Going through menopause (and Peri) with DID

I thought I'd start a new topic on this to see if ..in general people found that they switched more often when going through the menopause (including peri and post menopause stages).

A part of us have always been puzzled why when we got to our forties suddenly everything seemed to fall apart. At first it was thought to be depression from the death of our last dog who had been our assistance dog and practically daily full support system 24/7 for 15 years (as we got very little support from elsewhere).

Eventually we realised we were 'becoming more autistic again' like after the breakdown (Kit then Bobby had started to come to the front and more often)...and our personality (not just mood) seemed to switch so wildly and frequently. As Kit was the one most out who used dissociation as their coping strategy (ie get lost in fantasy to shut out the outside world) it led us first to Maladaptive Daydreaming then to finding this board. (after Kit realised neither MD or 'autism masking' completely fit what she felt she experienced or knew of the 'inner world').

It seems now experts are now starting to recognise that the hormonal shifts that take place during the menopause process does affect autistic behaviours.

"Qualitative studies have found increased difficulties for autistic people during menopause (Moseley (2020a,b). These increased difficulties appear related to an increase in menopausal symptoms, but also an increase in autistic characteristics such as sensory differences and difficulties regulating emotions"

taken from

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-gu ... nstruation

I've also read of women developing schizophrenia symptoms for the first time in menopause and psychosis (with no previous history of it) ..which brings me to think that it must surely also trigger an increase in switches or of younger alters coming forwards more often?? (in people with DID in general)

Would it create new alters? or is it more often the time of life when several alters may blend, integrate or fuse? ..between the (bodies) age of 45-60yrs?

Anyone know of any studies or going through this now?

Jay

I'm dealing with this right now as well, and searching on the term "Dissociative Identity Disorder and perimenopause" brought me to this forum and your post, since there's nearly nothing online anywhere about this. I guess we're a tiny subset of an already under-studied aspect of life.

I'm also dealing with more switching and higher sensitivity to triggers, as well as more intense emotions in general. I was diagnosed twelve years ago, and at this point, I have a pretty good working system -- We work as a team most of the time. However, this perimenopause has really upended our apple cart, so to speak! If we see something sad, here come the tears. If we see something happy, here come the tears. I'll start weeping over something really simple, and my poor, patient husband will look over at me, wondering if something is really wrong, and I"ll realize how silly it is and start laughing, while still crying. (And I'm not belittling myself over this - Seriously, it's the most mundane things: A lost dog has been found safe, a virtual recreation of the Kentucky Derby with animated Triple Crown winners of the past competing against one another... Stuff that doesn't warrant tears, even by my normally sensitive self.)

Switching seems to be part of this for me... When I have a strong emotion, I switch. And currently, with emotions being so frequent and extreme, switching is happening more often than it has in years. A lot of times, whoever gets pulled to the front is confused about what's happened and why they're fronting. The littles simply enjoy being out and do their thing, but the adults want to know why and are as puzzled as I am.

Some days it feels like we're starting over and all that we've learned is useless. I know that's not really the case, but it has brought chaos into what was working well. We'll get through it, of course, but I wish there were more information and help available for this part of life that every woman goes through. Hopefully by you posting and me responding, we can start this conversation, and maybe it will help others feel less fearful and alone when dealing with it.

We did some research yesterday that was adjacent to this and while it didn't cover DID it did hit PTSD, cPTSD, and BPD, so it probably applies to this too. Apparently trauma based issues can become more prevalent and severe during shifts in hormones. The research we looked at involved the menstrual cycle, but at the same time it probably applies to perimenopause too.

Lilith.

There is very little information especially for those coping with both autism and DID.

However I did find a site where they are conducting an international survey (done online like questionnaire) asking for participants. I think it's a university in Canada doing it.

I have done it. It is open until the 1st June 2023.

This is the home page just click on the tiny URL on this page below where it says 'We are seeking participants' to get the questionnaire. As I've just completed it it doesn't give the start of the questionnaire when I click on it ...just says I've already done it..so can't post link first page and Introduction etc.

https://autisticmenopause.com/

I did mention dissociative symptoms but stated I'm not officially diagnosed (with DID....have an official Autism Diagnosis but you can still do it if you are self-diagnosed autistic)...and stated there are an high proportion of autistic people within DID communities..so if anyone knows anyone with official diagnosis of both and of menopause age feel free to pass on the link. Could be our opportunity to find somewhere that could find funding to look into this further?