How To Tell If You Have Multiple Personality Disorder

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This article was co-written by Noel Hunter, Psy.D. Noel Hunter is a clinical psychologist in New York City. She is the director and founder of MindClear Integrative Psychotherapy. She specializes in using a humanistic approach, based on an understanding of trauma, to treat people diagnosed with a mental disorder. Hunter holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Florida, a master’s degree in psychology from New York University, and a doctorate in psychology from Long Island University. She has appeared on National Geographic, BBC News, CNN, TalkSpace and Parents magazine. She is the author of Trauma and Madness in Mental Health Services.

There are 9 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

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Dissociative personality disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is an identity disorder where the person has at least two distinct personality states. ^{[1] X Sources of DID research} are often the result of severe childhood abuse. This condition can be inconvenient and confusing for the patient and those around them. If you’re worried you have DID, you can identify it by having a professional diagnose it, recognize the symptoms and warning signs, understand the basics of DID, and dispel common misconceptions about DID. dissociative personality disorder.

Table of Contents

Know the symptoms

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Analyze your sense of self. People with DID have many distinct personality states. ^{[2] X Source of Study} These states are aspects of themselves, but expressed separately, during which time the patient may not recall any memories. Different personality states can cause disturbances in the person’s sense of self. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Notice the “shift” in personality. The term “transition” refers to the change from one personality/state to another. DID’s personality transformation occurs relatively frequently or is permanent. A DID person’s transition to another state can take from a few seconds to hours, and the length of time it takes to reveal the personality or alternate state will vary from person to person. Outsiders can sometimes identify a transition based on the following: ^{[4] X Research Source}
- Changes in voice tone/tone.
- Blink continuously as if adjusting to the light.
- A fundamental change in attitude or physical state.
- Change facial expressions or expressions.
- Changes in thinking or talking for no reason or any warning signs.
Particularly in children, imagining a game or playmate does not indicate multiple personality disorder. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Recognize extreme changes in emotions and behavior. People with DID often have obvious changes in emotions (observable), behavior, consciousness, memories, feelings, thinking (thoughts), and sensory-motor function. ^{[6] X Research Source}

People with DID can sometimes suddenly change topics or mindsets completely. They may also show an inability to concentrate for long periods of time, sometimes paying attention to talking, sometimes not. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Identify memory problems. People with DID often experience severe memory problems, including difficulty recalling everyday events, important personal information, or traumatic events. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

The types of memory problems associated with DID are not the same as normal day-to-day amnesia. Losing your keys or forgetting where you left your car is not a big deal. Meanwhile, people with DID often have a gap in their memory, for example, not remembering a recent situation at all.

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Monitor the level of breakdown. You are only diagnosed with DID if your symptoms significantly interfere with your social, occupational, or other aspects of daily functioning. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Are the symptoms (different states, memory problems) causing you much distress?
Do you have a lot of trouble at school, work or daily life because of your symptoms?
Do your symptoms interfere with your friendships and relationships with others?

Receive evaluation

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Consult a psychologist. The only sure way to know if you have DID is to have it evaluated by a psychologist. People with DID do not always remember when they went through a certain personality state. ^{[10] X Research Sources} Thus, people with DID may not recognize their multidimensional states, making self-diagnosis extremely difficult.

Do not attempt to self-diagnose. You must see a psychologist to determine if you have DID. Only psychologists or psychiatrists are qualified to diagnose the disease.
Find a psychologist or therapist who specializes in the assessment and treatment of DID. ^{[11] X Research Source}
If you’ve been diagnosed with DID, you may want to consider whether you need medication. ^{[12] X Research Resources} Ask a psychologist to refer you to a psychiatrist.

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Rule out medical problems. People with DID sometimes have memory problems and agitation caused by certain illnesses. It is important that you also be seen by your primary care physician to rule out other possibilities.

You also need to rule out stimulant use. ^{[13] X Research Sources} Memory loss from alcohol or intoxication does not cause DID.
Contact your doctor immediately if seizures of any kind occur. This is a disease and is not directly related to DID.

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You need to be patient while receiving specialist support. Diagnosing DID takes time. Sometimes people with DID are misdiagnosed, mainly because many DID patients also have other mental health problems such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, sleep disorders. sleep, panic disorder, or substance abuse disorder. The combination of these conditions causes the symptoms of multiple personality disorder to overlap with those of other disorders. Therefore, the doctor may need more time to monitor the patient before making an accurate diagnosis.

