DID Dissociative identity disorder (did) and ddnos-1 differences

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I am not seeking diagnosis of any kind - I will leave that to the Psychiatrist I'm seeing, however, I do have some questions about the differences between Dissociative Identity Disorder and DDNOS-1. It is something I find very interesting with and without pertaining to myself, yet as I have been misdiagnosed in the past, If I can't trust the professionals to get any diagnosis correct, I definitely don't trust myself. I have one main query if my understandings of the two different diagnosis' are at least in the right ballpark.

My understanding of DID is that you lose time when another alter is present. The alters are defined fragments of the personality with Names, Genders, Ages, Sexualities etc, etc. They may or may not be aware of the other alters and they may or may not be co-conscious. The trauma that causes DID, must be sustained during childhood and usually stops before

My understanding of DDNOS-1 is that rather than having defined alters, you are made more of parts, that can blur into one another but are more defined than an ego state, hence the lack of loss of time. In some cases they may be more like full alters but all the parts collectively share consciousness, rather than are usually separated. However one thing that is not clear is the age range for the trauma.

It would seem to make sense that because of the age in DID (before the childhood personality aspects fuse), that full alters are created. They are more creative, advanced and separate. Is DDNOS-1 a different response to similar situations? Or can/does DDNOS-1 occur in older children and adolescents, where the mind is still fragile, yet has defined a sense of self?

This may be easier if I shared my paper analogy, but it's very long winded and personal to my understanding of myself with extensions reaching to DID and various Personality Disorders, just for clarification. I don't think it would be useful for all of you, I don't know, so I shall leave it for now unless requested.

 

[cherryblossom]

Hi Kas,

What does DDNOS-1 stand for?

Please be aware of [DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/use-of-text-speak-and-abbreviations-when-posting.30234/#post-484955[/DLMURL]

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (Subtype) 1

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

There is a lot less information on the specifics of DDNOS-1 though from what I gather it will be mostly merged with DID in the DSM V. It's like I'm trying to translate a code with only part of the key and it seems like no one knows. The age requirement of DID is rather specific and limited, I just wondered if this was more flexible with DDNOS-1 and if in the merging process that age will be broadened or remain as it is with DID.

 

[SweetPeaandSunBird]

Actually, I think you did a good job describing the differences as I have come to know them. I was diagnosed with DIDNOS. However, that was several years ago, and I wasn't aware of the subtypes within the DIDNOS. I'll have to update my understanding.

 

[Abstract]

I really don't know kas. If I took a wild guess I would think there would be similar requirements for age of trauma. Because it relates to the way the identity actually develops.

When it comes to the disorders that involve personality alters then I believe the only difference between the two (DID and DDNOS 1) will be that there is possible less memory loss (from dissociated personality states rather than dissociative trance) and that the personality states may be a little less sophisticated even though fixed.

Remember too that defined ego states which cause discomfort for the person would not be included in DDNOS.

We can also feel really different when triggered and hitting a "pocket" of trauma.

I think the other DDNOS subtypes are more related to ganser syndrome and dissociative trance syndrome but I am not sure at all.

It sounds wise to try to find out as much as possible. Good luck!

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Thanks everyone!

When it comes to the disorders that involve personality alters then I believe the only difference between the two (DID and DDNOS 1) will be that there is possible less memory loss

From what I had gathered it was possible for DDNOS-1 to have parts of the personality that blurred into one that were more defined than ego states and less defined than full alters, all the way up to full alters with a universal co-conciousness. Which if that's so it would be interesting to see if the lack of fully defined alters was due to the trauma happening at a slightly later stage in life - for example (and with incredibly broad examples to avoid upsetting or triggering anyone):

Patient 1 suffered trauma from an abusive parental relationship from the ages of 2-4 when the patient was taken into care by social services, the trauma's continued both through the system and the various foster homes until the age when was old enough to take care of the patient self. Patient still suffered abusive relationships. Patient still struggled with daily situations. When attending therapy, patient was seen to have several defined personalities, patient did not recall saying a lot of what she had done - to cut a long story short the Patient 1 was diagnosed with DID.

Patient 2, suffered trauma for an extended period of time between the ages of 5 and 7 that ultimately led to the patient being kidnapped (among other traumas) by a family member. When the patient was returned home by the local authorities and the family member was caught, patient 2's parents sought out therapy to help their child who seemed detached and seemed to have taken "imaginary friends" too far. The patient was always aware of the "imaginary friend" who was forward and when seen by a professional, in the long run was diagnosed with DDNOS-1.

Patient 3, suffered abuse between the ages of 9 and 15, however had led a fairly troubled life for a few years before that. At age 9 after the patient was noticed to have a change in personality by family members. At age 11, the patient reports awareness of retreating into themselves. At age 15, the patient suffered a severe memory loss of events until much later life. Family reports noticing different "sides" of the patient and associates it with different mental health states. Patient reports to Psychiatrist that it's aware of many "Me's" saying something like:

"They're all me, but they're not all different too, I'm not always in control but I'm always there right behind them, if I'm not me".

The Psychiatrist refers to the therapist with the patients consent, who notes that the patient has distinctly separate ego states that have many different characteristics and even some personality traits, but has not fully investigated. The patient is diagnosed with DDNOS-1 as it is understood, that after undergoing trauma the personality fragemented without splitting due to the beginning of the personality having settled down. The patients different sides are all different versions of the patient from different ages and have specific and unique properties and functions, however when not distress, the parts of the patient work together to form a whole personality made up of many parts.

Is that possible or 'it just doesn't happen like that'? I understand that DID and DDNOS-1 would not happen in a fully developed personality, but t seems reasonable to think that abuse suffered before the psyche has completely merged but after it has started to would result in something like this? But I am no psychiatrist!

