Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Dissociative Identity Disorder is not schizophrenia, it is a dissociative disorder.

Dissociation is where the person removes, spaces out, denies, represses, depersonalises, or is amnesied during a situation. Dissociative Identity Disorder is the most extreme form of depersonalisation, where the person alters themselves to better cope with a stressful situation or thinking.

The altered part can become many different things, for example: a protector, a child, happy, sad, etc. The person experiencing the alteration may not be aware that it has happened.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder can include:

• Amnesia: parts of the person's life are forgotten or vague
  
• Voices: the person may hear voices inside the head, this is another part of the Dissociative Identity Disorder sufferers altering
• Body Image: a person with Dissociative Identity Disorder may perceive changes to body parts or image, they might look in the mirror and see themselves as having different coloured hair, eyes, skin tone, or their hands and arms are not belonging to them

• the sensation of feeling like they are observing the situation or event from above or behind themselves, and not being able to control it
  
• headaches are also common with Dissociative Identity Disorder sufferers. These headaches can be hard to stop with normal painkillers
  
• depression can be a common factor with Dissociative Identity Disorder people because of their attempts to withdraw from emotional pain  
• Dissociative Identity Disorder people may have trouble recalling buying items
  
• self harm through alcohol, drugs, abusive situations, and self-mutilation is sometimes present, as is suicide
  
• handwriting can change when the person alters