You cannot expect to be diagnosed immediately after your first visit to a mental health professional. The assessment process requires multiple visits.
Be sure to tell your doctor that you are worried you have DID. This will make it easier for you to make a diagnosis, so that your doctor (psychologist or psychiatrist) can ask the right questions and observe your behavior in the right direction.
Be honest when describing your experiences. The more information the doctor has, the more accurate the diagnosis.

Recognize the warning signs

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Look out for other symptoms and warning signs of DID. There are many related symptoms that people with DID can exhibit. Although not all are used to diagnose DID, many symptoms are likely to be present and closely related to the disease.

Make a list of any symptoms you experience. This list will help clarify your situation. Take this list with you when you visit a psychologist for a diagnosis.

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Note a history of abuse or mistreatment. DID is often the result of years of abuse. ^{[14] X Source of Research} Unlike movies like “Hide and Seek” which depict a disorder that is suddenly triggered by a recent traumatic event, DID is often the result of chronic abuse. hypnosis. People who spent childhood with long years of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse often develop DID as a coping mechanism for abuse. ^{[15] X Sources of Research} This abuse is generally very serious, for example being sexually abused by a foster parent or being kidnapped and abused over a long period of time.

A single episode of abuse (or several unrelated events) does not cause multiple personality disorder.
Symptoms may begin in childhood but are not diagnosed until adulthood.

Understanding the basics of DID

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Learn about specific criteria for the diagnosis of DID. Understanding the diagnostic criteria for DID can help you decide if a psychologist’s evaluation is needed to confirm your suspicions. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), the primary tool used in psychology, there are five criteria that must be met to diagnose a person with DID. All five of these criteria must be verified prior to diagnosis. ^{[18] X Research Sources} They are:

There are two or more personality states in a person according to cultural and social normative norms.
Having repetitive memory problems, such as memory gaps about routine activities, forgetting personal information, or traumatic events.
Symptoms that cause major disruption in activities (study, work, daily activities, relationships with people).
The disturbance is not part of recognized cultural or religious rituals.
Symptoms are not caused by substance abuse or illness.

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Understand that DID is a fairly common disorder. Dissociative personality disorder is often described as a rare mental illness that occurs in the community; A seemingly rare disease. However, recent studies show that between 1-3% of the population actually suffers from the disease, putting it on the top of the list of common mental illnesses. ^{[19] X Research Source} Don’t forget, however, that the severity of the disease can vary from person to person.

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Know that DID is more common in women than in men. Be it because of social conditions or because there is a greater risk of childhood abuse, females are generally three to nine times more likely than males to develop the condition. Furthermore, women often exhibit more status/personalities than men, with an average of 15+ personalities, while this number in men is 8+.

Dispel the myths

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Know that dissociative personality disorder is a real illness. There has been a lot of controversy over the past few years about the authenticity of DID. However, psychologists and scientists have come to the same conclusion that despite being misunderstood, this disease is indeed real. ^{[20] X Research Sources}

Popular films such as “The Stranger,” “The Hunger Games,” and “Sybil” depict a fictional and extreme version of DID, making the disease all the more confusing and confusing for people. with many people.
DID does not come on as suddenly and sharply as depicted in movies and television, nor does it tend to be violent or animalistic.

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Know that psychologists do not cause false memories in patients with DID. Although there are many cases where patients experience false memories when an inexperienced psychologist asks leading questions or when the patient is in a trance, DIDs very rarely forget everything. abuse they have experienced. Patients often have to endure abuse for a long time, so they can barely suppress or suppress all memories; they may forget some parts of their memories, but not all of them. ^{[21] X Research Source}

An experienced psychologist will know to ask questions that will not cause the patient to create false memories or false narratives.
A safe way to treat DID is to use therapy, a method that has shown significant improvement.

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Understand that DID is not the same as an “altering self”. Many people think they have multiple personalities, but they are actually altering their egos. An “altering ego” is a personality created by a person to act or behave differently from their normal personality. Many people with DID are not fully aware of their multiple personality states (due to amnesia), while people with altered egos are not only aware but also consciously attempt to create their own personality. second way.

Famous people with alter egos include Eminem/Slim Shady and Beyonce/Sasha.

Advice

Having some of the symptoms described above does not mean you have DID.
The dissociative personality disorder system can help in childhood when abuse occurs, but becomes a problem when the person no longer needs it, often as an adult. This is when most people seek therapy to deal with the current disorder in adulthood.

Steps