(and this was why I had confusion over where to put it, especially as I now want to end with "discuss..."!)

AJ
xx

 

[cherryblossom]

I was diagnosed with DIDNOS.

Hi SweetPeaandSunBird. What does DIDNOS stand for? I'm getting quite confused with all these abbreviations. Please be aware of [DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/use-of-text-speak-and-abbreviations-when-posting.30234/#post-484955[/DLMURL]

 

[Mercy]

I'm not trying to be disrespectful or argumentative. For me, the labels don't mean much. Sometimes I am able to do well at something and the next hour not recognize that "I" did it. Sorry, this is more emotional than I thought. Maybe I'll be able to be more open in my diary. sorry, so sorry.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I'm getting quite confused with all these abbreviations.

DIDNOS seems to be a common misabbreviation of DDNOS (both meaning Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified as opposed to Dissociative Identity Disorder) please correct me if I'm wrong.

For me, the labels don't mean much.

Labels can be bad and labels can be good (I've found great peace in knowing that it's not my fault I'm this way and that it's normal for people with PTSD), I've experienced both the good and the bad. Mostly labels are for professional understanding - if you're DID and referred to a hospital, someone who didn't know your label or you particularly well may think you were schizophrenic and hearing voices, so it's useful to them to be able to understand that the voices you here are parts of your own.

In this instance I don't care much about labels, I only care about the age of trauma and it's effect fragmenting and splitting the personality.

I'm sorry that you're upset Mercy, please don't apologise, you've done nothing wrong.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

It should also be noted that whilst I am genuinely curious as to how the age and development of an trauma suffering individual affects personality, I am also seeking some information as I currently can't see my Psychiatrist and have questions that pertain to myself. It's safe to say whilst I am not seeking diagnosis, some insight into what I'm going through would be reassuring before I run sharing my symptoms freely.

If you wanted to know how this relates, patient 3 very loosely is based on me. I do have different parts, that are by my understanding more than egotistical states, but less than alters. I was freaking about being co-concious with DID, but the age of trauma (unless I'm blocking a lot from my younger years, which doesn't make sense) and time loss set me a part.

When I last saw my psychiatrist (PTSD Diagnosis) she asked me what I thought about half way through and I said I thought PTSD. After the time before and the time after she agreed. I repeatedly neglected to explain fully that my "face-me" and my "head-me's" were a concern, but I didn't forget to tell her about them. She mentioned something about Dissociative something or other which is ironic because the reason I don't remember is I was dissociating!

I swear I'm not crazy, and either the many Me's I have are all a symptom of PTSD (not that I've read, beyond typical PTSD dissociation) or they aren't. If they aren't I also swear I'm not hallucinating, but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe all of this is a trick my head is playing on me as all it seems to exist for is to cause me pain.

I appreciate a fair understanding before going to see my Psychiatrist for confidence about not being immediately written off as beyond help (which I have repeatedly been assured I am and no one will ever believe me) and because when the Psychiatrist tells me something and I'm battling with Dissociation I need all the help I can get to understand her.

Maybe I should share my internal Me's and traumas as list, to give a real example for understanding. But I don't feel ready too. Whilst I know they are there, I'm not sure if I'm ready for other people to know they are aware (although Mum and Sisters said they recognised each of them only 20 minutes after telling me they'd never noticed anything odd).

If it's impossible to get any personality fragmentation at a later age, then what the hell is going on my head and if it is, well, that's why I'm asking. If this is down to the misunderstanding and limits of labels, then so be it. I'm still going to get an appointment with the Psychiatrist (when my social worker is back from holiday) and ask her. My concern is I've read about a lot of very skeptical professionals who won't diagnose correctly even when they know it to be true. I don't need a diagnosis, but I need an understanding and possible medication because I can't cope at the moment.

So you see, as I'm seeing her no matter what is said here, the main reason for asking is general curiosity and an interest/understanding.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I found this on another forum and find it kind of sums up the development of DID and DDNOS and whilst not fully, gives me an understanding of the age effect:

DDNOS-1
1. No one is born with a sense of a unified self (unified personality).
2. You are given adequate amount of care as an infant, so you begin the normal process of integration.
3. That caring becomes inhibited due to something like abuse or neglect and an inability to attach to a caregiver. Your normal process of integration is confused.
4. You partially integrate.
5. The parts of your personality are stuck somewhere between being normal and being an alter (an extremely dissociated personality state.)
6. Parts of the self intrude all the time, you are a mess, you are moody, you cannot deal well with life. You have only one host and a bunch of emotional parts that keep taking over in the form of passive dissociation. You do not totally loose the period of time while an alter takes over such as in DID.

DID
1. No one is born with a sense of a unified self (unified personality).
2. You are NOT cared for as an infant and are abused, neglected and traumatized. You do not attach to a caregiver.
3. Your normal process of integration is confused.
4. Your behavior states do not integrate into normal parts of the personality - they are severely dissociated.
5. The parts of your personality are mostly compartmentalized - separated from others. The abuse is so severe you make many hosts to handle the abuse.
6. Parts of the self intrude all the time, (both full dissociation and partial dissociation) you are a mess, you are moody, you cannot deal well with life - so you make a new host. You have a bunch of hosts and a bunch of emotional parts that keep taking over.
7. As an adult those with DID have the ability to make new hosts and often do this. Of course it is done by the brain automatically. No part is directing this, but many are aware it is happening. This only occurs in those with DID.

As you see whilst this doesn't state a specific age, using the information I already know about age from DID I can start piecing together my understand of self(s!). If anyone has that elusive specific answer to my question, I would still love to hear it. But I'm imaging that it doesn't exist.

Thanks again.
AJ
xx