What is DID, formerly known as MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder)?
Dissociative Identity Disorder
The basics from Wikipedia
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a condition in which a single human displays multiple distinct identities or personalities (known as alter egos or alters), each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment. The diagnosis requires that at least two personalities routinely take control of the individual's behavior with an associated memory loss that goes beyond normal forgetfulness; in addition, symptoms cannot be the temporary effects of drug use or a general medical condition. The condition first appeared in current medical classification in the 1980 publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) classification, as multiple personality disorder (MPD), which is the term still used by the ICD-10.
There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the topic. There are many commonly disputed points about DID. These viewpoints critical of DID can be quite varied, with some taking the position that DID does not actually exist as a valid medical diagnosis, and others who think that DID may exist but is either always or usually an adverse side effect of therapy. DID diagnoses initially appeared to be almost entirely confined to the North American continent, but later surveys found cases on other continents but at significantly lower rates.
My Personal Disclaimer
I'm not a therapist, a doctor, a scientist, or a researcher
As the subtitle says, I'm not an expert on DID. I'm just a regular person who has had a long relationship with someone with DID. I knew her years before she was diagnosed with multiple personalities (before they changed MPD to DID), and when she finally was diagnosed, it made a lot of sense to me. Before then, I just thought she was "forgetful" or "flaky" or "moody." But it was much more than that. You might be wondering how I wouldn't notice such an "extreme" disorder, but people with DID are amazing survivors. They had to be to survive the horror that usually caused their condition. So they hide it from those they don't trust to see their multiplicity, which is usually almost everyone. You might notice some odd behavior from time to time, but unless they decide to let their guard down and let you into their world, you won't know they experience the world in a way that is very different than the way we singletons experience it.
If you've ever watched a movie or TV show about someone with DID, you might think alters jump in and out all day long and there's a dramatic change when it happens. But that's not really how it usually works. (See my thoughts below on popular movies and TV.) If one percent of the population has DID, you probably know someone with this condition. You just aren't aware of it because people with DID don't want to call attention to themselves. They are not usually going to act in ways that make it obvious they have adopted this clever survival method. Plus, if you go to school or work with someone with DID, it's likely you're usually with the same person/alter. Each of the alters have their own roles to play and their own strengths, so it's unlikely that, say, a five-year-old alter is going to come out in the middle of a business meeting. My friend with DID is one person most of the time. Her alters tend to come out when she's under stress and can't function, and then they jump in to help. That's why they came into existence - to help - and that's what they still do. They also come around when she's having flashbacks of her abuse because each of them holds different painful pieces of her memory. But in daily life, her behavior and personality is fairly consistent, and most people would never guess she has DID unless she tells them. They might notice some slight oddities every now and then (like when one of her alters speaks with an accent), but most people chalk these up to "quirks." I sure did for many years.
When I finally found out she had DID, however, it immediately rang true to me. It explained a lot of "quirks" and things that had happened over the years, from suicidal behavior to memory lapses, to that slight accent that would come and go, to a lot of other things that seemed odd. I even thought for a long time that her real name was just a nickname because one of her alters had told me her real name was something completely different. So I have never doubted her diagnosis or the existence of DID. You won't find any links or information here that suggest DID isn't real. That's my first bias.My second bias is that I don't think people with DID are "crazy." In fact, I think they're quite clever and amazing. At least, my friend is. She has been partly integrated for over a decade, but I know and have known many of her alters and found them to be fascinating and creative (and much better artists than she is!). What's crazy is not the way she managed to stay alive, but the horrific things that happened to her when she was a child. Her abuser was absolutely crazy. She is not. I also don't think that someone who is multiple and wants to remain that way is crazy.
So that's my disclaimer - I'm no expert, I believe in DID, and I don't think people who have it are crazy.
Now that you've read the disclaimer, please feel free to continue on. I hope you find the information here useful and educational. This page is meant mainly to provide resources for friends and family of people who have been diagnosed with DID as a result of severe trauma or abuse. But if there are any multiples visiting, welcome to you all, too!
About the image shown here. The unicorn image here was drawn for me by Aria 8, a child alter of a woman with DID. It was drawn by the "same person" (i.e., that's what the rest of the world might think) as the image at the bottom of this lens that appears just before the guestbook. Both images shown here are displayed with permission of their creators.
