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Don't know if you have dipped into the library unsure. Have some interesting articles there (some written by members) that you may find useful. Coming here provided me with the opportunity to actually meet others who shared my dx. Until this point my options to learn more were limited to reading text book articles (which depending on the views of the author presented a various range of sometimes conflicting) info or try and get my head round the 'enhanced for dramatic effect' portrayals of DID offered by the media.

Was a relief to come here and to see that DID is not necessarily the life disrupting force that many think it is...in my case it does cause me a few challenges but with work and experience I have learned how to manage them to minimize their impact on my (even if I say it myself) no less functional and as productive as the next person's life.

Useful Information

This was a really helpful read. I'm trying to sort out where I am in this mess. My therapist keeps using words like integrate and dissociate but no one has officially offered a diagnosis. Thanks for posting.

Thank you both this is very helpful and helps me to understand better. Trauma and stress can cause it not just "abuse" thank you for pointing this out. This is why I was asking please forgive my ignorance on the topic.

The info on dissociating (i.e. : highway driving ,etc) was really helpful. I know someone who does this and so perhaps it's dissociating but not DID. That's exactly what I was wondering. Thank you so much for the info this helps so much

Originally Posted by purpleclouds

You asked about childhood abuse though--it's my understanding that it doesn't have to be abuse necessarily--just intense stress. Like I've heard of children developing DID from medical issues....other ongoing traumas...

This is such a critical note that not everyone is aware of, and I'm glad you mentioned it. By and large, most of the major literature out there will tell you that DID is the result of long-term, chronic abuse. Some newer theories include disorganized attachment as a necessary component as well, but "abuse" is the key word you'll generally see used.

However, as Purpleclouds indicates, the term "abuse" is probably better expanded to the term "trauma," as DID does not seem to exclusively develop from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. DID is also reported in adults who were raised in war zones, had perpetual early childhood hospitalizations, had undergone continual drug complications, and/or had frequent/chaotic changes in parental custody. Those are just a few examples. The qualifications for the condition appear to be more encompassing than what was originally considered, but the persistent theme is long-term childhood stress, pain, and/or chaos.

Originally Posted by AnyWoman

Is it possible to have DID without childhood abuse?

From what I know and have read and been told DID is a result of childhood trauma--usually has to happen before a certain age. Some research says 6...some says 9...have heard 12....not sure what the exact answer is. But basically it happens because a young child's mind is not yet fully integrated. Which allows self states/alters to split off/form as a result of trauma.

You asked about childhood abuse though--it's my understanding that it doesn't have to be abuse necessarily--just intense stress. Like I've heard of children developing DID from medical issues....other ongoing traumas...

Dissociation, on the other hand, is something that kind of happens to everyone to an extent since it's a spectrum. So things like daydreaming and highway hypnosis--those are mild dissociation. Then there are things like depersonalization and derealization....dissociation is a response to stress so it can come with PTSD.

But from what I've witnessed in trauma hospitals that I've been a patient in and how things have been explained to me and what I've read DID typically only occurs from childhood trauma--since the child's mind hasn't integrated fully yet. I know there are cases of iatrogenic DID and some people believe in a thing called natural multiplicity--I don't have enough understanding of those things for it to be fair for me try to explain or confirm/deny them.

xx

Originally Posted by Jane

Hi

My experience is much like manya's.

As a survivor of abuse my coping mechanisims including my DID is triggered by behaviours that replicate those I endured as a child. Especially those that make me feel lesser and rejected. Helps me to stay in my present personality...to be treated like an 'in control of my life and issues' adult. Doesn't mean my partner needs to pussy foot round me... can sure raise issues that my DID is causing her...however works best if she does this in a way that recognises that I am the one (maybe with her support if I ask for it) who is responsible for (and the only one who can) change my behaviour and if I have problems doing this? Well that's what I have a therapist for.

Hope what I have shared helps.

Is it possible to have DID without childhood abuse?

Hi

My experience is much like manya's.

As a survivor of abuse my coping mechanisims including my DID is triggered by behaviours that replicate those I endured as a child. Especially those that make me feel lesser and rejected. Helps me to stay in my present personality...to be treated like an 'in control of my life and issues' adult. Doesn't mean my partner needs to pussy foot round me... can sure raise issues that my DID is causing her...however works best if she does this in a way that recognises that I am the one (maybe with her support if I ask for it) who is responsible for (and the only one who can) change my behaviour and if I have problems doing this? Well that's what I have a therapist for.

Hope what I have shared helps.

Originally Posted by George55

As a spouse you try to help by exposing some of the errors of listening to one or more negative voices within your spouse. It seems to only lead to avoidance of the truth of damaging behaviors and deeper depression. Yes they are under the care of a trIned professional but live at home with me where they should be. It is just that all communications beyond shallow everyday simple ones end up in a confused avoidance fog bank, any suggestions?

truly not trying to be mean, but could it be that exposing her errors is what causes her limiting communication with you to shallow every day stuff? cuz i know it does for me; i have a therapist whom i rely on for reality-checks and for confrontations and challenges and exposure of my mistakes and such. and i have a partner whom i rely on for acceptance, understanding, rooting for me, etc. if my partner constantly confronts me about my errors - whom do i go to for hugs? i dont need two therapists, i need one therapist and one partner. and i need a break from therapy work during the week, a timeout when im just living, cooking dinner, watching netflix, doing dishes, cuddling at night, etc. if this family time is tainted, i get depressed. just like seo's get depressed when they bring their work projects home. cuz home is supposed to be separate from work.

The spouse of some one with DID.

I'm a spouse of a woman with DID's I'm new to the diagnoses and found this thread helpful. The thing I find the hardest is when DID's in link up with major depression. As a spouse you try to help by exposing some of the errors of listening to one or more negative voices within your spouse. It seems to only lead to avoidance of the truth of damaging behaviors and deeper depression. Yes they are under the care of a trIned professional but live at home with me where they should be. It is just that all communications beyond shallow everyday simple ones end up in a confused avoidance fog bank, any suggestions?