[Karen W. (OP)]

Well I guess I want to know how common it is? Do the people afflicted with the disorder know that they have multiple personalities? Are they able to control each or is it not something that they turn on or off on purpose? Are there symptoms other then the obvious..? Are there some medical conditions that exist that this partners up with more often then not.Like maybe you it happen more with people who have certain specific medical problems or other phycological problems??

Are there steps to be taken to stop the personnas or are most harmless and safe to just deal with?

Silly questions but I am very curious!..

[paul.fr]

No i dont think so, yest i do..no you dont..who said that...Sorry

[DoctorBeaver]

Also known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (this is how it is now known). It involves a lack of "unity of self". In other words,  the experiences, memories etc that make a complete whole remain separate (not strictly accurate, but it will suffice). The sufferer displays the personalities of multiple "alters"; although there is no consensus as to exactly what defines an alter. Sometimes there may be thousands of alters present, each of which has its own memories not accessible by the others. However, alters are frequently aware of the existence of other alters.

The primary identity is usually the one with the individual's given name, sole history & experiences etc. This identity is commonly passive, guilty, dependent and depressed. When in control, each alter may present a distinct history and identity. The alters' characteristics contrast, often widely, with those of the primary identity. Despite the apparent differences between alters, it is believed that DID is actually a fragmentation of identity rather than a genesis of separate identities.

Nicholas Spanos considers repressed memories of childhood abuse and DID are "rule-governed social constructs established, legitimated, and maintained through social interaction".

What Spanos means is not that DID does not exist, rather that it is created by therapists (iatrogenic), the patients and society at large. The origin and development are often, maybe even usually, explicable without separate "alters" caused by a destroyed "original self".

This opinion has adherents and opponents among psychologists & psychiatrists.

Brain imaging studies have indicated that there are identity transitions in some patients.

The evidence is now fairly conclusive that there are thousands of cases of DID diagnosed each year, and almost invariably the cause can be shown to be prolonged and severe early childhood abuse, usually sexual.

[Karen W. (OP)]

Also known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (this is how it is now known). It involves a lack of "unity of self". In other words,  the experiences, memories etc that make a complete whole remain separate (not strictly accurate, but it will suffice). The sufferer displays the personalities of multiple "alters"; although there is no consensus as to exactly what defines an alter. Sometimes there may be thousands of alters present, each of which has its own memories not accessible by the others. However, alters are frequently aware of the existence of other alters.

The primary identity is usually the one with the individual's given name, sole history & experiences etc. This identity is commonly passive, guilty, dependent and depressed. When in control, each alter may present a distinct history and identity. The alters' characteristics contrast, often widely, with those of the primary identity. Despite the apparent differences between alters, it is believed that DID is actually a fragmentation of identity rather than a genesis of separate identities.

Nicholas Spanos considers repressed memories of childhood abuse and DID are "rule-governed social constructs established, legitimated, and maintained through social interaction".

What Spanos means is not that DID does not exist, rather that it is created by therapists (iatrogenic), the patients and society at large. The origin and development are often, maybe even usually, explicable without separate "alters" caused by a destroyed "original self".

This opinion has adherents and opponents among psychologists & psychiatrists.

Brain imaging studies have indicated that there are identity transitions in some patients.

The evidence is now fairly conclusive that there are thousands of cases of DID diagnosed each year, and almost invariably the cause can be shown to be prolonged and severe early childhood abuse, usually sexual.

Does this mean that all of the alters are in fact bits and pieces so to speak of the one individual personality? Just being expressed in different persona's so to speak? If so what is treatment these days or is there one? Does the individual really need it or is there really  treatment aside from counceling. Is it possible for an individual with this problem if you want to call it that to have real relationships, ie friendships etc?
   Is it possible for the individual to use his alters to express certain feelings when unable to express these feelings in the original persona.Does the use of these alters always have to be considered negative?


 

[Karen W. (OP)]

No i dont think so, yest i do..no you dont..who said that...Sorry

LOL LOL!!!

[DoctorBeaver]

Does this mean that all of the alters are in fact bits and pieces so to speak of the one individual personality? Just being expressed in different persona's so to speak?

Yes. The thinking is that the sufferer's brain partitions experiences into separate little cubbyholes thereby creating separate identities rather than lumping them together to form a cohesive whole.

 

If so what is treatment these days or is there one? Does the individual really need it or is there really  treatment aside from counceling. Is it possible for an individual with this problem if you want to call it that to have real relationships, ie friendships etc?

DID will not clear up by itself; therefore, if the patient is to be cleared, some action has to be taken. The most effective course of action is therapy. This is done on a one-to-one basis rather than in group sessions and the aim is to coalesce the alters into a cohesive whole.

Medication is not recommended. This is because dosage and maintenance are almost impossible given that each alter probably does not know what happens when another alter is in control. One alter would not be aware that another alter had taken the medication and hence may try to unknowingly repeat the dosage. However, in acute Axis-1 cases where the sufferer is institutionalised, medication may be prescribed.

Just recently there has been a move toward support groups. This approach is more common in the USA than elsewhere.

I am not familiar with any research with regard friendships/relationships.

Is it possible for the individual to use his alters to express certain feelings when unable to express these feelings in the original persona. Does the use of these alters always have to be considered negative?

The expression of feelings through alters is probably the root cause of the disorder. However, the patient is unable to deliberately channel his/her feelings through the alters; it happens on a subconscious level. It can be likened to psychological escapism. The primary personality is unable to cope with the feelings so the subconscious mind pushes them onto the alters. In some other people the mind achieves escapism via amnesia or suppression.

[_Stefan_]

I was thinking about DID recently and wondered if it could in some cases be due to Chimerism. I.e., 2 lines of cells from 2 individuals constituting the brain, somehow producing more than one personality. Is this possible, or would the 2 cell lines act as one harmonious brain regardless?

[DoctorBeaver]

There have been suggestions that it is biological in nature but those theories do not have much support.

[Karen W. (OP)]

It is interesting.. I once met someone with the disorder at the time I thought he was really moody but later after being around him a lot..I found out he had this. I do not know how many alters he had but I suspect I seen at least three. He was in a care facility at the time.. I have often wondered how he is and if he is alright.He had an extremely hard time making and keeping friends as he would be sweet one minute and the next time he would be telling you off or behaving completely out of character.. sometimes I could him go from talking to me and move across the room and immediately his whole demeanor would change speaking with another person.. you could see a change in the way he moved as well as his attitude and personality.. It was very confusing.. I have often wondered and wanted to understand more about this!