DID Video on YouTube
Expression of D.I.D.
** Please note, this video may be triggering to some viewers. This montage is an amalgamation of the letters, emails and comments that we have received from survivors of trauma who have shared their experience of D.I.D. with us. D.I.D. emerges as a survival mechanism in order for the victim to survive their abuse. It is a gift and is feared by many who do not understand it. All of the emails that we have received are from well-functioning, "normal" every day people, who just happen to live with D.I.D. It is part of who they are but does not define them. We hope that this montage will shed some light into our interpretation of D.I.D. and allow conversation to take place, allowing survivors to end their fear and silence. Please visit our website for more: http://www.womenspeakoutnow.com Join us on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/menspeakout
Runtime: 166
8113 views
38 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Causes of Dissociative Identity Disorder
Of course, millions of children are abused during childhood and don't develop DID. The Merck Manual politely points out that those who develop DID are usually subject to "chronic and severe abuse." I think a more appropriate word would be "torture." In most of the literature I've read and in my own personal experience of having a very close relationship with someone with DID, "torture" is a more accurate description of the kind of unimaginable, horrific abuse suffered by children who develop DID. DID is an extremely clever method of surviving an extremely violent childhood.
Symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder
A person with DID may have the following symptoms:- Exhibits at least two distinct personalities that that each have their own way of perceiving and relating to the world around
- Experiences episodes of amnesia or time loss beyond mere forgetfulness
They may also experience these symptoms, which may be present in people with any type of dissociative disorder (not just DID):
- Depression, anxiety or suicidal feelings
- Depersonalization (feeling detached from yourself)
- Flashbacks
- Sleep disorders
- Eating disorders
- Self-mutilation (such as cutting)
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Panic attacks or phobias
For more information, visit these links:
Sidran Foundation - Help for PTSD and Dissociation
Mayo Clinic - Signs and Symptoms of Dissociative Disorders
How Many People Have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?
It's not quite as rare as once thought
According to the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, studies suggest that DID may exist in up to 1% of the population.But the incidence of all dissociative disorders is much higher. "Diagnosable dissociation occurs in approximately two to three percent of the general population," according to the ISSTD, and "immediately following severe trauma, the incidence of dissociative phenomena is remarkably high. Approximately 73% of individuals exposed to a traumatic incident will experience dissociative states during the incident or in the hours, days and weeks following."
Books About DID for Multiples
Self-help books for those with DID and those who love them
More Books for Survivors
Healing from abuse and PTSD
Books About DID: Personal Stories
But while I would recommend these for friends, family and significant others of those with DID because they can be very helpful in understanding the condition, I would caution anyone with DID to be aware that these stories contain accounts of severe abuse. Therefore, they may be triggering.
Inspiration from an Incest Survivor
Marilyn Van Derbur has been an outspoken advocate for abuse survivors
Marilyn Van Derbur was crowned Miss America while in college and later went on to become one of the most successful motivational speakers in the country. She is also an incest survivor. Although she does not have DID, I am including her on this lens as an inspiration for those who have suffered from sexual abuse (as many with DID have). Marilyn repressed her memories of sexual abuse for years, and is a great inspiration to those who have survived similar experiences.I heard her speak many years ago, and she was amazing. A version of that speech is available on her website, Miss America by Day.com and is called A Story of Hope. It shows her first public speech in which she told about her childhood incest. The speech is inspiring and should be non-triggering for most abuse and DID survivors. I highly recommend it.
A second, more recent speech called "The Journey of Recovery" is also available from the site and is equally good. It touches on many of the same issues as the first speech, but is spoken from the perspective of someone who has more years of recovery under her belt.
She has also authored a book called "Miss America by Day," which is available from the site or through Amazon. In addition to describing her personal journey of healing, the book offers a variety of self-help sections for abuse survivors and parents who want to protect their children. It's an excellent read for anyone wanting to have a better understanding of the painful process of healing from incest. The chapter titled, "Seven Things Never to Say" is especially good for friends and family who are trying to support a loved one who has survived sexual abuse. It will prevent you from sticking your foot in your mouth and saying something stupid.
