"What is placed in a child's brain during the first six years of life is probably there to stay.... it is extremely difficult to erase it."
- Dr. Glen Doman
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), number 300.14:
Dissociative Identity Disorder- Formerly Known As MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder)
The presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states each with its own relatively enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment. At least two of these identities or personality states recurrently take control of the person's behavior.
Inability to recall important personal information that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness.
The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., blackouts or chaotic behavior during Alcohol Intoxication) or a general medical condition (e.g., complex partial seizures). Note: In children, the symptoms are not attributable to imaginary playmates or other fantasy play.
Diagnosis Guidelines
Guidelines for Diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder reflects a failure to integrate various aspects of identity, memory, and consciousness. Each personality state may be experienced as if it has a distinct personal history, self-image, and identity, including a separate name. Usually there is a primary identity that carries the individual's given name and is passive, dependent, guilty, and depressed. The alternate identities frequently have different names and characteristics that contrast with the primary identity (e.g., are hostile, controlling, and self-destructive). Particular identities may emerge in specific circumstances and may differ in reported age and gender, vocabulary, general knowledge, or predominant affect. Alternate identities are experienced as taking control in sequence, one at the expense of the other, and may deny knowledge of one another, be critical of one another, or appear to be in open conflict. Occasionally, one or more powerful identities allocate time to the others. Aggressive or hostile identities may at times interrupt activities or place the others in uncomfortable situations.
Individuals with this disorder experience frequent gaps in memory for personal history, both remote and recent. The amnesia is frequently asymmetrical. The more passive identities tend to have more constricted memories, whereas the more hostile, controlling, or "protector" identities have more complete memories. An identity that is not in control may nonetheless gain access to consciousness by producing auditory or visual hallucinations (e.g., a voice giving instructions). Evidence of amnesia may be uncovered by reports from others who have witnessed behavior that is disavowed by the individual or by the individual's own discoveries (e.g., finding items of clothing at home that the individual cannot remember having bought). There may be loss of memory not only for recurrent periods of time, but also an overall loss of biographical memory for some extended period of childhood. Transitions among identities are often triggered by psychosocial stress. The time required to switch from one identity to another is usually a matter of seconds, but, less frequently, may be gradual. The number of identities reported ranges from 2 to more than 100. Half of reported cases include individuals with 10 or fewer identities.
That is the official explanation for DID. Now for a more real explanation from various sources.
Common Terminology
In your research, you will come across many different terms, and some may be conflicting, while most are simply confusing. There is already a multiple dictionary of sorts, and here is the link: http://www.darkpersonalities.net/content/?p=4 . I offer this for information purposes only; I do not agree with all theories presented. Here are some terms you'll see on this site:
Insider: Term used for those that are not currently fronting, meaning everyone inside. This is an alternate term for parts, alters, fragments, and so on. I use the term alter on this site loosely, for clarification purposes only (I do not call those in the House alters).
Inner World: On this site, inner world means the inner environment insiders live in (in the unconsciousness) when not fronting. It does not mean an alternate dimention.
Blackout multiple: A multiple that loses time when others take front.
Frags: Fragmentary personalities. These are insiders that are not whole beings. They: 1) usually live for one brief purpose, or 2) were a "mode" that was only used briefly and never fully developed into a whole alter, or 3) exist are scenery or something to interact with while inside. In case #3, they might have histories and a personality and act of their own accord, but are not a part of one's personal house, family, clan, or other name adopted for the integral part of your system. They will not integrate well or at all, and if forced to integrate, it will be inconsequential. You might as well integrate inner trees.
Modes: Described on co-con page. These are the mentalities needed to exist and survive in different environments that, in the case of multiples, have the potential to develop into full alters.
Integration: On this site, integration is described as the act of a natural merging of insiders, one or two at a time. It is not forced or used as a way to "get rid of" alters; it is something only the insiders desiring to be merged do, when all parties involved are willing. Natural integration is the only solid integration that will last through future stresses and have no unpleasant side effects.
Sharing front: This means when more than one insider is fronting at the same time, whether they are aware of it or not. The traits of both (or more) insiders show forth at the same time. Sometimes referred to on other sites as "riding shotgun".
DID Info Sites
Click here for transcripts from Anne Pratt, Ph.D.andRandy Noblitt, Ph.Din conferences on HealthyPlace.com on working with and living with DID, respectively.
