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DID Question about did

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Robbed

Learning
Can anyone tell me about DID ( Multiple Personalities). My therapist has suggested that there are certain childlike persona's that I have when I am dissociated.

I do not understand this and have visions of Sybil ( the movie). Can anyone tell me how this works? Does this mean that you have different personalites or do you take on different roles. I am not sure what questions I need to ask I am terrified that this is somthing new or its the first time my therapist has meantioned this to me.

I would appreciate your advice or expereinces.

I am terrified !!:think: :dontknow:
 
"Sybil" was a very exaggerated and sensationalized movie, so don't go by that.

Multiple personality disorder occurs when a person dissociates and "splits" into a different persona----usually a different personality with a different name that possibly identifies itself with a different age and/or gender. The core personality---you---usually does not have any knowledge of this other identity or identities, and only knows that they have lost hours or days without knowing what they did. During this lost time one of the other personalities takes over and carries on with life for you, but you don't remember. Multiple personality disorder is extremely rare and very treatable. When it occurs (rarely---I can't say this enough) its purpose is often to create other parts of oneself to deal with memories of trauma that are too much for ones' self. Therefore it is seen in psychiatric circles as a coping mechanism, and it is very treatable.

Multiple personality disorder (or whatever they're calling it nowadays---that's what it was called when I worked in the mental health field back in the day) is a diagnosis that can only be made by a psychiatrist, and is made very rarely. There are specific criteria that have to be met. Being childlike when you are dissociated is not enough for a diagnosis. It probably means that, somewhat similar to MPD, you are squirreling away some of the pain in other parts of yourself until you are slowly ready to deal with them. A very creative way to cope.

If your therapist is a psychiatrist I would be asking them if they have made this diagnosis before and how much experience have they had in treating it. And are they making a diagnosis?----or only suggesting that you have traits that are similar to it?

If your therapist is not a psychiatrist I would ask the same things, and if they feel that you do have it, I would ask for a referral to a psychiatrist who has some experience with it for an "official" diagnosis. It is so rare that you want to make sure you're dealing with people who know what they're doing, and that they're not just making a casual observation. MPD is a scary thing to think about having, and not something that should be suggested to you lightly.

Two years ago I was in a support group---the first session----and the facilitator talked about impulsive actions and gave some examples from his own life. Then he asked if anyone had any examples to share. No one put up their hand so I thought, okay I'll take a risk here. After I told the group how I had bought a car without really thinking it through and was now selling it, the facilitator suggested in front of the group that I might consider whether I am bi-polar!!! It took me a couple more weeks to realize that I was outraged and how unprofessional a comment this was to make, especially in an off-the-cuff kind of way like that. I quit that group the third week.

Anyway my point is that in my humble opinion, these things should not just be dropped into a conversation without a lot of exploration of the symptoms first, possibly some professional consultation with a supervisor or another therapist (on your therapist's part), and a pretty sure idea that that's what we're dealing with. Let your therapist know how this comment has affected you, that it scares you, and you would like to know more about why he/she said it. Good luck to you.

Rivergirl
 
Rivergirl is totally right on all points. It is extremely rare and the therapist should explain wayyy more. I've been through the same thing and freaked the hell out when people who didn't really treat me or know me made generalizations. I've talked about this in length with my t. Yes, I show signs of OCD or whatever but by clinical diagnosis I am not. She says it's all part of the PTSD. I am wonderful of dissociating, numbing, and other traits that kept me sane during my abuse and job traumas. I see 4 different drs as part of my team and all say the same thing: I have PTSD and that's it. We share traits with other illnesses but that's all. Now, I have to say I am very lucky because all of my drs specialize in PTSD and trauma so I don't have to deal with misinterpretations or generalizations...they speak to me with great knowledge of PTSD. I think that is a huge benefit to me so there are hardly any questions hanging like the t left you with. Definately bring it up and ask for a better answer. If he/she can't provide one...seek another opinion. Not because you need another 'label' but because there might be a med that helps more.
 
I had DID but no longer meet the criteria for it. I was diagnosed and treated by trauma specialist at an intensive outpatient treatment program in West Virginia.

On the phone intake two things happened that gave them the impression I had DID before they even met me. They were asking me questions about what sort of things happened and when they mentioned something, I switched and one of my "others" came out. They also noticed that I say "we" a lot instead of "I" which no one had ever picked up before even though I had.

It wasn't scary most of the time. There were a few times where I'd stop dissociating and find myself in the middle of the road with cars coming but that only happened a few times.

Sure, there are blocks of time I don't remember but once I started working on healing and became aware of my "others" I was able to tell when they were out and I wasn't. That's when things started becoming much easier to manage.

My PM box is always open if you need to chat.
 
Question about DID

Thank you for replying to my questions. My Psychiatrist specialises in PTSD and I feel very confident with his care. He has not diagnosed me as DID but when I asked him to explain my dissociation he then bought up the child like behaviours etc. He definatley is not into labelling me. I think it is my fear rather than reality.

I try so hard to continue therapy and manage exposure sessions as best as I can. He has asked if he can video me during one of these session. I have thought long and hard about it and have asked for your advice and I have decide that I trust him enough to allow this, maybe when I see it it may help me close the gap between my childhood and the present. I can only try. He has promised me that he will only show his colleage who covers his practice when he is away.

I am so grateful for the replies as I have isolated myself my everyone and I don't feel like I can talk to anyone about my struggles.

A work colleage just said to me today that I look lost and she was concerned, I thought I may have dissocaited but she said I look like I have lost my place in the world since my children have left home. I thought I had covered it up. I surpose you can only hide so much.

Every day is a challenge ! When will it get easier ?

Thank you for the friendship

Robbed :hello:
 
Being childlike when you are dissociated is not enough for a diagnosis. It probably means that, somewhat similar to MPD, you are squirreling away some of the pain in other parts of yourself until you are slowly ready to deal with them. A very creative way to cope.

This paragraph caught my eye. I think talking, acting or feeling young while dissociated isn't that uncommon for abuse survivors, whereas DID is very rare, as Rivergirl pointed out.
 
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