Dissociative Identity Disorder Movies on DVD
Movies about DID
Others would disagree with me. Some people believe movies such as these present an overly-dramatic and not-altogether accurate picture of DID and aren't useful at all. I'd have to agree that these movies simplify and dramatize DID, but I think there is still a lot of value in them. I know my friend with DID watched Sybil a number of times because it gave her hope to see how Dr. Wilbur was able to help Sybil, and I think it also gives people an idea of the type of abuse that causes DID. If you watch Sybil, you'll get a pretty good idea that the "abuse" she was subjected to as a child was pretty severe. I think there's some value in that understanding.
So I like these movies, and that's my viewpoint. You can decide for yourself.
Those movies are available on DVD, but it's also worth checking the TV listings for other movies. A re-make of Sybil aired on CBS in June 2008. Tammy Blanchard played Sybil and Jessica Lange played Dr. Wilbur in this version of the movie. Shelley Long of "Cheers" fame also starred in 1990 in a made-for-TV movie based on the book "When Rabbit Howls."
As with the books, I would caution that movies about DID can be triggering for multiples.
Sybil (Two-Disc Special Edition)
The two-disc 30th anniversary edition of this classic movie includes interviews with the screenwriter, actresses and producer, and also includes paintings created by "Sybil," which was a pseudonym for Shirley Mason, the real woman whose story was told in the movie. The interviews with the screenwriter are particularly interesting, as he answers a lot of questions about the fictional aspects of the movie and why they were included.
It's still the best movie ever produced about DID, IMHO.
United States of Tara
Showtime original TV series explores the lives of a woman with multiple personalities
I think what's exceptional about this show is that it focuses on the normal daily life of a person with DID. While movies such as "Sybil" and "Three Faces of Eve" have explored the trauma that causes DID and the difficulty of healing from extreme abuse, United States of Tara focuses on what it's like to live with DID. You see Tara with her family instead of her therapist.
The show is getting rave reviews for its serious content along with its sense of humor. After seeing the first two episodes, I thought it was brilliantly funny. After seeing more episodes, I'm not quite as enchanted. They've created Tara's alters to get maximum humor and drama out of the show, so I think some of it is very unrealistic and overblown based on what I know about DID. I think it's very unlikely that most people with DID would behave in a few of the ways the show has depicted.
Having said that, I still think Collette is a terrific actress who does a wonderful job portraying all of Tara's alters, and I still love the fact that the show isn't focused on Tara's disorder. It's about living with DID, not having DID run - or ruin - your life. That, in itself, is still enough reason to watch the show, IMHO. Just remember that it's TV, not reality.
If you love someone with DID, United States of Tara is a good reason to subscribe to Showtime. But if you don't have Showtime, you can watch the entire first episode free on their web site.
Trailer for United States of Tara
TV series stars Toni Collette as a woman with DID
Recovered Memories
Books on how the mind handles trauma
False Memory Syndrome
Unfortunately, skeptics have invented the phrase "false memory syndrome" or FMS to cast doubt on dissociative memories. This is not a medically classified condition. False Memory Syndrome is a phrase coined by an organization that advocates for people who say they have been falsely accused of childhood sexual abuse. It is not a medically recognized condition.
Traumatic Memories
In fact, studies have shown that the brain handles and stores traumatic memories differently than it handles "regular" memories and "forgetting" these events is not uncommon. In her book "The Stranger in the Mirror: Dissociation: The Hidden Epidemic," Marlene Steinberg, MD, notes that a 1994 study of 129 women with childhood sexual abuse histories documented by ER visits showed that 38 percent of the women did not recall the incidents when interviewed 17 years later. This book is a great resource for anyone wanting to understand dissociative memories.
For a quick but informative and impartial overview of how the brain handles traumatic memories, the Sidran Institute has a great fact sheet called What are Traumatic Memories?.
For more in-depth analysis of how a person can seemingly forget and then recover a repressed memory, "Unchained Memories" is another great resource. This book is not about DID, but it is helpful in understanding how the brain handles and remembers traumatic events. Author Lenore Terr, M.D., uses real stories to illustrate how memory works in traumatic situations and critically examines the difference between recovered memories and "false memories." It's balanced, insightful and very readable. Highly recommended.
