The Eternal Youth Of An Alternating Self

We all love watching movies or considering the current generation even series are on the watchlist, right? Romance, Thriller, Comedy etc...

But a question arises, how many of us are actually interested in watching something out of the generally seen genres?? 

Being an Indian I would like to start this article with reference to one of my favourite Bollywood movies. "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" is a horror comedy that addressed Dissociative Identity Disorder. Though it received a positive response at the box office, it did very little for the audience to understand the disorder. People would still refer to Manjulika as a ghost.

By now you might have got an idea of the topic that is going to be discussed. Yes, you guessed it right, I am referring to Dissociative Identity Disorder(DID), formerly also known as multiple personality disorder. 

Let us first understand what DID is before getting into its depth. DID is a rare condition in which 2 or more distinct identities, are present in-and alternatively take control of an individual. DID reflects a failure to integrate various aspects of identity, memory and consciousness into a single multidimensional self.

According to DSM-5, the individual experiences two or more distinct identities or personality states. Frequent gaps are found in the individual's memories. People may also report that they experience a sudden change in attitudes or personal preferences before shifting back.

Dissociative Identity Disorder usually develops in response to a natural disaster or other traumatic events. the disorder is a way for someone to distance or detach themselves from trauma.

There is no way to prevent DID. Treatment soon helps from preventing DID from progressing further. It can also help identify triggers that cause personality or identify changes. 

There is no cure for DID. Most people will manage the disorder for the rest of their lives. But a combination of treatments can help reduce symptoms.

Some medications may help with certain symptoms of DID, such as depression and anxiety. Psychotherapy is the most effective one. Hypnotherapy is also recommended in combination with psychotherapy. It is a form of guided medication. 

People with DID typically also have Dissociative Amnesia and often have Dissociative Fugue.