Resources

Resources for DID:

Link: the dissociative experiences scale thread (added by salted lipstick)
Recent thread link: DDNOS/DID RESOURCES: symptoms, common questions, etc. (added by salted lipstick)


http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/did/did_3.htm
http://hometown.aol.com/boyym/DSM.html
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec07/ch106/ch106d.html
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/n ... plan2.html

Questions and Answers About DID
1. When someone has alters but the alters are not clearly defined, as with names and identities, how does one go about sorting them out?


The best way to figure out what is going on in the system is by mapping it all out. Basically this means drawing a chart of every part of the system and also listing their attributes (are they always angry, are they young, old, male, female, how old are they). Once they have a system map, they can start finding ways of cooperating and building rules inside.


2. What is a good way to support someone who has alters and is in distress because of not being able to recognise his own alters?


Just offer support and understanding. It will take a while for a full system map to be marked out and for cooperation to exist.

3. Would it help a person with not clearly defined alters if he tried naming them?

Generally the alters will provide their own names and roles, if a name can't be found it is usually better to set a name that explains who they are - a temporary name - like "the angry one".


4. Is fragmented personality the same thing as having alters? On fragmented personality, or splintered, is this a precurser to developing alters? Like, a person is so traumatized that he "falls apart" or loses cohesion of his self identity, and when he "regroups" he has formed separate selves, sort of like a broken mirror?

Every person has a different ability to tolerate trauma, that "limit" is part of why some people develop DID and others do not. Two people can experience the same trauma at the same level with different results. The way I understand it is this:

The "limit" must be surpassed enough times while allowing some reprieves between for someone to start dissociating at a level where they develop a separate personality. Since levels are different, a mild trauma need only happen a few times in order for some people to dissociate. Others may take severe trauma happening dozens or more times.

One major factor is the age of the person at the time of the traumatic events. Generally those who develop DID are between the ages of 5 and 9 if I remember correctly. My therapist once told me she read a paper where an adult war prisoner developed something similar to DID, but kids are still working on the development of their personality so it is far easier to separate off parts of their personality for protection.

The "time off" between traumatic events and the confusion that causes seems to be another important factor in the development of DID. The reason there weren't any documented cases of DID after the Holocaust is that the trauma was a constant, there was no confusion - everyone knew that every minute of every day was hell.

Let's say person A has a higher traumatic limit than person B. Both experienced sexual abuse on the weekends when they stayed with a relative, but that same relative was kind to them when their parents were around. Person A, because of the lower limit, would be more likely to develop DID as a result.

The time off between traumatic events may mean that the child has to relearn what is expected of them. Coping with the trauma becomes a series of trying to explain it away. Let's say a little boy believes that if he were bigger, then he wouldn't be getting hurt. If he pretends he's older and bigger, then he doesn't feel so hurt by things. Eventually this can turn into splitting off part of his personality to try and salvage other parts.

He's just created an "alter" or alternative personality.

In my opinion, once a mirror has been shattered (to use your analogy) even gluing it back together won't repair it completely. People with DID have developed their personality in a different way, and there is no way to unbuild and then rebuild in the normal way. If someone with DID "integrates" there will still be evidence of the broken pieces no matter what.

But even looking into a broken mirror you can see a good reflection, you just need to shift the way you look at it and accept the fact that the mirror has a few cracks.
Questions by Puma
Answers by Seanetal ( Thank you, Seanetal!)

that REALLY helped me out. Everything i neded to know right here.

thanks. go puma..........

Informative video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dpsGR0yLHE

D.I.D. discussion.

maybe i missed something. but i feel like the 1st part of question 4 wasnt answered. what exactly is a fragmented personality? i understand what an alter is, but are they the same? if not how are they different?

thanks

basically an incomplete alter with limited access.

The Significant Other's Guide to Dissociative Identity Disorder
*

This is an amazing guide for your SO (Significant Other).
There is also some humor at the end.

I have a question. My headmate refuses to tell me her name, but gets mad when I call her by the name I gave her. She never fronts, so leaving a journal around won't help. Any ideas?

Stephani+ wrote:I have a question. My headmate refuses to tell me her name, but gets mad when I call her by the name I gave her. She never fronts, so leaving a journal around won't help. Any ideas?

You could just use a description, instead of a name. For instance, some people refer to some alters as "the angry one". Or you could just call her your "headmate"

From what I have described in my other posts, is possible I'm fragmented? I don't think Nanashi is really, him not needing to worry so much with this body. He is a bit of a pretty boy I must add.