Symptoms may begin in early childhood; the average age a person experiences the disorder is Dissociative amnesia involves not being able to recall information about oneself not normal forgetting. This amnesia is usually related to a traumatic or stressful event and may be:.
Dissociative amnesia is associated with having experiences of childhood trauma, and particularly with experiences of emotional abuse and emotional neglect. People may not be aware of their memory loss or may have only limited awareness.
And people may minimize the importance of memory loss about a particular event or time. Both acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD may involve dissociative symptoms, such as amnesia and depersonalization or derealization. View More.
I agree. The distinct identities are accompanied by changes in behavior, memory and thinking. The signs and symptoms may be observed by others or reported by the individual. The symptoms cause significant distress or problems in social, occupational or other areas of functioning. Risk Factors and Suicide Risk People who have experienced physical and sexual abuse in childhood are at increased risk of dissociative identity disorder.
People with DID typically also have dissociative amnesia, which is memory loss that is more severe than normal forgetfulness. An episode of amnesia usually occurs suddenly and may last minutes, hours, or rarely, months. DID is likely caused by many factors, but many people with DID have experienced severe physical, verbal or sexual abuse during childhood, usually before the age of nine. The stress of war or natural disasters also can bring on dissociative disorders.
A child who learns to dissociate in order to endure a traumatic experience may use this coping mechanism in response to stressful situations throughout life. While treatment for DID can take a long time, it is effective. People with DID should see a mental health professional with experience with dissociation. For some people the goal for treatment may be the integration of separate alters into one unified personality.
For others, the aim is to achieve a state of "resolution" where alters co-exist harmoniously without impacting the person's goals and coping. Related: Antidepressant medication , Psychological therapies. If someone you love has been diagnosed with DID, you may feel overwhelmed and confused.
There are many myths and misconceptions about DID. Movie and TV portrayals of people with DID who have evil alters or violent personalities are incorrect and contribute to the stigma surrounding the disorder. It can help to educate yourself as much as possible about DID. Talk to a mental health professional to get accurate information and to voice your concerns. Treatment for DID can involve revisiting past traumatic experiences, which may be upsetting for friends and family.
Make sure you look after yourself, and seek help to look after your own mental health. Over time, such children may develop an increasing ability to escape the abuse by "going away," by detaching themselves from their harsh physical environment, or by retreating into their own mind. Each phase or traumatic experience may be used to produce a different identity. However, if such vulnerable children are sufficiently protected and soothed by truly caring adults, dissociative identity disorder is less likely to develop.
Dissociative identity disorder is chronic and potentially disabling, although many people function very well and lead creative and productive lives. Gaps in the memory of past personal events: For example, people may not remember certain periods of time during childhood or adolescence. Lapses in memory of current everyday events and well-learned skills: For example, people may temporarily forget how to use a computer.
After an episode of amnesia, people may discover objects in their closet at home or samples of handwriting that they cannot account for or recognize. They may also find themselves in different places from where they last remember being and have no idea why or how they got there.
They may not be able to recall things they have done or account for changes in their behavior. They may be told they said or did things that they cannot remember. In the possession form, the different identities are readily apparent to family members and other observers. The person speaks and acts in an obviously different manner, as though another person or being has taken over.
In the nonpossession form, the different identities are often not as apparent to observers. Instead of acting as if another being has taken them over, people with this form of dissociative identity disorder may feel detached from aspects of themselves a condition called depersonalization , as if they were watching themselves in a movie or as though they were seeing a different person.
They may suddenly think, feel, say, and do things that they cannot control and that do not seem to belong to them. Attitudes, opinions, and preferences for example, regarding food, clothing, or interests may suddenly change, then change back. Some of these symptoms, such as changes in food preferences, can be observed by others. People may think that their body feels different for example, like that of a small child or someone of the opposite sex and that their body does not belong to them.
They may refer to themselves in the first person plural we or in the third person he, she, they , sometimes without knowing why. Some personalities appear to know and interact with one another in an elaborate inner world.
Personality B may or may not be aware of personality A, and so on with other personalities present. The switching of personalities and the lack of awareness of the behavior of the other personalities often make life chaotic.
Because the identities interact with each other, affected people may report hearing voices. The voices may be internal conversations among the identities or may address the person directly, sometimes commenting on the person's behavior.
Several voices may speak at the same time and be very confusing. People with dissociative identity disorder also experience intrusions of identities, voices, or memories into their everyday activities. For example, at work, an angry identity may suddenly yell at a coworker or boss.
People with dissociative identity disorder often describe an array of symptoms that can resemble those of other mental health disorders as well as those of many general medical disorders. For example, they often develop severe headaches or other aches and pains.
Different groups of symptoms occur at different times. Some of these symptoms may indicate that another disorder is present, but some may reflect the intrusion of past experiences into the present. For example, sadness may indicate coexisting depression Depression A short discussion of prolonged grief disorder. Diagnosis usually involves assessment of symptoms and ruling out any medical condition that could cause the symptoms. Testing and diagnosis often involves a referral to a mental health professional to determine your diagnosis.
Dissociative disorders treatment may vary based on the type of disorder you have, but generally include psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy is the primary treatment for dissociative disorders. This form of therapy, also known as talk therapy, counseling or psychosocial therapy, involves talking about your disorder and related issues with a mental health professional.
Look for a therapist with advanced training or experience in working with people who have experienced trauma. Your therapist will work to help you understand the cause of your condition and to form new ways of coping with stressful circumstances.
Over time, your therapist may help you talk more about the trauma you experienced, but generally only when you have the coping skills and relationship with your therapist to safely have these conversations. Although there are no medications that specifically treat dissociative disorders, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications or antipsychotic drugs to help control the mental health symptoms associated with dissociative disorders.
As a first step, your doctor may ask you to come in for a thorough exam to rule out possible physical causes of your symptoms.
0コメント