Can dissociative identity disorder be caused without trauma?

I agree. It certainly would be inhumane not to help or guide someone to seek professional therapy. Your doing the right thing by guiding them toward therapy. You are more than qualified, you have to give the best advice on this forum

Of course, you should always encourage someone to seek professional therapy, but that's the key you have to not only tell them what you think they may have, but guide them to get checked out by a professional, otherwise you're not really helping anyone at all you're just giving them your opinion concerning what's going on with them. Furthermore, you should encourage the individual to learn more about the suggested disorder because otherwise they may be acting on misinformation or media portrayals, which often portray DID and other mental health issues as making a person dangerous and crazy. If they are acting under these assumptions it may discourage them from seeking help or they may disbelieve the claim because they are assuming the portrayal of dangerous and crazy is accurate and they do not view themselves in such a way.
Kit

fox13 wrote:

I agree. It certainly would be inhumane not to help or guide someone to seek professional therapy. Your doing the right thing by guiding them toward therapy. You are more than qualified, you have to give the best advice on this forum

Of course, you should always encourage someone to seek professional therapy, but that's the key you have to not only tell them what you think they may have, but guide them to get checked out by a professional, otherwise you're not really helping anyone at all you're just giving them your opinion concerning what's going on with them. Furthermore, you should encourage the individual to learn more about the suggested disorder because otherwise they may be acting on misinformation or media portrayals, which often portray DID and other mental health issues as making a person dangerous and crazy. If they are acting under these assumptions it may discourage them from seeking help or they may disbelieve the claim because they are assuming the portrayal of dangerous and crazy is accurate and they do not view themselves in such a way.
Kit

I agree with Kit especially the point about how people base their knowledge of disorders off of YouTube videos and movies and stereotypical stuff they find on the internet. I remember years ago, the last time I was here, someone made a thread asking if they had DID because their YouTube audience said they seemed like two different people on camera but that was all they had to go off of. As long as someone is helping someone find professional help, their opinion is welcomed but if the person just makes the observation and then uses it to spread rumors or joke about it, that's not helping anyone especially the person who might have or does have the disorder.

Well, I had a very bad experience lately , as I walked into my lecture hall, suddenly people started whispering to each other . A girl in my class asked the girl sitting next to her, "What happened to --my name --?" and she replied " She went crazy, I don't know what's up with her". That really hurt and was painful to hear. I don't understand what's so crazy about me. I am generally very quiet, reserved, and introverted and I just usually mind my business, I don't harm others nor do I anticipate causing people pain. I kn that sometimes I am selectively mute and other time depressed or angry but these are my personal issues and I handle them on my own. How am I crazy? Does having DID mean that you're officially insane and no more good. I just don't understand why I have to be the talk of some people's gossip, if someone has a mental illness then they are already suffering they don't need people coming up to them rubbing it in their faces or people talking behind their back and spreading it like it's global news. It's just inhumane and it makes it even worse for the person. And now, I have to deal with people giving me really cold stares as if they are shocked or in disbelief and trying to check for themselves if I truly am crazy, let alone the people who are scoffing and laughing right in my face,I'm writing this with tears. What am I supposed to do?

I'm sorry to hear people are bullying you. I know the feel since I went to a school for a couple of years where everyone was mean to me because I was against the status quo for that school. In my case, I just kept my anger about it to myself but that's not a healthy way to deal with it. Is there anyone at the school you can talk to about it? A teacher or some kind of authority figure? No, having DID it any mental illness does not make you crazy. People just don't understand and it's common for people without mental illness to tease people who do. I saw a lot of that when I was in elementary school and people would take advantage of the kids with Down's syndrome and autism and make them do things they shouldn't. For instance, a normal girl made another girl with Down's syndrome eat dirt at recess one day. I told the recess teacher and the bully got mad at me and didn't want to be my friend anymore over it, when honestly I could care less since I have zero tolerance for bullies. Just hang in there. People are cruel to others when it comes to things they don't understand.

Hon, it sounds to me like you may have switched in front of your classmates to a very different part for whom you have amnesia, who acted out in some way. You may even be doing it repeatedly.

You have our deepest sympathy. Many of us who lose time have had the experience of discovering, much to our horror, that we have been losing time without even knowing we are losing time. And, even worse, while we are "gone" some other part of ourselves has been acting out in ways we would not.

Please talk to a school counselor as soon as possible. In some countries, including the USA, there are laws to assist you and protect you from harassment or discrimination for a disability. You might also want to read about discrimination laws; if the school staff do not help you, you may be able to sue for monetary damages.

Hang in there!

Sweet_berries wrote:Well, I had a very bad experience lately , as I walked into my lecture hall, suddenly people started whispering to each other . A girl in my class asked the girl sitting next to her, "What happened to --my name --?" and she replied " She went crazy, I don't know what's up with her". That really hurt and was painful to hear. I don't understand what's so crazy about me. I am generally very quiet, reserved, and introverted and I just usually mind my business, I don't harm others nor do I anticipate causing people pain. I kn that sometimes I am selectively mute and other time depressed or angry but these are my personal issues and I handle them on my own. How am I crazy? Does having DID mean that you're officially insane and no more good. I just don't understand why I have to be the talk of some people's gossip, if someone has a mental illness then they are already suffering they don't need people coming up to them rubbing it in their faces or people talking behind their back and spreading it like it's global news. It's just inhumane and it makes it even worse for the person. And now, I have to deal with people giving me really cold stares as if they are shocked or in disbelief and trying to check for themselves if I truly am crazy, let alone the people who are scoffing and laughing right in my face,I'm writing this with tears. What am I supposed to do?

