DID High Dissociative Experiences Scale score but not DID?

[Angelwings]

Dissociative Experiences Scale

Your Score: 1310 / 2800

46.8 is my score and they say that people with DID typically score in the 40s. My therapist told me today that I have Severe PTSD with Dissociative Amnesia but not DID. Hmmmm.....

 

[Teamwork]

I wouldn’t focus too much on it. My psychologist and I do the work together and neither of us talk much if at all about the diagnosis. It can be very upsetting to not be in agreement. If you are aware of parts or alters who come out and talk to the t with or without your knowing then that really changes it to the dissociative identity aspect, I believe, but could be wrong. I have parts who actually do talk to him and I’m having to ask him if and when it does happen. He typically doesnt share that with me even though everything I’ve read about it says he should. So for me I just dont really care that much if he says it or not. I am a lot more careful about what I look up online as it would cause me to not have faith in him, when I actually do, based on what he does and how I feel things are going overall. If you think it would change the way she works with you then it would matter, but scales and scores are not always that helpful if she is using a therapy for your wellbeing that you are benefiting from.

 

[Innordinate]

it's an assessment tool to help with diagnosis, that plus observation etc will get you a dx
people with DID will usually have higher scores but not all people with higher scores will have DID

make sense? like, if i remember right i scored high (45 or 47) but I dont have DID

 

[ILoveLife]

DES is self assessment, you'll need something done by a professional, don't remember the name of it :) Try to not fret over it.

 

[digger]

The DES is a screening tool, not something that gives a definitive diagnosis. More something that flags up that someone might be more likely to have a disorder, not that they definitely do have it, so a professional might then continue with further assessment.

Screening Tools | PODS Support

If you're convinced you have DID, and your therapist is confident that another diagnosis fits better, have you asked them how they reached their current diagnosis and why they feel it is the better fit?

 

[Friday]

If you have PTSD? Of course you’re going to score fairly high. Disassociation is part of two entire symptom clusters (reexperiencing & avoidance). AND has it’s own specification. That’s three whole whopping areas. If you were scoring in the normal range, it would be a bit freakish.

Criterion B (one required): The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced, in the following way(s):

• Unwanted upsetting memories
• Nightmares
• Flashbacks
• Emotional distress after exposure to traumatic reminders
• Physical reactivity after exposure to traumatic reminders

Criterion C (one required): Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli after the trauma, in the following way(s):

• Trauma-related thoughts or feelings
• Trauma-related reminders

Dissociative Specification. In addition to meeting criteria for diagnosis, an individual experiences high levels of either of the following in reaction to trauma-related stimuli:

• Depersonalization. Experience of being an outside observer of or detached from oneself (e.g., feeling as if "this is not happening to me" or one were in a dream).
• Derealization. Experience of unreality, distance, or distortion (e.g., "things are not real").

AND that’s assuming that you don’t hit any outside of PTSD areas that also score highish on the dissociative scale.

You know who else, besides PTSD & DID, typically scores high?

- Actors, writers, artists, musicians, R&D, athletes, surgeons, and many others all with no disorder whatsoever that spend a lot of time daydreaming, “in the zone”, “he’s a machine”, “don’t worry, he does this, it’s part of his process”, “yo! Earth to Mary! Have you eaten today sweetie? Slept? Stop. Sit. Eat. Your XYZ will still be here when you don’t fall over from exhaustion,” ... all using their creativity &/or ability to distance themselves in various ways to pursue their passions.

- Autism Spectrum, ADHD, MDD, and a handful of other disorders that include a disassociative component / symptom.

 

[Abstract]

You've been diagnosed with OSDD type 1?

I thought an interesting fact about this test is that some people without DID actually score higher than some people with it.

I think an important consideration would be if you are in a flashback when regressed. I know dissociation is more complex than that. For example if loosing time was the main factor I would have been considered DID and there is zero chance of that at all. I lost masses chunks of my life, hours, days etc. Highly dissociative but not in that way. I no longer do this very often at all. More than one type of dissication can result in the loss of time awareness. Not commenting on whether you are in fact DID of course. Have you seen a psychaitrist for a re diagnoses?

