Dissociative identity disorder (DID), or multiple personality disorder, is a severe mental health disorder where people have two or more personalities that control their behavior at different times. DID is extremely rare, impacting only about 1% of the population. The majority of people with DID experience severe trauma at an early age. DID profoundly affects the lives of those with it and their loved ones. The safest, most effective way to diagnose and treat DID is with treatment for dissociative disorders.
At Harmony Hills, we treat the symptoms of dissociative disorders and underlying behaviors. If you or your loved one has a history of trauma and is experiencing symptoms of a dissociative disorder, help is available at our holistic Florida treatment center. Living with mental health challenges can be scary and confusing. At Harmony Hills, we provide a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where you can recover from trauma and learn to manage dissociative symptoms to live your best life. Contact our team at 855.494.0357 to begin your path to recovery.
What Is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Dissociative disorders are marked by an involuntary escape from reality characterized by a disconnect between thoughts, feelings, behaviors, memories, consciousness, and sense of identity. The symptoms of dissociative disorders develop in response to trauma. Stressful situations can worsen symptoms, causing everyday functioning to suffer.
Dissociative identity disorder is a type of dissociative disorder where individuals have two or more unique identities. Each identity has its name, voice, age, personal history, personality characteristics, mannerisms, likes, and dislikes. DID causes gaps in memory that can include personal information and everyday events. Individuals with DID do not have control over shifts in identities, which makes life feel frightening, exhausting, and overwhelming.
Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder
DID often results from severe and prolonged physical, emotional, or sexual abuse experienced during childhood. However, it can also result from extreme neglect, natural disasters, or combat.
DID varies between individuals. However, common symptoms of DID include:
- An inability to remember large parts of childhood
- Frequent periods of memory loss or “lost time”
- Out-of-body experiences
- Hallucinations
- Episodes of feeling detached or disconnected from one’s body, thoughts, and feelings
- Unexplained events and an inability to be aware of them
- Noticeable differences in handwriting
- Self-harm or suicidal behavior
- Changing levels of functioning and cognitive ability
With DID, “core” refers to a person’s usual personality, and “alters” refers to their alternative personality. There is no limit to the number of alters a person can have. When different alters surface and take control of the individual’s thoughts and behaviors, it is called “switching.” Switching can happen in seconds, hours, days, weeks, or even months. Alters are often aware of each other and the core personality. However, the core personality is typically unaware of the alters.
Symptoms of DID often begin in childhood, between the ages of 5 and 10, but are often overlooked or misdiagnosed as other behavior or learning disorders, such as ADHD.
DSM Diagnostic Dissociative Identity Disorder Test
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the United States. The DSM outlines specific criteria for diagnosing dissociative identity disorder, including:
- Two or more distinct personality states that control behavior
- Gaps in memory about events, personal information, or everyday activities
- Distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning due to the disorder
- Symptoms not caused by drugs or medical conditions
A mental health professional will use the DSM criteria and may also conduct a dissociative identity disorder test to accurately diagnose DID. Some examples of tests that may be used include:
- SCID-D (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Dissociative Disorders)
- DES (Dissociative Experiences Scale)
What Is the Treatment for Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Medications can help with symptoms of DID, such as anxiety and depression. However, psychotherapy is the most effective treatment. Some mental health specialists also use hypnotherapy. DID treatment focuses on:
- Identifying and working through past trauma
- Managing sudden behavior changes
- Merging alters into a single core identity
- Co-occurring disorders treatment
Early interventions and trauma-informed therapy can help prevent the formation of DID and other dissociative disorders. Do not delay seeking professional help if you or a loved one experience significant unexplained memory loss, a major behavior change when under stress, or a pervasive sense that the world around you is blurry or unreal. A mental health expert with specialized training and experience working with dissociative disorders should treat individuals with DID.
Benefits of Treatment for DID
The path to healing and integration for those living with DID involves comprehensive care that yields numerous benefits, including the following key improvements:
- Improved overall quality of life
- Better relationships with others, including family and friends
- Increased self-awareness and understanding of one’s identity
- Decreased frequency and intensity of dissociative episodes and other symptoms
- Enhanced coping skills to manage stress and triggers related to past trauma
- Improved ability to lead a productive and fulfilling life
Take the first step towards recovery with Harmony Hills’ holistic treatment program for dissociative disorders.
Reach Out to Harmony Hills for Dissociative Disorders Treatment
Untreated DID can have devastating impacts. If you suspect that you or a loved one has DID, seek professional help as soon as possible. At Harmony Hills, we specialize in treating the symptoms of dissociative disorders and other mental health conditions. Contact our team at 855.494.0357 to learn more.