Having DID doesn't make someone insane and if you do indeed have DID then there is nothing wrong with you. Having DID means that you survived in a creative way and the problems that arise from DID are, usually, a result of the trauma that caused the DID and not the DID itself. So, it's not really the DID that's the problem but the psychological damage done by the trauma, which can be healed. Plenty of multiples(people with DID) go on to live fully functional and happy lives even if they never integrate so having DID doesn't mean there is something wrong with you at all, it means you survived in the only way you could at the time. Besides, having a mental illness of any kind doesn't make you insane. Insanity is not a specific diagnosis and from what I know it's more of a legal term than anything. Unfortunately, there is a huge stigma around mental illness and people are often very cruel. There are only two things that have ever worked reliably in my experience. The first is to tell the people once, if you repeat it too often then you're giving them the satisfaction of knowing it bothers you, that you do not appreciate their behavior and that you will report it as harassment(provided this is an option for you) if it continues and also tell them that you would be happy to educate them about mental illness(print outs are good for this) if they are willing to listen since it seems they have received some serious misinformation about what it means to have a mental illness. The second is to tell them that you do not appreciate their behavior and will report it if it continues and that what may or may not be going on with you is none of their business and that they should not believe everything they hear. These two options have always worked well for me, though I can't say for sure what will work for you, these are the only two things I have ever found to do that work reliably, since ignoring them entirely often leads the behavior to escalate, whereas standing up to them, and following through on what you say(this is extremely important), sends the message that you will not allow people to mistreat you. I hope this is helpful.
Kit

Violarules, Una+, and Kit, I'd like to say thanks to all of you. I am grateful for all your help.

Update; my suicidal alter took over me afterwards and I was in a horrible state, but my mother talked me out of it and I came back to my senses. I reported what happened to my faculty and they said they'll be running investigations . I feel much better today, less tense I suppose. And I am finding ways to comfort myself and focus on healing myself. However, I tried talking to my dad about taking me to a therapist, but he adamantly refused, he is clearly in denial. Actually both my parents are but I understand their point of view. I guess it's hard sometimes for parents to accept that their children might have issues that require psychiatric treatment, but it's okay. And I have no problem waiting until, I can go to a therapist on my own if necessary.

So maybe I do have DID huh, and maybe I don't. I won't rush into conclusions though and I will take my60 time and be a partaker in this forum.

You're very welcome. I'm so sorry to hear that you had a crisis and that your parents are refusing to get you help so that you can get a proper diagnosis and begin healing work with a professionals help, but good for you for focusing on healing on your own in the mean time. I'm glad that you are feeling better and in my experience many parents do not wish to face that their child has any kind of mental health issue so I agree with you there. Finally, I think it is very good that you are not rushing to any conclusions for the time being and I'm glad to hear that you will continue to participate in this forum.
Kit

Hi Sweet Berries,

School is difficult for many, and I do believe in some cultures it's more difficult than others. Some times teachers don't talk about the issues that arise, sometimes families fail to teach their kids about caring, all sorts of things happen.

Those girls definitely weren't thoughtful, and that sucks. More than sucks, their actions hurt you. Many times you won't be able what they do, or how other people behave, but you can decide what to do with their actions. Ok, if you switched in front of other people, well you have an amazing mechanism that helped you survived many things.

DID doesn't make you insane, least of all "no more good". If you happen to have DID, that means that you were smart enough, creative enough to face and survive difficult things.

If other people give you cold stares, you can do things about it. First of all, you can breathe deeply and slowly. Whenever I feel anxious, I breathe deeply, and I touch the center of my abs, right below my chest. I feel protected and safe. You count with the whole of you for support, and to walk and put a barrier on those looks, so try and stay strong.

Some people will comment and stare merely because it is unusual to see someone change so drastically, but it's because of them. Those who laugh, may laugh because they don't understand, because they want to keep control of the situation, and keep their cool. But they're really showing their ignorance on the topic.

You, get to know yourself. Try to ignore those people. Talk with a counsellor if you can. Confront them if you ever feel like it, be safe though, always safe, listen to yourself/selves. Write here about what is happening. Know that you're not alone, and that there are people who care and who know what you're going through.

Sea

Sweet_berries wrote:Violarules, Una+, and Kit, I'd like to say thanks to all of you. I am grateful for all your help.

Update; my suicidal alter took over me afterwards and I was in a horrible state, but my mother talked me out of it and I came back to my senses. I reported what happened to my faculty and they said they'll be running investigations . I feel much better today, less tense I suppose. And I am finding ways to comfort myself and focus on healing myself. However, I tried talking to my dad about taking me to a therapist, but he adamantly refused, he is clearly in denial. Actually both my parents are but I understand their point of view. I guess it's hard sometimes for parents to accept that their children might have issues that require psychiatric treatment, but it's okay. And I have no problem waiting until, I can go to a therapist on my own if necessary.

So maybe I do have DID huh, and maybe I don't. I won't rush into conclusions though and I will take my60 time and be a partaker in this forum.

You're welcome. I can relate to your parents' reaction since my mom is in denial that there's anything wrong with me. Finding a therapist and going to him of her when you can is a good idea. I'm glad that you're starting to feel more relaxed and are focusing on your wellbeing.