Does anyone suffer with them? I was just curious as to how you know. Do they have different names? Can you have more than one at a time? I am totally ignorant on the subject, but curious.
My husband has bipolar/schzoid/borderline/passive-aggressive/narcissistic & more w/alcohol dependency, Yes they all have different names, Yes you can have more then one at a time (multiple disorders) & they can make others that live around them life a living hell unless one educates themselves slightly when being around these types of people, even w/therapy & meds, it a neverending battle am sure from what I've experienced lived in & seen first hand. I always admire the ones that will manage their disorders like I've seen here.
I've heard that they often do have different names, different voices, different mannerisms, etc., but I have no idea whether two (or more) personalities can coexist at the same time. Sorry I can't be of more help!
I believe you are referring to DID. I have gathered some info from the mental health institute and WebMD for you. It is a complex disorder and has varying degrees. I have struggled with dissociation myself but not full blown DID. I hope this information helps you.
Dissociative identity disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder) is a fairly common effect of severe trauma during early childhood, usually extreme, repetitive physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse.
Most of us have experienced mild dissociation, which is like daydreaming or getting lost in the moment while working on a project. However, dissociative identity disorder is a severe form of dissociation, a mental process, which produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. Dissociative identity disorder is thought to stem from trauma experienced by the person with the disorder. The dissociative aspect is thought to be a coping mechanism -- the person literally dissociates himself from a situation or experience that's too violent, traumatic, or painful to assimilate with his conscious self.
You may wonder if dissociative identity disorder is real. After all, understanding the development of multiple personalities is difficult, even for highly trained experts. But dissociative identity disorder does exist. It is the most severe and chronic manifestation of the dissociative disorders that cause multiple personalities.
Other types of dissociative disorders defined in the DSM-IV, the main psychiatry manual used to classify mental illnesses, include dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, and depersonalization disorder.
Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct or split identities or personality states that continually have power over the person's behavior. With dissociative identity disorder, there's also an inability to recall key personal information that is too far-reaching to be explained as mere forgetfulness. With dissociative identity disorder, there are also highly distinct memory variations, which fluctuate with the person's split personality.
The "alters" or different identities have their own age, sex, or race. Each has his or her own postures, gestures, and distinct way of talking. Sometimes the alters are imaginary people; sometimes they are animals. As each personality reveals itself and controls the individuals' behavior and thoughts, it's called "switching." Switching can take seconds to minutes to days. When under hypnosis, the person's different "alters" or identities may be very responsive to the therapist's requests.
Along with the dissociation and multiple or split personalities, people with dissociative disorders may experience any of the following symptoms:
Depression
Mood swings
Suicidal tendencies
Sleep disorders (insomnia, night terrors, and sleep walking)
Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias (flashbacks, reactions to stimuli or "triggers")
Alcohol and drug abuse
Compulsions and rituals
Psychotic-like symptoms (including auditory and visual hallucinations)
Eating disorders
since i was severly and hideously tortured as a child, i once though i had this--i dint have it full bown out, but have had dissacociated in times of my life---- which i did actually recover from....and return to my normal self later on,
just putting this out there is making me want to puke cause this is like, so extremely difficult to talk about----but yes i did create imaginary 'freinds' to help me gather info on the abuse that has happened, and deal with the hidouesness of the trauma to help ease my mind. i would not say i was ever MPD but yes i did dissacociate, which is nery normal in severe cases of child abuse... it is really not a bad thing, really. it actually means you are very intelligent to have lived through the excessive trauma and just when your body gets hurt so many times it has to deal with it by raising, say your white blood count, so can your mind also protect itself. i hate when people down those with MPD casue THEY have no IDEA what that person was soooooo very strong enough to endure and no, you have no idea how it is until you have been through it! it actually means you are very bright to deal with such abuse....and lived through it...and they are usually very highly intelligent...
i am scared just writing this--i am getting naseous from it cause i feel if i put this out there, i will be judged....or looked down upon. not that i ever think you all would, but im just getting scared.....ughhh... i dont want people to ---especaially on here--think i am weird ...
but it is actually a good thing, not a bad thing just people with it get labeled a lot and it just angers me, not that i have it----but man, do i ever understand it....
love
maureen
Maureen,
I am sorry that you have experienced such abuse my friend. I can totally relate to the feelings of disgust by putting it out there. There are so many emotional and physical reactions to the trauma and feeling exposed. Please be gentle and do not let the shame take over. I do not judge you in any way for having dealt with this-as I have dealt with it myself. Although my circumstances are not as severe and manifestations are somewhat different I understand how dissociation can ease the mind and make you feel calm. It is so easy to go there but through therapy I have found myself more able to not get pulled so deep and to come out of it more quickly. Its heaviness but its calming to dissociate. Not a lot of people can really grasp what it means/does unless you’ve experienced it. I agree that dissociation is somewhat creative and an intelligent way of protecting yourself. There is a lot you can learn from yourself through the process by gaining present time awareness when you feel you are dissociating.
