Dissociative identity disorder (DID) can be defined as a condition in which a victim experiences at least two distinct identities and each of the personality states consistently relates to the world in a particular manner. The sufferer experiences severe loss of memory to the extent that normal forgetfulness cannot be used to elucidate. The underlying feature of this disorder is identity fragmentation where the person has a propensity to separate part of his body which is a result of a traumatic situation. DID cannot be linked to general medical condition or associated with the effects of substance abuse. The victims display an inability to synchronize different identity aspects, consciousness, and memory to make up one personality of multiple dimensions. Psychological disturbance or trauma is the primary cause of identity change from one state to another (Sinason, 47).
It is usual to find the person suffering from DID having the fundamental characteristics of the person’s name, and he seems depressed, passive, and feeling guilty. The primary identity conflicts with alters’ attributes which include the predominant mood, sex, age, and general knowledge. When the person is conscious, he experiences each personality alter with distinct self-image. Sometimes the condition makes an individual to display behaviors that seem to be controlled by a spirit. That is why it used to be referred to as possession-form identity until the year 1994.
An individual that has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder exhibit the following symptoms: the person experience two different personality states, loss of memory to the extent that the individual cannot recall places, people, and events that occurred in the recent past and the past. Also, there is impairment in critical functioning areas like occupation and social relations, a significant alteration in behavior, perception, consciousness, and memory. Also, a person with DID may experience extreme emotions that they have no control over and their bodies may suddenly change person’s attitudes. Seven in every ten people with DID have been reported to have caused self-injuries and attempted to commit suicide.
Severe sexual and physical abuse during childhood is reported to be the usual cause of DID especially in Europe and United States where it is estimated to be at 90 percent. The disorder may be noted at an early stage where a victim experience post-traumatic stress symptoms like nightmares. Research has shown that in the general population, there is a high likelihood of occurrence among people whose biological relatives have been diagnosed with the disorder. However, it is believed that some symptoms are subject to the psychological therapist since the patients are greatly suggestible.
Treatment
By and large, psychotherapy is regarded as the primary component for treatment of DID. The therapist attempts to bring back the social relations by deconstructing the two distinct personality states into a single identity. Another treatment is the cognitive therapy which focuses on helping the patient to reduce the negative responses to the triggers of trauma. Hypnosis can also be used to enhance the sharing of information of every aspect of the identity of the person with the other to increase the control over the personal states. To improve processing of data and healing, the therapist uses eye movement desensitization and reprocessing which restores the stressful memories of the DID sufferer. Other treatments may include medical prescriptions such as tranquilizers and antidepressants (Krakauer, 67). I chose DID because it can be assessed within the family setting and its treatment is not costly.
Works Cited
Krakauer, Sarah Y. Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder: The Power of the Collective Heart. 2014.
Sinason, Valerie. Attachment, Trauma and Multiplicity: Working with Dissociative Identity Disorder. Routledge, 2011.
