Most people with DID rarely show noticeable signs of the condition. Friends and family of people with DID may not even notice the switching—the sudden shifting in behavior and affect—that can occur in the condition.
In some cases all of the personalities remain mutually unaware of the others' existence. In a more common form of the disorder, there is one personality that basically dominates the person's conscious awareness.
People with DID have two or more separate identities. These personalities control their behavior at different times. Each identity has its own personal history, traits, likes and dislikes. DID can lead to gaps in memory and hallucinations (believing something is real when it isn't).
Sudden mood swings: When someone is in a splitting episode, it can cause rapid and dramatic changes in mood, unstable emotions, and impulsive behavior. They might instantly become furious or thrilled, even if they felt the opposite way before.
As an example, someone with dissociative identity disorder may find themselves doing things they wouldn't normally do, such as speeding, reckless driving, or stealing money from their employer or friend, yet they feel they are being compelled to do it.
When under the control of one identity, a person is usually unable to remember some of the events that occurred while other personalities were in control. The different identities, referred to as alters, may exhibit differences in speech, mannerisms, attitudes, thoughts and gender orientation.
Individuals faking or mimicking DID due to factitious disorder will typically exaggerate symptoms (particularly when observed), lie, blame bad behavior on symptoms and often show little distress regarding their apparent diagnosis.
People with dissociative identity disorder can still have successful relationships. Consistent therapy is the only treatment, and can help them and their partners manage the anxiety, depression, and confusion that tend to come with the condition.
Dissociative identity disorder is associated with overwhelming experiences, traumatic events and/or abuse that occurred in childhood. Dissociative identity disorder was previously referred to as multiple personality disorder.
Some indicators that a switch may be about to occur include the following: feeling "spacey", depersonalized, or derealized; blurred vision; feeling distanced or slowed down; feeling an alter's presence; or feeling like time is beginning to jump (indicating minor episodes of time loss).
Answer: Famous people with dissociative identity disorder include comedienne Roseanne Barr, Adam Duritz, and retired NFL star Herschel Walker. Walker wrote a book about his struggles with DID, along with his suicide attempts, explaining he had a feeling of disconnect from childhood to the professional leagues.
The Three Key Signs. Perhaps more importantly, and even more telling than specific symptoms associated with particular disorders, are matters of duration, rigidity, and globalism of the vexing behaviors.
Research shows that diagnosis is typically made around age 30, but signs of the disorder may begin in childhood as early as age 5. Multiple personalities, or alters, may surface at about age 6. By the time a person has reached adulthood, they typically report 16 alternate personalities.
Signs and symptoms of personality disorders
frequent mood swings. extreme dependence on other people. narcissism (extreme vanity) stormy personal relationships.
Mental illnesses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder may cause similar symptoms to a dissociative disorder. The effects of certain substances, including some recreational drugs and prescription medications, can mimic symptoms.
While personality disorders are fairly common, many people do not realize that they have one of these conditions. One of the best ways to improve your quality of life is to recognize the signs and find effective ways to cope with symptoms that lead to distress and impairment.
Periods of dissociation can last for a relatively short time (hours or days) or for much longer (weeks or months). It can sometimes last for years, but usually if a person has other dissociative disorders. Many people with a dissociative disorder have had a traumatic event during childhood.
Shirley Ardell Mason (pseudonym: Sybil Isabel Dorsett) was the subject of a wildly successful book written by journalist Flora Rheta Schreiber. Later turned into a film, the story is arguably the most famous case of multiple personality disorder.
A positive trigger is something non-trauma related and is pleasant enough to cause an alter to come forward and experience happy emotions, such as a special toy, cute puppies, or a favorite ice cream flavor. A positive trigger, in some instances, can be used to bring forth an alter.
A person can have one alter or one thousand alters. Alters can be male or female, young or old, human or non-human. Parts can be fully-formed identities or personality fragments. Because each system is so different, it makes sense that awareness levels are different as well.
It is often seen in Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) who suffer from Complex PTSD or childhood trauma. Having Trauma Splitting, or Structural Dissociation, means we are split into different parts, each with a different personality, feelings, and behaviour. As a result, we feel completely different from moment to moment.