If You or Your Loved One is a Cutter...
Another good book to read
A Bright Red Scream: Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain
From Publishers Weekly: Strong's research into "cutters" combines journalistic passion with academic integrity. Through dozens of interviews conducted for a 1993 San Francisco Focus article, she explores the reasons that lead over two million Americans to injure themselves regularly and deliberately with such items as knives, razor blades and broken glass. Although most cutters are young women who have been emotionally, sexually, or physically abused as children, Strong's research shows that this specific type of self-harm also appears in other groups.
DID Awareness Shirts and Pins
DID/MPD Awareness Ribbon Button
Simple white button with the DID/MPD awareness ribbon.
Mug with DID/MPD Awareness Ribbon
A mug with the DID/MPD ribbon that says "Multiple Awareness"
DID awareness t-shirt
With a quotation from Walt Whitman
DID/MPD Awareness Teddy Bear
Snuggle with this bear-it understands!
white t-shirt with DID/MPD ribbon
White t-shirt with DID/MPD ribbon and the words DID/MPD awareness
The Most Famous Person with DID?
Who was the woman portrayed in the movie Sybil?
"Sybil" may well be the most famous person with DID, which was known as MPD when the book and movie were released. But who was she? The identity of the woman depicted in "Sybil" was revealed in 1999 to be Shirley Ardell Mason.
Shirley Ardell Mason (January 25, 1923 ? February 26, 1998) was an American psychiatric patient and commercial artist whose life was documented in 1973 in the book Sybil, which was dramatized in two films of the same name in 1976 and 2007. Both the book and the films used the name Sybil Isabel Dorsett to protect Mason's identity, though the 2007 remake stated Mason's name in its conclusion.
Another Well-Known Person with DID
Chris Costner-Sizemore was the subject of the movie "Three Faces of Eve"
Christine Costner-Sizemore was the woman whose case of DID was portrayed in the 1957 film and book, "Three Faces of Eve." Joanne Woodward played the main character. Her case also later became the inspiration for the song "Christine" by the English rock band Siouxsie & the Banshees.
Chris Costner Sizemore (born Chris Costner April 4 1927) is a woman who, in the 1950s, was diagnosed with multiple personality disorder. Her case was depicted in the book and film The Three Faces of Eve by her psychiatrists, Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley. She lived for many years in South Carolina.
In accordance with then-current modes of thought on the disorder, Thigpen reported that Sizemore had developed multiple personalities as a result of her witnessing a horrifying accidental death and two serious nonfatal accidents within three months as a small child. By Sizemore's own report, these incidents triggered the evidencing of selves which were already present. "Despite authorities claims to the contrary, my former alters wer...
More Famous People: Herschel Walker
One of football's greatest running backs reveals he has DID
Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder
From Amazon: Born into a poor, but loving family in the South, Herschel was an overweight child with a stutter who suffered terrible bullying at school. He now understands that he created "alters" who could withstand abuse. But beyond simply enduring, other "alters" came forward to help Herschel overcome numerous obstacles and, by the time he graduated high school, become an athlete recognized on a national level.
In Breaking Free, Herschel tells his story -- from the joys and hardships of childhood to his explosive impact on college football to his remarkable professional career. And he gives voice and hope to those suffering from DID. Herschel shows how this disorder played an integral role in his accomplishments and how he has learned to live with it today. His compelling account testifies to the strength of the human spirit and its ability to overcome any challenge.
Herschel Walker Video on DID
Herschel Walker on Dissociative Identity Disorder
Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL running back Herschel Walker talks to WNYC's Leonard Lopate about his struggles with dissociative identity disorder, which nearly drove him to suicide. http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/episodes/2008/04/15/segments/96866
Runtime: 245
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curated content from YouTube
Stand Up and Be Counted
I've been pleasantly surprised over the years to meet other people who know or have known someone with DID. If 1% of the population has this disorder, it's likely most of us have encountered someone with DID (although you will never know about it unless they trust you enough to tell you). If you know someone with DID, please sound off below.
There is also a guestbook at the bottom of the page where you can leave longer comments. It's a bit difficult to leave long, thoughtful comments in this section, but the guestbook has a lot more room for feedback.