I know for me that when I am very regressed I am re living to some extent or other.

 

[grit]

I think the fascination with definition of human emotions is western phenomenon.
Unless you need diagnosis for insurance purposes (and you remind yourself every day this purpose), healing is the priority here!

I am diagnosed exactly the same thing and I could not careless because living long enough taught me that a person is not a matter or concrete and can have fluctuating feelings, personality traits, memories and whole bunch of others.

No way one could have CPTSD (like me) and not have one trait of every mental condition...how does a child ever comes out of fire and not have burn all over..maybe not the critical organs for her to live and tell about it but if you survive childhood abuse of intense and long time, you will have many other things that will be too long to diagnose or heal or dissect.

Trauma is like a long ugly marriage....how do you pinpoint the problem? You cannot. You just say negative relationship and you try to rectify a layer by layer every day, year etc.

Unless you need diagnosis for insurance coverage, which is valid, and this is what we are resorting to. Take the test again and score higher but if not, you have trauma, it is like putting a colour in a water. It is all over in your life, try to go at it by each cm and see how far you can go before every inch of the water glass is acknowledged and healed or understood or has become cohesive and integrated.

It is a long journey. I took my diagnosis with OK Sherlock Holmes!!! I could have told you so!

 

[UnKnown-Self]

Dissociative Experiences Scale

Your Score: 1310 / 2800

46.8 is my score and they say that people with DID typically score in the 40s. My therapist told me today that I have Severe PTSD with Dissociative Amnesia but not DID. Hmmmm.....

@Angelwings I'm so sorry for all you must have been through. I know the feeling of searching for answers and what you find is like sand pouring through your fingers. There for a second, then gone.

For many who live with PTSD, especially if its development began at a very early age, validation of not only past experiences, but what you're currently experiencing is so vitality important.

Diagnoses are a guideline for psychological treatment, prescription dispensing and insurance purposes.
To my knowledge there's no medication specifically for DID. Unless you're trying to come to terms and cope with distinct, separate personalities who function independently without your awareness, you don't need the DID diagnosis.
Your current diagnosis will get you all the help you need.

I know how very difficult this can be to accept.

It also does not lessen your experience.

What's important is the WORK. It can seem more unbearable at times than living with trauma. You went through Hell to be where you are. The only way out, is going right back through that Hell.

There is a better place on the other side. Not a completely cured place but with continuing work, a place manageable enough to accept & love yourself, most of the time.
Which is all anyone really needs.


Disclaimer: This post is not all inclusive and written completely from my own unprofessional, living with PTSP perspective.

 

[theshadowoftheliving]

I also think that diagnosis can be a helpful way for us to frame our experiences, to know that others have similar experiences to us. I don't think wanting to know is a bad thing; the curiousity to know can be a part of understanding and healing.

DID is weird. DID is hard to identify. And OSDD-1 and DID are basically the same thing.

I had a therapist tell me one that the main difference between the two is that with DID, switches happen at random. Essentally, with OSDD-1 and PTSD with dissociative features, the switches happen in response to trigger-related stimuli. With DID, the switches happen seemingly at random, without a trigger.

For example, it became clear that my diagnosis was DID and not just OSDD when I started "waking up" at random - at work, mid conversation, on the highway driving. That sort of "lost time" had nothing to do with anything bad happening. Exhaustion, maybe. Or something - but that sort of thing wasn't flashback related.

Not sure if any of that is helpful to hear. But I wouldn't be to worried about wanting to know, and seeking answers.

 

[Justmehere]

It is very possible to have significant amnesia without loss of personality cohesion.

Why do you suspect DID?

 

[Angelwings]

@Justmehere
I was worried that I had DID. Only reason is that I will be in a state where I believe I'm a child, sometimes without any warning, sometimes after flashbacks. I do not, though, as far as I know.