Does identity alteration + time loss = DID necessarily?

Hi,

The following is something paraphrased from a session with my T:

[paraphrase]

My T has explained to me that memories that memories are not merely a recording, but rather a subjective recollection of many things rationally, emotionally, and otherwise, experienced. That's all fine.

Her take on my experiences of identity alteration is that it is natural in my case, having suffered trauma, to be experiencing the "self I was" as a form of memory, in the same way you might visually experience a memory.

[/paraphrase]

An example is sometimes I will turn into a child alter and run away somewhere to hide. I generally get time loss after this. This child alter I turn into corresponds to me running away from sexual abuse as a child into some woods.

So when I turn into that form of myself, what I am actually doing is remembering something in a way.

This presents to me an explanation of time loss and identity alteration as a form of memory recall and dissociation (compartmentalisation).


What I am unsure of is this though: Is this DID or just some form of dissociation + recall (maybe PTSD even?)

Thanks!

Well, I'd say there is definitely PTSD there

and PTSD and DID, in my experience, have a, uh, REALLY HIGH co-morbidity rate

Hi Jinx,

Yes what you say is true.

Maybe a better question then is:

If identity alteration + time loss does not mean DID necessarily, at what point does it become DID?

I appreciate I might be some implicit oversimplification in this question for the experts out there...

In my specific case I compartmentalise very heavily and experience many selves (7 last count), but alot of them follow the pattern above.

Ta

another-place wrote:If identity alteration + time loss does not mean DID necessarily, at what point does it become DID?

Going by the DSM, the combination of recurrent identity alteration plus amnesia is pathognomic for DID. That means, the fit is exact and DID is the only diagnostic category that fits this combination of symptoms.

Under extreme stress many people are reported to have a single isolated experience of identity alteration plus amnesia. They are not given a diagnosis of DID because their symptoms are not chronic. They might actually have DID, but a relatively covert form of it.

Your therapist sounds pretty well-informed and calming for you. From what you describe, you do have typical DID. And some of your parts are re-enacting behavior consistent with being "stuck" in a trauma situation. That is PTSD. Also very typical. My first diagnosis was late onset PTSD, then DID was added to it. The diagnosis of DID still applies to me but the PTSD is pretty well resolved.

Thanks for the replies - you've helped me to rationalise some stuff which has proven extremely helpful.

Una - you hit the nail on the head about my T indeed - she is very grounding indeed and a good influence.

Cheers