In this rare and severe condition, a person’s identity is fragmented into two or more distinct personality states. The parts do not join up into a whole.

What is it?

A person with DID has a splintered identity, rather than a growth of separate personalities, which is why the name of the condition was changed from its previous term of multiple personality disorder. The individual feels as though
they have different people within (called alters). Each alter has its own persona, with its own pattern of thinking and communicating, even down to different handwriting and physical requirements, such as wearing glasses. Someone with DID finds it hard to define what they are like, and may refer to themselves as “we.” They have no control over when and which alter takes over, and for how long.

Dissociative experiences

An individual with DID uses dissociation—disconnection from the world around them—as a defense mechanism. They may feel as if they are floating away, watching themselves from outside. As if in a movie, the person observes rather than feels their emotions and parts of their body. The world around a person affected by DID may seem unreal and hazy, with objects changing appearance. The individual has significant
and frequent gaps in memory, unable to recall personal information in a way that is more extreme than forgetfulness. They may not remember people, places, and events in their lives from the distant and recent past, yet vividly relive other things that have happened. The person has moments of absence while carrying out day-to-day activities and may travel somewhere but be unable to remember how they got there. The person regularly experiences
symptoms of personality change and dissociation. These symptoms are thought to be a way of coping that often goes back to severe and prolonged trauma experienced in childhood, but the dissociation disrupts everyday life long after the trauma has ceased. Affected individuals continue to use the dissociation as a way of coping in all stressful situations in later life.

How is it diagnosed?

If a specialist suspects DID, they will complete mental health questionnaires that capture and rate the person’s symptoms. The aberrant and inexplicable
behavior that characterizes DID is distressing and confusing for the individual and impacts negatively on work, social life, and intimate relationships. DID often exists alongside anxiety and depression, panic attacks, OCD , hearing voices, and suicidal feelings.

Identity alteration

Each alter, as the identity fragments of someone with DID are called, has distinct patterns of perception and personality that recur and take control of the individual’s behavior. Typically the personalities know each other and communicate, sometimes criticizing one another. The transition from one to another is sudden and the person has no control over which one is in charge, but certain stressors can make a particular alter emerge.

SWITCHING BETWEEN ALTERS

Different name can denote a switch
to the thinking patterns of another alter.

Different appearance,
for example, hair color or clothing style, can change the host’s persona

The host identity is the one main alter that a person
may feel is most like them. This host identity may not remember facts
about their personal history when a different alter is in control.

Change of role can enable a view of life events from another standpoint.

Another gender or age changes
memories or
perceptions of events.

Opposing attitude from the host’s Identity provide a different prospective on life events

A younger self may talk like a childlike way or even be unable to talk

8−13
the typical number of identities in people with dissociative identity disorder