did

   Dissociative Identity Disorder= is a common protective mechanism, when faced with unbearable terror, helplesssness, torture, horror, abuse, trauma, which would break the mind if held in consciousness. The failure to intergrate information about ones personal identity, memories, sensations, and state of consciousness into a unified whole. This disorder was formally known as Multiple Personality Disorder. In 1994, the American Psychiatric Association changed MPD to Dissociative Identity Disorder.

     There is usually 2 or more distinct personalities or identities present, which recurrently take control of the person's consciousness and behavior. Typically begins in childhood. The child often appears moody or irresponsible. Those with DID experience sudden shifts in consciousness, identity, and memory. (See Switching Characteristics)

     These personalities, or alters, have their own name, characteristics that differ from the hosts. The host experiences a degree of amnesia.

     This has been observed, well established, and recognized among segments of any population that has experienced sever trauma, regardless of cultural, religious, or racial make-up, from Vietnam Vets, to survivors of torture, Holocaust Survivors, to those who have endured Childhood or Adult Sexual, Physical, or Emotional Abuse. (See also, Recommended Reading)

     Parts or all of the trauma can be forgotten. Even as it is happening many of us survivors of abuse "went to another place", dissociated, it is this way that we were able to continue to live, to exist. We "split off", into different parts, if you will. Then when it is/was safe, as an adult, many of us began to remember....

-Core: Almost all familys/systems have a core personality. It is usually the 'original child' who went away during the act of abuse that caused the first family member/alter to come out.

-Host: Ususally scared, depressed and has no clue he/she could be DID/MPD

-Protectors: Strong, angry family members/alters, some have the responsibility to keep the children (or Littles) safe. Others are tasked to keep the secret of abuse.

-Internal Self-Helper (ISH): Who knows a lot about the internal family/system and wants to help everyone for the greater good of all. Sometimes they know a great deal of infomation about each family member/alter and are usually a great help in the therapy process.

-Fragments: Not fully formed alternate personalities. They only have a single memory or two about specific abuse.

-Child Alters (Littles): Range in all ages from an infant to 8. They behave like children. They want to play, color, and watch cartoons. Those that suffered abuse are often destructive and depressed.

-Teenagers and Preteens: Preteens range in age from 9 to 11. Teens range in age from 12 to 18. They are a typical teenager listening to loud music, wanting to go to parties, and hang out with other teens.

-Adults: They are over 18 years old. They are very individualistic and may have talents the host doesn't.

Within these groups can be subgroups of personalities that can be: Artistic/music alters, Cross-gender, Cross-color, Animal alters, or Inanimate objects.

*Not all DID/MPD people have these exact alters, just like no two people are alike. Each Multiple (as we are called in the DID/MPD community) has a different history and different family/system. Some Multiples may have all or none of the above alters.

1) Depersonalization Disorder- the person experiences the feeling or sensation of detachment from their body.

Symptoms:
               -sensations of floating above ground
               -feelings that they or other people are mechanical or unreal
               -feelings of being in a dream
               -deadening of emotional responses

This is a relatively rare syndrome thought to result from severe psychological stress. This may also be apart of an Anxiety Disorder.

Treatment may include training in relaxation techniques, hypnosis, and psychotherapy.

2) Dissociative Fugue- the person forgets his/her personal identity and unexpectantly wanders from home. The person may move to another location and adopt a new identity.

This may occur after a serious psychological stress of some kind, such as the death of a beloved family memeber. Sometimes, those that suffer from this, will unexpectantly wake up, failing to remember the events of the fugue state.

This is a very rare syndrome and is usually reversible with intense psychotherapy or hypnosis.