Do you know someone with DID?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, I do.
Alann says:
Yeah, I knew someone who had it. She as really amazing, but she had it really bad, and her parents committed her because they thought she was crazy.
Posted December 03, 2009
Roberta says:
I have it and so I have sought out fellow 'sufferers' online - there are a lot of them! I have five alters - four girls and a boy, ranging from 6 to 17 (I am 19)
an interesting point is that when my alters first became active (before that I had only one who spoke and interacted and therefore it was not officially DID) the three 'main' ones were at the ages I was when I suffered particular forms of abuse - 9, 13 and 16. the 9 year old and the 16 year old have aged since, and have birthdays, but the 13 year old does not. Another one has a birthday in October, while the rest of us have February birthdays. I'm not sure what the explanation for that is :)
Posted October 30, 2009
LadyJtalks says:
Yes, Me, MySelf and I...glad to see you still here with this. Hope the world is good for you. LadyJ
Posted October 27, 2009
Jennifer says:
I was diagnosed three years ago without really knowing what it was and I now have an awesome therapist who finally explained it too me and now as I sit here and read this website it makes alot of sense. I do not know anyone else that has this disorder so this website really has helped me alot. I hope that someday I will be able to understand it and myself better. But just admitting to someone that I have it has been very scary and I am not sure how I feel about telling. I have a very awesome boyfriend who has helped me face some of my problems. But I hate to put it on him. What do I do? What can I expect now? Will my life change and will I want to live it? I do not trust too many people and have a lot of fear in the journey I must take! I am sorry if this does not make sense. Thank you for this site.
Posted October 17, 2009
Jennifer says:
I have DID and I am very confused!
Posted October 17, 2009
No, I don't.
DID/Dissociative Identity Disorder Links
Learn more about DID
- ISSTD - FAQ About Dissociation
- Frequently asked questions about all types of dissociation from the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation.
- Sidran Foundation
- PTSD and Dissociation Resources for Survivors, Supporters and Professionals.
- NAMI - Dissociative Identity Disorder
- NAMI's fact sheet for Dissociative Identity Disorder formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder.
- MayoClinic.com - Dissociative disorders
- Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes and treatment of a variety of dissociative disorders, including DID.
- Sidran - How to Choose a Therapist
- What to look for and how to choose a therapist for post-traumatic stress and dissociative conditions
- Sidran: Essential reading list
- Essential reading list of articles and books on trauma
- Astraea's Resources and Controversy - Multiple Personality
- Multiple personality information. Focus on living multiple. Empowerment for all multiples, MPD/DID, natural plurals. We are everywhere!
- Newsweek.com - Unmasking Sybil
- A re-examination of the most famous psychiatric patient in history
- Newsweek.com - Overcoming Multiple Personality Disorder
- What is it like to live with 17 alternate selves? A survivor of multiple personality disorder discusses the disease and the painful integration process that made her whole.
- Coping with Dissociative Identity Disorder - Multiple Personality Disorder
- Dissociativie Identity Disorder, formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder: Share ideas to cope with the symptoms. Help me Help others with MPD / DID. Stories, tips and links to other resources
- Dissociation.com
- Some nontraditional theories on multiplicity by Dr. Ralph Allison.
- NeeDID Exchange - A DID/ DD NETWORK
- Dissociative Identity Disorder Support and information exchange for individuals with Dissociative Identity Disorder, DID, MPD, Multiple Personality Disorder and other Trauma related Dissociative Disorders and their Supportive Others.
- Lady Jz Talk Zone
- Personal site with inspiration and links
- Trauma Information Pages - Comprehensive Resources on Traumatic-Stress, PTSD & Dissociation
- Educational site focused on emotional trauma and traumatic stress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociation. Trauma information for clinicians, researchers, students and an amazingly extensive link list.
