DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER

WHAT IS IT?

• disturbance of identity where 2+ separate, distinct personalities control behavior at different times
• "alters", may exhibit differences in speech, mannerisms, attitudes, thoughts and gender orientation.
• physical differences, such as allergies, right-or-left handedness or the need for eyeglass prescriptions
• average number of alters is about 10, but can be any number from 2-100

HOW DOES IT EFFECT THOSE WITH THIS DISORDER?

• live with it usually not aware of their condition until they first seek medical help
• common complaint in people affected by DID is episodes of amnesia, or time loss
• individuals may be unable to remember events in all or part of a proceeding time period
• encounter unfamiliar people who know them, find items they don't remember purchasing
• find themselves somewhere without knowing how they got there

OTHER SYMPTOMS

• Depression, Suicidal tendencies, Anxiety, panic attacks, Alcohol and drug abuse. Confusion. Memory problems.
• Delusions, headaches, flashbacks, eating disorders, personality change, selective loss of memory, disorientation

TREATMENT

STATS

• Approximately one-third of individuals affected complain of auditory or visual hallucinations.
• DID occurs in 0.01 to 1 percent of the general population
• 3 percent of institutionalized mental patients suffer from the condition.

WHAT CAUSES THIS?

• Unknown what actually causes this disorder psychologically
• Stemmed from childhood trauma
• Due to extreme sexual, physical, or emotional abuse

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS