what is multiple personality disorder
Answers
● Multiple Personality Disorder (also known as - Dissociative identity disorder)
It is a mental health condition. People with multiple personality disorder have two or more separate identities.
These personalities control their behavior at different times. Each identity has its own personal history, traits, likes and dislikes. It can lead to gaps in memory and hallucinations (believing something is real when it isn’t).
Multiple Personality Disorder used to be called Dissociative identity disorder (DID) or Split Personality Disorder.
A disorder characterised by the presence of two or more distinct personality states.
◆ Causes dissociative identity disorder (DID) -
DID is usually the result of sexual or physical abuse during childhood. Sometimes it develops in response to a natural disaster or other traumatic events like combat. The disorder is a way for someone to distance or detach themselves from trauma.
◆ The signs and symptoms of DID
A person with DID has two or more distinct identities. The “core” identity is the person’s usual personality. “Alters” are the person’s alternate personalities. Some people with DID have up to 100 alters.
Alters tend to be very different from one another. The identities might have different genders, ethnicities, interests and ways of interacting with their environments.
● Other common signs and symptoms of DID can include:
Anxiety.
Delusions.
Depression.
Disorientation.
Drug or alcohol abuse.
Memory loss.
Suicidal thoughts or self-harm.
◆ The treatment for dissociative identity disorder (DID) -
Some medications may help with certain symptoms of DID, such as depression or anxiety. But the most effective treatment is psychotherapy. A healthcare provider with specialized training in mental health disorders, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, can guide you toward the right treatment. You may benefit from individual, group or family therapy.
● Therapy focuses on:
Identifying and working through past trauma or abuse.
Managing sudden behavioral changes.
Merging separate identities into a single identity.