- Labyrinth Of People
- LABYRINTH OF PEOPLE SITE - understanding multiple personality disorder
- Many Voices Press - Hope for People Recovering from Trauma & Dissociation
- Words of Hope for People Recovering from Trauma & Dissociation, PTSD, DID, MPD, DSM-IV,
multiple-personality - Keepers Korner - information and support for people with DID/MPD and their families
- Site by a multiple offers an art, gallery, blog and resources
- Pilgrim's Journey
- An excellent blog by a woman who has DID
- Blooming Lotus
- Very informative blog by a woman who has integrated from DID
Artwork By A Woman with DID

Let Us Know You Were Here
If this information was helpful, please leave a message!
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- spirituality spirituality Nov 23, 2009 @ 2:27 am
- Great lens, but you knew that :) Just wanted to remind you that this is featured on the Consciousness, Awareness, Psychology & Neurology Headquarters
http://www.squidoo.com/groups/consciousness
It's now transformed into a lensography and I would love it if you could show your appreciation by featuring it here, or lensrolling it or something.
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- lisadh lisadh Nov 26, 2009 @ 2:03 am
- Katinka, thanks for the compliment. :-) I am very pleased to lensroll the Consciousness, Awareness, Psychology and Neurology Headquarters lens here and encourage any readers of this page to visit. There are a lot of interesting lenses there.
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- visiblestar visiblestar Nov 12, 2009 @ 12:58 pm
- Nice Lens. Very Good Info. 5**. Please Visit Health Articles Blog & Find All Health Articles on various Topics.
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- lisadh lisadh Nov 8, 2009 @ 3:25 pm | in reply to love2glow
- Hi Macy, does your boyfriend know the diagnosis he was given when he was in the hospital? If you think he has DID and hasn't been diagnosed, I would encourage him to see a good therapist (the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation can help you find one). If he has been diagnosed and is already in therapy, then I would just let him know that you're open to whatever he wants to tell you about it.
You CAN help him. Just keep loving him. That's the best therapy there is. :-) And learn as much as you can about DID and PTSD. Dealing with DID can be challenging because your boyfriend may be an adult, but many of his alters are wounded children and trying to deal with a child the same way you deal with an adult won't work. The more you understand this, the more you'll be able to understand him and help him.
Good luck. With love, all things are possible.
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- love2glow love2glow Nov 7, 2009 @ 12:20 am
- Very informative lens. 5 stars. We need to arm ourselves with knowledge! Thank you and many Blessings to you and your wonderful work.
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- Macy Macy Nov 2, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
- Sorry to post this bt I don't want to tell anyone else for his sake. I think my boyf has DID. He was in hospital a year ago with a dissociative illness, I think amnesia or fugue, I get confused between the two. I've been trying to learn more so I can understand because he doesn't like to talk about it much, I think he feels shame, he said he's scared of losing his job and going back to hospital. At times he's be very open, caring, loving. Sometimes he's almost like a child, so frightened but craving love, upset at the most irrational things which he takes as rejections. Then sometimes he is cold, disrepectful, and talks differently. He admitted the other day he doesn't always remember conversations either. I see him struggle trying to remember but he won't talk much about it. He has also described what sounds like derealisation, gets headaches, bouts of depression. I love him v much.Can I help him?
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- lisadh lisadh Oct 21, 2009 @ 3:48 pm | in reply to Pauliina
- Thanks for your feedback, Paulina. I'm happy to hear that you're doing well and are enjoying life with your husband and kids. I love what you said about "DID is a way to survive and enjoy life, it is a way to fight the abusers." Yes, indeed!
If you had chosen to drown your life in alcohol, or continually abuse yourself or others, or commit suicide, or simply hide away from life, then your abuser(s) would have won. But you chose life. You chose love. And you chose not to let the past keep you down. Good for you!
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- Kate-Phizackerley Kate-Phizackerley Oct 19, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
- Detailed and well compiled lens. Blessed.
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- Pauliina Pauliina Oct 19, 2009 @ 9:07 am
- I have DID and I just love this lens. I have never considered myself crazy. I believe that having DID helps me to live and enjoy my life. I do know that most of my friens consider me a bit weird, but it does not matter. They don't know that I have DID, but they love me the way I am. Also my husband loves me the way I am. I am well educated and professionally in a good position. I was diagnosed a long time ago and I am not in any treatment. I enjoy my life with DID. I wish angels protect my two precious children and all the children in this world from abuse. However, there is and there will be violence and abuse. Having DID is a way to survive and enjoy life, it is a way to fight the abusers. Thank you fot this lens.
