Dissociative identity disorder symptoms are the telling signs associated with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), or also known as multiple personality disorder. It is a mental illness that is characterized by two or more apparent personalities which have their own views and ways in relating to the world. Dissociative identity disorder symptoms are most likely to develop when an individual has a severely traumatic experience in the present or in the past such as during his/her childhood years.
Dissociative identity disorder symptoms may resemble many other psychological or neurological disorders such as personality disorder, anxiety disorder, seizure disorders and many more, which is why it is difficult to directly diagnose a person with such disorder. To better this condition, here are the four major dissociative disorder symptoms as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder:
• Severe Amnesia
Amnesia involves disruptions in the memory, identity or perception of the person. A person with dissociative identity disorder has lapses in memory information that are beyond normal forgetfulness.
• Mental Block Outs
During the instances the affected individual switches to another personality, he/she can’t remember any memories of the other persona, in other words he/she experiences mental black outs. In fact, the person does not even know that another character exists. This condition interferes with the person’s general functioning in the society, work and relationships.
• Depression
Though depression doesn’t really cause the development of dissociative identity disorder but depression plays an important role with DID patients. The traumatic experience in the past causes great depression that the mind creates an alter personality that can save him/her from such miserable feelings.
• Mood Swings
Mood swings occur more often in DID patients due to the unpredictable shifting of personalities or alters. Most of the time, these personalities collide with each other hence causing the mood swings.
• Self-Mutilation or Aggressive Behavior
DID patients consciously do things even without thinking; they feel like they have no control over their actions which may cause harm not only to others but to themselves as well. Some example of destructive behavior is reckless driving or stealing.
• Suicidal tendencies
Suicidal tendencies are very common among DID patients. With all the ongoing symptoms and shifting of personalities, this creates fear and confusion in themselves. Some would suffer from flash backs of incidents that they are not aware of which just adds to depression, anxiety and confusion.
• Alcohol or Drug Addiction
DID patients have so many worlds, they often use alcohol or drugs to escape from the real world and live in an imagined world.
• Psychotic Like Symptoms
Hallucinations or flash backs are very common among DID patients. These flash backs could be traces of memory from the other personality which they are not conscious of. Hallucinations could be in a form of auditory, making them hear conversations in their head, or maybe commenting or talking to them.
• Panic Attacks
It’s possible that a DID patient can become aware of the other personality which causes the frequent occurrence of panic attacks. The traumatic experience can also lead to panic attacks.
Dissociative identity disorder symptoms are usually linked with each other and need to be closely monitored due to their natural suicidal effects. The treatment for Dissociative Identity Disorder is long-term, painful and very intensive, but with a lot of perseverance and help, anyone with DID can be treated and live a normal life.
