Explaining to People Who Don't Have a Clue

So I want to explain what is going on to a friend that's supportive and knows about DID diagnosis but doesn't really understand what it is at all.

Anyone got some tips on how to explain in a way a common person without any clue or experience with this sort of thing can understand it?

Hi,

There's this youtube called All of Me Dissociative Identity Disorder Documentary Sunday Night Live on 7 (or something like that). It's pretty good at explaining. At least nobody is saying we're serial killers or anything.

Good luck,

Iain

When explaining it to others SF and I have used combinations of the following:

1. You know how your driving and you don't recall the drive, but you got to your destination...
2. Broken teacup analogy.
3. "Did you have a time in your late teens early 20's where you needed to 'find yourself'"? (Personality not solidified...)
4. Explain the basics and then "used to be called multiple personality..."
5. Have a good youtube video to do most of the explaining, plus gives extra credibility.
6. If everyone is willing, let them see one of the others.

I have only explained it to hosts in denial and to alters , but i like the phrase:
"There were too much pain to carry for one soul.. so they became several instead."

The car analogy is also good at explaining co-consiousness and such stuff.
To compare the inner system to a family living in one body also works.

Another analogy might be like a string of beads, joined by a thread. We all have parts of our personalities, demeanors that change in different circumstances ie at work compared to a nightclub, and aspects of ourselves. Most people have a continuous thread that means all these parts are linked and united.
In DID, the thread is sometimes missing in places so these aspects can occur with no reference or memory of the other beads, some beads are joined and some aren't. etc.
It has its limits as an analogy but it gives it a sense that we are like everyone else but not linked and joined - fragmented.

TeddyBear the helper wrote:I have only explained it to hosts in denial and to alters , but i like the phrase:
"There were too much pain to carry for one soul.. so they became several instead."

I very much like this quote!

I should also clarify that I use the car analogy to make it relatable to a person you are explaining it to that does not have DID. It shows everyone dissociates a little bit, just some people do the same thing to a greater extent. Usually gets a "Ohh" or a "Hmmm" as a response as they think about it. In my experience, people are quicker to accept if they can relate even in a small way.

I like to recommend the Matt Ruff novel Set this House in Order. Or a movie, if the other person does not read books.

In any case this friend does have a clue. Or several. That may be as far as they want to go into the corners of your mind.

Thanks guys! I appreciate the help and tips... and I love the explanation of how the pain created this situation we're in, and the bead analogy is nicely worded and simple to follow.

We're struggling with a similar problem, we haven't told the other person yet (nor do they know about the dx) but even with the explanations, I fear it won't be enough to be "believed" without them meeting another alter. Is that fair? Or are these explanations, in your opinions, enough?

SOHank wrote:I should also clarify that I use the car analogy to make it relatable to a person you are explaining it to that does not have DID. It shows everyone dissociates a little bit, just some people do the same thing to a greater extent. Usually gets a "Ohh" or a "Hmmm" as a response as they think about it. In my experience, people are quicker to accept if they can relate even in a small way.

You are correct, but it is probably not the same car analogy i meant

The car is the body. Whoever’s ‘out’ (present, conscious) is driving. There can be multiple drivers (co-consciousness). There can be a single driver that has other passengers giving directions or making suggestions on where to go. There can be a single driver with all the other passengers passed out in the back.
From the blog: https://lifeasacommittee.wordpress.com/1018-2/did/