Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day

Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day

Observed on March 5, Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day works to increase awareness of and education about DID. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a mental illness. Its prevalence rates are similar to Bulimia and OCD. However, it is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood by both the public and mental health providers. The awareness color for DID or Dissociative Identity Disorder is teal. Wear teal silicone wristbands, enamel awareness ribbon pins or fabric ribbons to call attention to this personality or mental illness disorder.

Previously Known as Multiple Personality Disorder

Until the mid 1990’s, Dissociative Identity Disorder was called Multiple Personality Disorder. It was renamed, however, to Dissociative Identity Disorder. This more accurately describes its symptoms. DID affects approximately 2% of the general population. It is predominately caused by severe childhood trauma that is also combined with a disorganized attachment style. Around age 9, children typically complete the process of personality integration. When long-term child abuse occurs before this process has completed, combined with a disorganized attachment system that prevents the child from reliably being able to soothe and seek comfort from caregivers, the personality system is unable to fully integrate into a single sense of self.

Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day Education

Those with DID have two or more distinct and separate identities. Each identity has its own pattern of relating to their environment and to others. They experience significant memory loss of time, people, and events in their lives. This is due to dissociated selves. Having different parts of one’s self holding specific memories or events that the other parts of self is unaware of becomes the child’s main coping mechanism. This is done in order to function and survive within the abuse. For example, this may allow a child to go to school during the day without having to recall the horrors they may experience after school.

Although DID starts as a coping mechanism designed to manage the unmanageable, those with Dissociative Identity Disorder may begin to struggle with quality-of-life interfering symptoms.

In addition to the amnesia, these may include:

• Depersonalization (feeling detached from their actions, emotions, thoughts or sensations as if watching a movie of one’s life rather than experiencing it first-hand).
• Derealization (the feeling that things around them do not feel real), flashbacks of memory (often described as awake nightmares).

• Eating disorders or addictions that are used as a way to manage mood issues such as depression, anxiety, and/or suicidal ideation.

Misdiagnosis – Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day

Dissociative Identity Disorder is often misdiagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder, Schizophrenia or Rapid-Cycling Bi-Polar Disorder. It may take years to receive an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, the person may not receive proper treatment until the diagnosis is correct.

When clients come to a dissociation-aware therapist, previous misdiagnosis is common. They may also have spent many years in therapy with incorrect treatment. This is traumatic for both survivors and their families. DID also carries a social stigma. Misunderstanding of the disorder has perpetuated the stigma. In addition, popular culture, television and film have also contributed to misunderstanding. This is due to inaccurately portraying those with DID as dangerous.

The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) seeks to advance clinical, scientific, and societal understanding about the prevalence and consequences of chronic trauma and dissociation. Therefore, they welcome an opportunity like DID Awareness Day to raise awareness in the mental health world about DID and other dissociative disorders. DID Awareness Day empowers sufferers to share their stories and accept themselves in a world where this disorder is misunderstood.