I will never judge you or think negative of you in any way. I understand the fear. I have fealt it too and have felt such self hatred for it. You are a precious, gentle soul and light my friend. I am more than willing to hear you.
awwwww thanks so much, surrender, and it pains me to know we share this one.... thanks so much for you extraoridnary kindness...
yes it was scary to put this our there---not really talking about the abuse cause we have on here, but the dissaciative factors that go into it. now, i do not dissociate anymore BUT in therapy i fear i might go back 'there' again. and geez i dont want to. the other night i was convulsing in my sleep, getting a new memory back, and it was hard to get back in the moment, so ---what i do is watch t.v. or listen to music to get to the present time... it is hard, really... i just hope i dont go back to the dissocaiative things that happened in my past therapy sessions, years ago.... but hopefully i wont... and if it happens, i will just remember to stay in the present....it is very very strange and really beyond anything to deal with new memories and , that was a reason i put off therapy so much, to avoid the memories and how it would change ME. i dont want it to---the anxeity, fear, saddness, flashbacks, it is too much...
but i am glad i am dealing with it..i have to to fully recover and be the real ME. i have to brave through the storm...
thanks surrender for your lovely words and i really appreciate your kindess..last night after i wrote that i had a throbbing headache(migraine) that lasted all night long, so i went to bed late...
but i am glad i got this out there...
love
maureen
Surrender isnt DID very different from Bipolar/schzoid/borderline? I'd heard the DID stems from a very traumatic/abusive experience & Bipolar is genetic. Just wondering.
Yes, Bipolar and Schizoid and DID are very separate and different disorders. Bipolar is characterized by periods of mania (high excitability) and periods of depression. There can be varying periods of both and one can transition from one state to another rather abruptly. Symptoms can last for weeks to months at a time. Bipolar is a mood disorder and not a personality disorder. There is often a genetic component to Bipolar but is not always the case. Although those with Borderline personality disorder often have similar states of being and symptoms that are similar to Bipolar, BPD is very different. Borderline Personality disorder is a disorder that involves impulsivity, mood disturbance and dysfunctional relationships. Those with BPD often have poor self image, engage in self harm and have very black/white thinking. Schizoid is a personality disorder and is very different from Schizophrenia. Someone who has a Schizoid personality disorder experiences extreme social isolation, flat affect, difficulty engaging in relationships and feeling detached from others and the world. Schizophrenia is psychiatric disorder involving delusional thinking and psychotic symptoms such as paranoia, auditory and visual hallucinations. DID is a dissociative disorder which can involve disturbances in memory, awareness, perception and identity. Yes, dissociation is related to trauma (whether it is physical, sexual, emotional, natural disasters/accidents, combat). Dissociation is largely a coping mechanism. This is just a very brief explanation of these disorders, there is so much more information on the causes, symptoms and treatment.
I do not claim to be an expert or all knowing in any way. I have struggled with dissociation in the past. I am about to graduate with my bachelors of science in nursing and just took an extensive psychiatric nursing course over the summer. Please if you feel you are struggling with any of these issues or have questions consult your doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist.
Namaste 
Anyone watch Oprah today?? Very interesting topic. :)
Thanks Surrender, thats exactly what I learned through the years & I have alot of paperwork on it which pretty much reads just the way you clarified.
hopeful, I watched Oprah the one on DID & thats why I was asking the question even though I already knew the difference Surrenders so good at it I didnt want to pull out all the paperwork again UGH.
Yes, it's an interesting topic. I don't think I really get it... I'm not sure I could really understand unless I'd experienced it.
Jen
trust me jen, you dont want to go through the horror of it all,i know this firsthand since i was seriously abused as a child. it sucks beyond anything. i dont have DID now, but i have in the past---not technically but aspects of it... it is --ughhh.. so hard... i know it is there for protection, like a wound needs a scar, but---anyway, now i dont dissacociate--i deal with the pain, and if i do dissacoiate----i have my therapist for that.
love
maureeen
I have called them my friends! I have had as many as six at one time but I am lucky in that none of them are mean spirited. They are various ages and sexes, they have all served a purpose of encouragement and kindness.
They came when I needed something to hang on for survival.
Wow. I cannot even fathom what it must be like.
I find the workings of the human mind to be most interesting!
I have wrote a bit about MPD. If you want to check it out here is the link.
MPD also known as Multiple Personality Disorder
http://www.experienceproject.com/uw.php?e=1037338
Take care
There are many different manifestations of MPD and there are other personality disorders misdiagnosed as such.
Multiple personalities & dissociative identity disorder does not exist. It's no more than a dance between therapist and patient.
It has nothing to do with being highly intelligent, highly creative or any other specialness. It is easy to understand once you demystify it and learn the special language and theories associated with it.
I hope you don't get involved with this pseudo-therapy. It has the potential to not only kill you, but it can severely diminish your quality of life and the relationships you have with your family and friends.
my blog for accurate information about this bogus diagnosis [email protected] or multiple personalities don't exist
jeanette,
i am shocked by your reply… yes there are such thing as mulitple personalities…i dont have it, but i know people who do, and since i was severly abused as a child, i know how that can kill your mind. those who dont believe in multiple personalities were problably people with wonderful, happy, loving homes who couldnt even imagine a day being tortured by your own parents! unless you have gone through an excruciating past as a child, then you cant have any say in whether multiple personalites exist or not. all the knowledge in the world cannot replace going through hell as a child…
MPD is highly intelligent , amazing , intricate way of a person to survive horrible pain—things that most people dont have to deal with on a day to day basis.
it IS for real…
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