Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), is two or more distinct personalities within a single identity. These personalities will take full control. In fact, most of us have experienced a mild form of dissociation. "Daydreaming," while in the process of doing something else is dissociation, (WebMd). Of course, not as severe as DID. .
This awful disease can be developed by severe abuse or just trying to cope with distress. War veterans will very well be vulnerable to developing DID as well. People who have been abused sexually, mentally, or just went through, "hell," are more prone to have this disease. While other causes are unknown, statistics show that DID occurs in 0.01 to 1 percent of the general population, but affects women nine times more than men," (NAMI). .
DID can cause one to forget what he/she has done while in a different "personality." It could also make the person think they need prescription glasses or use their left hand when they, in fact, do not need glasses or use their right hand. The most common number of alters is ten, but one could have as many as 100. The more alters a person has means more of a threat to society. If a person contains 5 or more different alters, one is bound to be more aggressive than the others. This could cause danger to other people in the person's environment or even to themselves. Some other symptoms of DID are depression, suicidal tendencies, anxiety, drug or alcohol abuse, confusions, delusions, flashbacks, and/or eating disorders, (NAMI).
DID treatments today consist of psychotherapy with hypnosis. The therapist will attempt to reach all alters and try to create an effective relationship with any that may be harmful to themselves or others. The main goal of the therapist is to find the personality with the most memory of the traumatic past that caused the DID to develop and then strive to help them obtain a single identity.