Angel World MPD/DID Information (Warning: music plays, adjust speakers accordingly so you don't jump out of your chair and scare your cats and dogs)
The Great Debate
There are conflicting views on multiplicity. For info on both sides of this conflict, I refer you to this site. In response to the naysayer, I offer the reader my rebuttals:
The recent epidemic of MPD is a psychological fad. - The rise of cases of DID patients is due to the increase in knowledge about the disorder and therefore therapists are able to diagnose appropriately, instead of the common misdiagnosis of schizophrenia (a diagnosis which has also declined in number). The knowledge and action against child abuse has risen, thankfully. Victims now are coming out to expose the "family secrets" that have lasted for generations. Why are they coming out? Many secrets so carefully kept for ages such as homosexuality, transgender issues, depression and other mental disorders, and child abuse among many others are now open and public in these empowered times. Topics not dared to be spoken of a hundred years ago are now commonplace and primetime fodder (i.e., Jerry Springer). Now that child abuse is now being looked into and THANKFULLY action is being taken to stop it, people are discovering the effects of the abuse. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anxiety and other disorders are found to be related to child abuse, and that includes DID. I know of absolutely no one who has gotten money, fame, any kind of positive attention due to multiplicity. Sybil hid her secret her entire life, and her true identity wasn't revealed until she died. [Keep in mind: no multiple or symptom of it is "typical". We did not receive the "How To Be A Multiple" guidebook when we were born like everyone else seems to have. We are all different, like all non-multiples are.]As soon as someone reveals that s/he has DID, that person is reviled, distrusted, assumed to be a threat, and rejected from family, friends, and society. They lose jobs and are called a liar. No, there is NO benefit in revealing this, other than supporting others who have it or loving someone who has it.
MPD is an iatrogenic (therapist induced) disorder, unknowingly created by the interaction of a therapist and patient. - This is the same argument as "False Memory Syndrome," "MPD does not occur naturally", as well as "Persons who have been diagnosed with MPD are victims of bad therapy, but not of MPD itself." I will note that putting the same argument in different forms for sake of adding numbers to the argument, does not fool anyone. The fact that there can be more facets to a person does seem more fantastic than someone hearing voices. Fantastic or not, it is true and cannot be denied. False Memory Syndrome is not a real syndrome, nor is it recognized by any in the medical profession. It was a term made up by a woman accused of abusing her daughter in an attempt to discredit her. Many victims, in the face of the violence and hate received from their families when the abuse was finally admitted, retracted their stories so they could be accepted and loved by their families again. There have been some therapists who have suggested memories to people and false memories have been introduced in attempts to categorize the client, but for many therapists around the world to create false memory syndrome for diagnosis of DID? That is even more of a fantastic idea. There is no way that patients all around the world can tell their therapists the same exact stories of Satanic Ritual Abuse (for example), who have never met each other nor had any other source of information introduced to them. What would it profit, anyway? What is the motivation? To say that different alters have been created ONLY after beginning therapy is false. It's extremely difficult for an adult to create an alter, and usually only in life-threatening circumstances. In cases of DID, alters learn to never act "out of sorts" as a matter of survival. They keep the multiplicity away from their awareness and other's awareness to prevent anyone from finding out the secret of abuse. The abusers who caused the DID will not believe in the alters, accuse the victim of lying, and punish the victim. Also, if anyone acts out of character, they fear being "locked up". "The Three Faces of Eve" is a mass of misrepresentation. In fact, "Eve" had a number of other alters that never presented themselves to her therapist, and she later went on to write about the rest of the story from her own point of view. See I'm Eve, by Christine Sizemore. It's suspicious that whenever someone talks about some problems they get hearty support, and on others they are accused of trying to get gain. It gets tiring. Also of note, alters are not created in therapy, they are discovered during the healing process.
If true MPD exists, it is an extremely rare phenomenon, affecting perhaps fewer than a dozen people in North America.- Abuse is not rare, and it's effects are not rare either. DID is simply another effect of abuse, a way for a child to survive the abuse. Not everyone gets the same disorder, as they are different people with different abuse histories, with different ways of dealing with trauma, and very few of them are healthy.
Deterioration during therapy - The diagnosis of DID is always a shock, of course. When a person discovers their other selves, they are remembering the abuse each insider suffered, which of course makes them feel worse. Therapists, family, and friends convincing them that it is a terrible illness does not help either, and makes the client feel ashamed. I have seen a woman receive this diagnosis, and then get treated like a ticking time bomb by her entire community. She was coddled, overprotected, and each behavior or feeling she had was analyzed by all. They expected her to act strangely and react to stimuli strongly. Can you imagine what state of mind that woman is in now? Heaven help her. She doesn't have a snowball's chance of becoming empowered in that environment.
