You should know if you have a dissociative identity disorder.
A disruption of identity where the person has at least two separate states of consciousness is called Dissociative Identity Disorder.Severe childhood abuse often causes DID.This can cause a lot of people to be confused and uncomfortable.You can find out if you have DID by getting evaluated by a professional, identifying your symptoms and warning signs, understanding the basics of DID, and dispelling common misconception about DID.
Step 1: Your sense of self can be analyzed.
Altered states of consciousness are what sufferers of DID have.These states are aspects of themselves which are always present, but which can be different depending on the person.Your sense of self may be disrupted by the different alters.You might feel like you don't know what you're doing or what's next.That could be dangerous for you and others.You might feel like you are possessed by more than one person.Sometimes you have stretches of time that you can't remember.It can sometimes seem like you are different from other people.
Step 2: There are switches in personality.
Changing between alters is referred to as a "switch".A person with DID will undergo switches on a regular basis.The time spent in an alternate state of consciousness will vary from person to person, and the switch between personality states will take anywhere from a few seconds to several hours.The presence of a change in the sound of voice can be used to determine when a switch has occurred.As if adjusting to light.A general change in appearance.There are changes in facial features.Change in train of thought or conversation without warning or reason.Children who have imaginary playmates or other fantasy play are not indicative of having DID.
Step 3: Extreme changes in affect and behavior.
Individuals who suffer from DID experience drastic changes in affect, behavior, consciousness, memory, perception, cognitive functioning, and sensory-motor functioning.Dramatic changes in the topic of a conversation can be seen by individuals with DID.They may also show that they can't concentrate for long periods of time.
Step 4: You can identify memory issues.
Difficulty remembering everyday events, important personal information, or traumatic events are some of the issues that individuals with DID experience.There are different types of memory issues associated with DID.Losing your keys or forgetting where you parked is not enough.People with DID will have a lot of gaps in their memory.
Step 5: Don't be afraid to monitor your distress levels.
When the symptoms cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of daily functioning, DID is diagnosed.Do your symptoms cause you a lot of pain and suffering?Do you have significant issues with school, work, or home-life because of your symptoms?Do your symptoms affect your relationships with others?
Step 6: Talk to a psychologist.
A psychological evaluation is the only way to find out if you have DID.People with Dissociative Identity Disorder don't always remember when they are in a state of consciousness.Self-diagnosing can be difficult for people with DID because they may not be aware of their alters.Don't try to diagnose.You need to see a professional to find out if you did.Only trained psychologists or psychiatrists can diagnose the illness.There are psychologists and therapists who specialize in assessing and treating the disorder.Should you take medication if you have been diagnosed with DID?Ask your psychologist to refer you to a Psychiatrist.
Step 7: Don't deal with medical issues.
Some medical conditions can cause memory issues for people with DID.It is important that you are evaluated by your doctor as well to eliminate any possibilities.Any substance use issues should be ruled out.Did isn't caused by alcohol consumption or intoxication.You should consult with your doctor if you have a seizure.This is not related to DID.
Step 8: When seeking professional help, be patient.
It can take a while to diagnose DID.People with DID are often misdiagnosed.Many sufferers of DID also have other mental health diagnoses, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and eating disorder.The symptoms of DID overlap with the other disorders that are present in the combination of these illnesses.The doctor may need some time to get to know the patient.On the first day you meet with a mental health professional, don't expect an immediate diagnosis.These assessments can take a long time.You need to tell the mental health professional that you are worried.This will make it easier for the doctor to ask the correct questions and observe your behavior.Tell the truth about your experiences.The more information the doctor has, the more accurate the diagnosis is.
Step 9: Pay attention to the warning signs of DID.
There are a lot of symptoms that can occur if someone is suffering from DID.The other symptoms are likely to be related to the illness.You can make a list of the symptoms.The list will shed light on your condition.When you go for an evaluation, bring this list with you.
Step 10: Take the account of your trauma.
Years of abuse or trauma are what causes DID.Unlike movies like "Hide and Seek," which portray a sudden onset of the disorder as the result of a recent traumatic experience, DID occurs because of chronic abuse in a person's life.A person who has experienced years of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse as a child will develop DID to deal with the trauma.Being raped regularly by a parent is one of the most extreme forms of abuse.A few unrelated abuse events will not cause DID.Symptoms may begin in childhood, but will not be diagnosed until adulthood.
Step 11: Tracking time loss and amnesia is important.
The term "time loss" refers to a person suddenly becoming aware of their surroundings, and having a period of recent time completely lost from their memory.In amnesia, an individual loses a specific memory or set of related memories.Both can be traumatic for the sufferers, as they are left confused and unaware of their own goings-on.You can create a diary of memory problems.Write it down if you suddenly show up and don't know what you've been doing.Write an account of where you are and the last thing you remember when you check the time and date.This can be used to identify patterns for dissociative episodes.If you feel comfortable, give this to your mental health professional.
Step 12: There is a spot where there is spot dissociation.
Dissociation is the feeling of being out of touch with reality.Everyone experiences some degree of dissociation.It happens when you are sitting in a boring class for a long time, and suddenly come-to when the bell rings with no recollection of what happened over the past hour.Someone with DID might experience dissociation more frequently, as if they are in awaking dream.The person may say that they are watching their body from the outside.
Step 13: The specific criteria for a DID diagnosis can be found here.
Knowing the exact criteria to maintain a DID diagnosis may help you determine if you need a psychological evaluation to confirm your suspicion.There are five criteria that must be met for a person to be diagnosed with DID according to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual.Before a diagnosis can be made, all five must be verified.There must be two or more distinct states within a single individual, which is outside of societal and cultural norm for the individual.There are gaps in the person's memory of everyday activities, forgetting personal information, or traumatic events.Significant impairment in functioning can be caused by the symptoms.It's not part of a widely recognized religious or cultural practice.Substance abuse or a medical illness are not the cause of the symptoms.
Step 14: Recognize DID is a disorder.
A lot of the time, DID is painted as a mental illness that shows up once or twice in an entire country of people.Recent studies suggest that between one to three percent of the population suffer from the illness, putting it in the normal range for mental illness diagnoses.The severity of the illness varies from person to person.
Step 15: DID is more likely to be diagnosed in women than in men.
Women are three to nine times more likely to be diagnosed with DID than are men, and this can be attributed to a number of factors.Women tend to manifest more states/personalites than men, with an average of 15 compared to eight for men.
Step 16: Dissociative Identity Disorder is real.
There has been a lot of debate regarding the authenticity of Dissociative Identity Disorder.Scientists and psychologists have come to the conclusion that the disorder is real.Popular movies like "Weirdo," "Fight Club," and "Sybil" have added confusion to people's understanding of the illness as they show fictionalized, extreme versions of it.It does not appear as if it is suddenly and strongly portrayed in movies and television shows.
Step 17: People with DID don't get false memories from psychologists.
sufferers of DID will rarely forget all of the abuse they experienced, despite the fact that there have been several cases of people who experience false memories as a result of ill-trained psychologists asking leading questions.Because suffers typically have to go through traumatic abuse over an extended period of time, they may not be able to suppress all of the memories.A trained psychologist can question a patient without creating false memories or false testimonies.Therapy has shown improvements in sufferers, and is a safe way to treat DID.
Step 18: DID is not the same as having an alter-ego.
Many people claim to have more than one personality.An alter-ego is an invented/created second personality that a person uses as a way to act or behave differently from their normal personality.Many people with DID are unaware of their multiple personality states, while others with an alter-ego are aware of both their first and second personality.There are examples of alter-egos in celebrity.