Dissociative Identity Disorder

DID is a complex and quite rare condition where more than one personality exists within you. You may in fact be unaware of this and usually other people will tell you of your other identities. Each identity within you has their own pattern of thinking and behaving, and this may be quite different from your own established patterns. In fact, each separate personality controls your behaviours and thoughts at the times they are present. Dissociation is a mental process of disconnecting from your thoughts, feelings, memories or sense of identity. The causes of DID are as complex as the condition, but mental health professionals agree that ongoing trauma in childhood is the leading contributor. The trauma causes the child to “disconnect” from what is happening to them during the times of extreme stress. Trauma can include repeated emotional, physical or sexual abuse that usually begins before a child is five years of age, and during that time there is no adult around who provides comfort or safety. Children remain dissociated into their teens and adulthood. This can lead to other problems as they struggle to make sense of the world around them. If you have DID, you may experience depression, mood swings, anxiety and panic attacks, suicidal thoughts and feelings, self-harm, headaches, hearing voices, sleep disorders, phobias, alcohol and drug abuse, obsessive-compulsive behaviour and various physical health problems.