Numerous factors contribute to the complex mental state known as dissociative identity disorder (DID), also known as split personality disorder or, earlier, multiple personality disorder.
Women are more likely to have DID compared to men. This is because most of them, sometime in their childhood, face traumas (generally acute, physical, sexual, or psychological abuse), such as war, kidnapping, or even an invasive medical procedure. The condition is also known as split personality disorder.
Dissociative disorders are of different types, of which a few are temporary. They occur after a traumatic life event and disappear on their own over a short time, such as a few weeks or months. However, there are a few other types that last much longer.
Symptoms of Dissociative Disorder
Here are some common symptoms of this disorder:
- Feeling detached from your friends, family, and yourself
- I fail to remember specific incidents, events, and personal details.
- Feeling unconfident about yourself.
- Possessing a variety of distinct identities
- experiencing minimal or no physical pain.
- Individuals sometimes have seizures. It can range from fainting to epileptic seizures.
When the mind feels too much stress, it tries to manage it through dissociation. It can be for short periods, like hours, days, or even weeks or months.
Dissociative Disorders: Different Types
There are three main types of dissociative disorder, as mentioned below:
- Depersonalization-derealization disorder
- Dissociative amnesia
- Dissociative identity disorder.
Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder
An individual can have depersonalization, derealization, or both together. Depersonalization is where you start feeling as if your body is not yours and you are a different person, an outsider who is noticing your actions, feelings, or thoughts from a distance.
Derealization is when you start developing a feeling that the world is unreal. Everything seems hazy around you, whether it’s people or things.
Dissociative Amnesia
Individuals dealing with dissociative amnesia experience times when they can’t remember information about themselves or events from their past. They even forget things that they’ve learned, like any skills.
This condition is far more serious than ordinary forgetfulness. A person experiences blackouts in memory, which can last minutes, hours, or days. Rarely, do these blackouts extend beyond a few months.
Dissociative identity Disorder.
Previously People used to refer to dissociative identity disorder (DID) as multiple personality disorder. Here are a few symptoms:
- I am experiencing short memory loss regarding day-to-day events and personal information
- Possessing a number of distinct personalities
Treatments for Dissociative Disorders
An individual dealing with DID has a state of denial, as if “this is not happening to me.” With the right mindset, family support, and the guidance of a good mental health expert, people with a dissociative disorder can fully recover.
A few therapies, for instance, can serve as treatments.
- Talking therapies
Dissociative disorders most commonly use talking therapies. It includes counseling and psychotherapy.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Dissociative disorders sometimes respond well to the psychological treatment of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
- Some other factors that can aid in a speedy recovery are:
Do not hide your condition from your friends, family, and partner, as their right kind of support helps in a fast recovery. You may experience a brief loss of memory concerning daily activities and private details. Try talking about how you are feeling, what you are going through, and if needed, any additional support to cope with the illness.
To stay motivated, try to learn about others who have gone through similar experiences.
Road to Recovery
If you or someone you know has DID symptoms, you can book an appointment with Athena Behavioral Health via email at customercare@athenabhs.com or by calling us at +91 9289086193 We recognize that women require distinct treatment for mental health issues. Our medical expert will do the initial assessment, which will include questions about your thoughts, feelings, behavior, and symptoms.
The assessment aids in determining the root cause of the illness and whether any other disorders are contributing to your mental health; therefore, it is important to be open and honest about your symptoms, and based on that, a medical expert will design your treatment program.
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