If You Are Diagnosed... Retorts
If you are getting challenged about the validity of your diagnosis, here are some recommended responses to the most common arguments or questions. The answers are from other multiples I have asked who are offering their preferred responses.
"MPD doesn't exist." Response: "You don't exist." Just kidding! Remember that this person is actually saying that he doesn't believe it exists, not some truth everyone knows. Simply refer him to the DSM-IV and remind him that is the Bible of the mental health profession and was compiled by the leading experts, and they felt it was prevalent enough to include as a real diagnosis, with real symptoms.
"Oh, your therapist just made you think you were MPD." Response: "No, I really am MPD ... but my therapist DID make me think you're a jerk" or "So, your therapist just made you think you're an asshole?" Whoops, Freudian slips there... What I meant to say is, "Hmmmm. Clearly, my MPD threatens some part of your world. Would you please tell me what that is, so I can say something really rude to you, too?" Gee, that isn't what I mean, either. *Drums fingers* This person is actually in some part of his mind complimenting you. He's saying that you don't act like what he expects a "crazy person" to act like. Let him know that your therapist is the one with the degrees and is quite competent to make diagnosis, and that s/he does not create disorder (yes, disorder, and not disorders), merely treats and heals what is already there.
"You've just gotta get over it and get on with your life." Response: "Sure. I'll do that when you manage to get a life." No, no, that won't do. What they are really thinking is "I don't want to deal with this or accept that my friend is hurting. Make it just go away." Very childish, isn't it? Let him know that making really bad things go away means to heal the damage that was done, and that is no easy task. You can't make a broken leg heal by walking on it and trying to ignore it. Make sure he understands that "getting over" something NEVER means ignoring it, and that souls are more important and vulnerable than legs and need special care.
"That's a vastly overdiagnosed disorder." Response: "Oh, and your huge expertise in MPD comes from-m-m-m-m..." or (said with dripping sarcasm) "Of course it is. After all, so many other things look just like having multiple personalities." *eyeroll*. Here he is expressing his feeling that he is an expert. He's pretending he has done a statistical report and follow-through of all people diagnosed with DID. Of course he didn't in reality, but this is obviously an egotistical statement and doesn't deserve as much respect. There is no personal concern in this statement. Seriously, those first responses are probably appropriate at this time. He will usually say he has talked to one or more psychiatrists or other people he feels are experts about this issue. Tell him you need to leave because ignorance is contagious, his comment is proof.
"HAHAHAHA! MPD doesn't exist! People just pretend they have it to get attention." Response: "Of course they do. Everyone wants to bring a hoard of negativity, ridicule, prejudice, and disdain into their lives. Now, if only I could be (pick another group that often gets discriminated against) too..." or (speaking a bit louder) "Can I ask you to say that again? The loud voices inside were just telling me to kill you." The first one is best. The second could have negative results. The person saying this is simply asking for an @$$ kicking.
"And who diagnosed you?" -Usually accompanied by THE LOOK, you know the one I mean. Response: "None of your business." And it isn't, unless he's a new psychiatrist or therapist. Physical doctors will probably ask this of you, but regular Joes will as well. You can tell him IF he needs to know. They might say they want records transferred or some other lame excuse. Inform him your mental health is not public domain and he is not building any doctor-patient rapport by questioning everything you say and to stick to his medical profession. Just nicer, if you can find a way. If it is a psychiatrist who questions the diagnosis because of his own feelings of the diagnosis, tell him you are not interested in getting a new diagnosis every time you come to a psychiatrist or other mental health provider. With experience I say that DID is the absolute last thing anyone will want to admit a client has. Schizophrenia is a catch-all diagnosis and you'll fall into that UNCURABLE label with all the drugs that go with it if you're not careful. It's on a need-to-know basis, and no one other than you and your therapist really needs to know. I want to emphasize that although DID/MPD are the only "official" names for it, I am not a disorder! There is no disorder here. I don't like to hear people say "I am a victim of DID..." No. You are a victim of abuse, that's it. The DID is going to STAY a disorder until you work with it. Those therapists that force simple integration and send the patients on thier way? They split again because it wasn't done naturally. Read "I'm Eve" for a good example.
