Dissociative Identity Disorder
Tenzin Lekshey
What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID is a mental process which produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, action, or a sense of identity. Also, the patient diagnosed with DID is known to have numerous personalities which can change extremely fast.
What are some of the symptoms of this disorder?
- Having a sense of being unreal
- Being separate from bodies
- Watching yourself as if in a movie
- Feeling like being stalked by people
What are the causes of this disorder?
Abusive family and environment are the number one leading cause for this disorder. Also someone who was sexually abused as a child or lived around that type of environment.
Are there any potential therapy treatments for this disorder?
Since there is no medication for this disorder, therapy is the best option for someone who suffers with this disorder. Long term treatment is very successful if the patient stays committed. Some of the effective therapy are talk therapy, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and movement therapy.
How common is this disorder? Does it affect mostly men or women?
Only about 1% of the people are affected by this disorder. People from all over the world could be diagnosed with DID. Since females are more abused as a child, it leads to more female suffering from DID than male.
Famous case studies or people that has or had DID?
Marilyn Monroe who was an American model, singer, and also an actor suffered from DID. Monroe grew up in an foster home which had negative impact on her childhood which led her to be diagnosed to DID. It is speculated that her "medication" or drug caused her to overdose leading to her premature death.