral patterns that reflect an underlying psychobiological dysfunction, are associated with distress or disability, and are not merely an expectable response to common stressors or losses.” (Sue et al., 2014). Mental illness becomes prevalent because of many factors and interactions within the individual. Looking into one specific group of disorders, dissociative disorders, a person has a separation of their consciousness, memory, or identity. One particular dissociative disorder, dissociation identity disorder, will be discussed in this paper. There will be a general overview of dissociation identity disorder,

The arguable claim that I am using in this paper is whether or not Dissociative Identity Disorder is an actual disorder, or if it is an extreme bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. I will be using three main points to prove that this disorder is real. One being comparing people who are suffering from bipolar illness and people with dissociative identity disorder, and sharing their differences and ways to tell them apart. I will also be doing this with schizophrenia, which will be another main point. Finally, I will use the information many different scientists have gathered to prove the realness of this disorder.

Patients with dissociative disorder often feel as though they have been detached from their own speech and behavior; some even report hearing voices. These voices often result in a train of thought and strong emotions that the patient cannot control. Patients have reported they even feel the physical aspect of their body change, such as their body type and age (“Symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder”). Because patients dissociate under certain circumstances, identities can have completely different memories. When an alter surfaces, the dominant personality describes “blacking out” until further

This research paper aims to explore the mental disease known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder. I explore the meaning, symptoms, and effects of DID. My research describes those diagnosed with DID and the probable reasons of why they have the disorder. This study also explains the many different treatments and the effects those treatments might have on a person that has the disorder. I include a research study done on someone diagnosed with DID, the method used to help treat her, and the results of her treatment. Lastly, I state my opinion on DID and the methods I believe with help people prevent, treat, and cope with

Imagine waking up in a new house, town, city, even state and not knowing how you got there. Now add onto that thought of forgetting almost a year of your life because someone else, or something, has taken over your body. That is just a look into dissociative disorders in general. Dissociative Disorders are ‘extreme distortions in perception and memory” (Terwilliger 2013). Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), or previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is often the most misunderstood dissociative disorder of them all. It has always been somewhat of a mystery. Seeing videos of the disorder can really give you an insight on what happens with the person who suffer from it. Almost everyone in the