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- Nancy Nancy Oct 14, 2009 @ 8:59 pm
- As a therapist who works with people with DID, I love your site! Very compassionate and accurate, in my opinion. Thanks
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- lisadh lisadh Oct 1, 2009 @ 9:35 pm | in reply to Bran
- Brian, I'm so glad you found this page useful. I do believe DID is a gift, although it's certainly not something I would wish upon anyone, as the way most (perhaps all) people develop this gift is through horrific abuse. But not all people who suffer horrific abuse are able to cope so creatively, so it is an amazing gift.
In regards to your therapist's analogy, I have seen magnificent redwood trees where two trunks have joined into one and the tree has grown into a strong towering marvel that reaches to the sky and is a joy for all to behold. And all the branches are still intact. :-)
I wish you much peace and healing.
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- Bran Bran Sep 25, 2009 @ 6:33 am
- i read this yesterday and was very moved, the use of words like gift and beautiful werent used by my therapist, he said it was like a tree with many trunks instead of 1 although the roots of the tree are all in one place the trunk and branches have seperated and he wanted us to bring the different trunks and branches together, i didnt see how that could be done without splitting the existing trunks and forceing them into one tree that may be weaker than the three trunks as they are.....
My fiancee is the only person other than my therapist who 'really' knows about my situation and she thinks its an amazing thing that we do. my parents and brother just refer to the condition as my sock puppets, it is a great support to see that other people think that it is a gift and beautiful and not to be feared.
really grateful for this lens (sic) being done, thank you soooo much.......
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- WendyKrick WendyKrick Aug 24, 2009 @ 9:10 pm
- Excellent lens.
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- EelKat EelKat Jul 2, 2009 @ 2:09 pm
- sending some angel blessings your way
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- qlcoach qlcoach Jun 7, 2009 @ 8:55 am
- DID is a painful and complicated disorder. Thank you for sharing all of this valuable information. I met you on Lensroll. Hope you will visit my new lens about emotional healing. Gary Eby, author and therapist.
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- AbbasAbedi AbbasAbedi Jun 2, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
- Excellent Lens. 5*
If you get a chance check out my Instant Stress Management lens.
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- lisadh lisadh May 15, 2009 @ 11:00 am | in reply to cassssssssie
- Yes, DID can affect a patient's family. "How" is a pretty big question to answer because it depends on so many factors. Also, it depends on whether you're talking about the family of origin (the one in which the child grew up) or their own family (spouse and kids) when they're grown.
It's been a long time since I read the book, but I think Cameron West's First Person Plural touches on this topic, as he was married at the time he was diagnosed, and Showtime's United States of Tara series deals with the impact of DID on a family. But as I noted above, United States of Tara is a TV show designed to be humorous, so it's accuracy is not always so great.
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- spirituality spirituality May 15, 2009 @ 8:00 am
- Great lens - you've been blessed by a squidoo angel :) & I would be honoured to have you in my http://www.squidoo.com/groups/consciousness group?
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Table of Contents
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
- My Personal Disclaimer
- DID Video on YouTube
- Causes of Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder
- How Many People Have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?
- Books About DID for Multiples
- More Books for Survivors
- Books About DID: Personal Stories
- Inspiration from an Incest Survivor
- Dissociative Identity Disorder Movies on DVD
- United States of Tara
- Trailer for United States of Tara
- Recovered Memories
- If You or Your Loved One is a Cutter...
- DID Awareness Shirts and Pins
- The Most Famous Person with DID?
- Another Well-Known Person with DID
- More Famous People: Herschel Walker
- Herschel Walker Video on DID
- Stand Up and Be Counted
- DID/Dissociative Identity Disorder Links
- Artwork By A Woman with DID
- Let Us Know You Were Here
- You're Supporting the Polly Klaas Foundation
- About the Author
About the Author
Lensmaster lisadh has been a member since July 23 2007, has rated 637 lenses, favorited 84, and has created 214 lenses from scratch. Lisa Howard donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund and A Day of Hope. This member's top-ranked page is "Elf Yourself, Become an M&M or Turn Into a Simpsons Character". See all my lenses
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