Dissociative Identity Disorder
Some survivors of trauma develop dissociative disorders. Dissociation is a form of coping when the trauma becomes unbearable. It is a way the mind protects the person going through the trauma. There is a spectrum of dissociation that one can experience.
One of the things we see with repeated trauma that was perpetrated in childhood, is the splitting of the survivor?s personality into various parts that carry the trauma. At the far end of the spectrum of dissociation, is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
Survivors with DID are likely to experience memory loss of current activities or events, sometimes hearing about things they did that they don?t remember doing. They may hear that they talked, dressed, or acted different during those times they don?t remember. Confusion due to the memory loss is likely to be a factor for these survivors. Some survivors with DID have psychotic-like symptoms, such as hearing voices. There may be suicidal ideation, significant depression, flashbacks, sleep disturbance with nightmares being likely. Some survivors turn to alcohol or drugs, or develop eating disorders as a result of their trauma.
If you dissociate, you are not alone. There are others who experience dissociation as a result of their trauma. There is help available as well. Finding a therapist who is trained in trauma therapy can be extremely helpful for recovery.
Therapist referrals can be found at the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. https://www.isst-d.org/default.asp?contentID=18
You may seek a therapist trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), a common tool used in treating trauma, at the EMDR Institute. https://www.emdr.com/find-a-clinician.html
Remember, you are not alone. There is help available, and there are listeners who are familiar with trauma issues.
a lot of love for this community. <3
@dworth257
I agree! Lots and lots of love 
Nice to have you as part of it.
I dont know if I have DID. My Therapist and Doctor say I have CPTSD due to cult Abuse and I probably did have DID earlier in life but through Therapy over many years the Alters are all Integrated now. Can this ever happen? I still have a problem recognizing some people I have known for years if I go a long time without seeing them, which has caused me quite a bit of current guilt. This person was trying to get through to me that I knew them, I was clueless. He had cancer and has since died. Anyways, I have to live with that, maybe I will never get better.
@Breezy2013
Hey!! I know that integration is something that can happen for some either on its own or through therapy. Not sure specifics as I'm no professional. But yes it can happen definitely!!
I'm here for you if you'd ever like to talk.
@KristenHR
I have alters. Whether I am an Endo system or an OSDD system is unknowingness to me, no us. I personally do not remember much major trauma (I remember abuse, but nothing traumatic), but I know my alters remember some. I have all (Or almost all) the symptoms for OSDD-1b, and have scored high on online tests, although they are not always reliable, obviously. I dissociate often, not extremely but enough to make a difference. I can dissociate purposely, but normally it's not on purpose. My friends have noticed the changes in my voice or attitude when I switch out. Although I do not have access to the Interworld, I still know it is real. But my problem is my therapist said that she suspects my alters and dissociation is just extreme anxiety and ADD. Although she did say I can't rule anything out. What's worse is that my psychiatrist thinks that my dissociation is a non-fatal seizure disorder. Like, what?! I have barely one symptom of it, yet that's what it has to be. Not only that she says the alters are just parts of me that branched off and are talking to each other. I'm pretty sure that can't happen? It's just all anxiety-inducing and so so so confusing. I know I have alters, I know I have dissociation, and sometimes but rarely time loss. I think I had trauma. But no one believes me... cause it's so rare or something. I'm not sure... but I feel so alone.
hi, there are a lot of way older posts on here. I do not even know how I found this today, but, know I was in the trauma community. I hope I can find my way back to this dissociative section of it, as I have lived with DID for over 50+ years and also have complex PTSD.
I am here right now, but, some of my alters do come out sometimes, especially when we are writing, and also in life. LOL, boy, have we had lots to figure out later so many times, and have had lots of things that I have found out about and have had to try to then do my best to fix as best.
I would love to be able to communicate with others with DID, or others that dissociate here at 7cups. I do not know how to do this. I hope to find my way back to this thread in this trauma community also. Maybe this is the way, I don't know.
@Amelia2324 Hello and welcome! Its nice to meet you! This link will guide you to the Trauma Community https://www.7cups.com/home/trauma/ There are threads if you'd like to introduce yourself. There are check-ins or you can start a diary or journal.
Living with this is complicated and frustrating at times. At least in my opinion. It's really hard when there are things you have to try to fix and do damage control on. It's very chaotic.
Everyone in the community is friendly and very supportive. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. There's almost always someone that can get you an answer. 🙂