Multiple personality disorder is a mental illness in which a person has two or more personalities that each personality becomes dominant and in control of the person from time to time. It is also called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). This disorder disconnects one's thoughts, feelings, and sense of identity. One of the multiple personalities functions even without the awareness of the person's true identity. And the person believes that they are all valid identities and that they are different from one another. This disorder may be mild or sometimes be severe to the point that it intervene with the person's overall performance. Studies show that females are more prone to this kind of disorder but males are not exempted. The person with this order has (on average) has 3-16 different personalities and they believe that they are what their personalities are. In other words, when one of their personalities is dominant at the moment, they believe that they are that personality. And when it transforms into a different personality they also transform in different beliefs. Their thoughts, actions, and behaviors are totally different from each personality they have. The personality or alters even differ in names, age, gender, and memory. For example, one personality is Julia 32 years old, the other is Nancy 9 yrs old, the other is Joseph, gay 26 yrs old and the other is Thomas 48 yrs old, and they have completely different characteristics but only one person.
A history of severe trauma can lead to multiple personality disorder. Trauma by severe physical, emotional, and mental abuse can be the cause. When a child was molested when she was a kid, and his personality has not been fully solidified, a severe accident, loss of someone very dear, prolonged isolation, stress... These are the causes of multiple personality disorder. This disorder is their way of defense mechanism to push the trauma away.
Severe depression, anxiety, mood swings, sleeping disorders, hallucinations, eating disorders, and schizophrenia are symptoms of mental personality disorder. They experience 3 or more separate personalities and an unusual change in their sense of self. As I've said they switch to a different alter and they believe they are that personality. They may be unaware of their other personalities cause they change their way of thinking but they know each other. I mean one personality knows the other personality. They are linked to each other. Their primary identity remains with them and they are triggered when they face stress or when they are faced with stressors. A notable change also in their gestures/ habits. Other personalities may be smoking and the other is a nonsmoker. Or worse, one becomes violent.
People with multiple personality disorders are at high risk of self-harming even in harming other individuals. They need to be treated professionally. They need a program that treats severe post-traumatic syndrome and Dissociative Identity Disorder. Doctors also need to see all their personalities and see how they affect them. Psychotherapy is the main treatment for people with this disorder. Though they will prescribe medicines and also treat them on a case-by-case basis. They need to rule out what other symptoms the patient has.
Childhood trauma is most of the time the cause of multiple personality disorder. The person will unconsciously create other personalities to push away or handle the traumatic experience they have in which they cannot cope up. Seek help if you think you or one the people you know has this kind of disorder.
Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe if you liked this article. Upvotes are much appreciated too!
Amazingly good