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Casey Boswell
DeBock
English 4 Honors
Wednesday March 4
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder is quite a serious psychological disorder. It can cause a
breakdown in the connections between the affected peoples families. Also it can lead to
disturbing and sometimes harmful or deadly thoughts or actions. Currently DID is controversial,
leading to a lack of a uniform approach to the handling of patients with this disorder. More light
should be brought to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) as it can have a negative impact on the
lives of the affected.
Dissociative Identity Disorder is when one enters a state of dissociation in which one
mentally disconnects oneself from the current situation. In this instance that person has an
alternate personality state which takes control of the persons outward demeanor and behavior.
These alters often have an identity spate from the base identity of the person diagnosed with the
disorder. DID affects those diagnosed with it in many different ways. Some people with the
symptoms of DID use it as a coping method while for others switching between mindsets occurs
either randomly or as a result of emotional or psychological triggers. It can be a way for them to,
according to patient diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, "run away both physically
and mentally" (Fox, Bell, Jacobson, and Hundley 332). Due to the variation in symptoms and
perceptions or use of this disorder, treatment and therapy can sometimes be difficult.

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Before even beginning treatment for DID, a patient must first be diagnosed with the
disorder, which based on the article Recovering Identity: A Qualitative Investigation of a
Survivor of Dissociative Identity Disorder, is present in less than one out of a hundred people
among the general population. Also DID has many symptoms that are quite similar to other
disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Just as well, once treatment begins, it is
controversial over whether or not this treatment is actually effective at normalizing a patient, in
fact some say that treatment actually worsens the symptoms. However, Dispelling Myths about
Dissociative Identity Disorder Treatment: An Empirically Based Approach states that A recent
review found that worsening of symptoms occurs among 5% to 10% of adults receiving
psychotherapy (Brand, Loewenstein, and Spiegel 169).
DID can have an extremely negative impact on those that are affected by it. One of the
most common symptoms of DID is dissociative amnesia. This symptom, however, has no
uniform means of presenting itself, as each alter retains different memories of the time of which
they had control over the individual (Weber 997). Dissociative people also typically interact and
deal with the world in a manner different from ordinary people. Close to three fourths of people
with Dissociative Identity Disorder also suffer from trauma caused by emotional, physical or
sexual abuse (Fox, Bell, Jacobson, and Hundley 324). Those with DID also deal with their spate
alters interfering with friendships or relationships, potentially causing these relationships to
break down or end. Just as well, some alters may feel seek out actions that might lead the person
to serious bodily harm or even death.
More light should be brought to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) as it can have a
negative impact on the lives of the affected. It is a disorder that can have awful effects on ties
between those with the disorder and those around them. It can also lead to actions or thoughts

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from the person that may affect their life in harmful ways. Its controversial nature leads to
treatment being without a uniform method of approach.

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Works Cited
Brand, Bethany, Loewenstein, Richard, and Spiegal, David Dispelling Myths About
Dissociative Identity Disorder Treatment: An Empirically Based Approach Ebsco 2014.
Fox, Jesse, Bell, Hope, Jacobson, Lamerial, and Hundley, Gulnora Recovering Identity: A
Qualitative Investigation of a Survivor of Dissociative Identity Disorder October
Ebsco

2013.