Introduction
From my research, it was evident that the issue of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is still not a familiar topic amongst the Australian society.
My website is aimed to educate and provide needed awareness regarding DID and to offer help to people and families suffering from the disease.
Biological Background
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a condition where two or more personalities exist in the same body (Birnbaum, & Thomann, 1996).
When sufferers switch personalities, their behaviour, memory and characteristics change so completely that they appear to
be different people altogether (Brown 2001). New personalities are usually created by traumatic childhood events.
When a child undergoes abuse, he or she may disassociate themselves from the situation so completely that they forget it.
Their thoughts and memories form a separate personality (Brown 2001). DID is therefore a coping mechanism
designed to deal with events so traumatic that the childhood mind cannot cope with (Nicki 2008).
Dissociation is commonly used by survivors of sexual abuse to ward off anxiety and tension.For chronic victims, this then develops into a full blown disorder (Nicki 2008), and may develop up to 13 separate personalities over the course of their lives (Birnbaum, & Thomann, 1996).
Prevalence of Dissociative Identity Disorder
During an interview, Ms T Malseed (2013) outlined that the prevalence of DID has increased dramatically in recent years.
This might be because some mental health professionals are now aware of the diagnosis,
thus previously undiagnosed cases are now being recognized (Jacobson, 2001).
However, the true prevalence of DID is difficult to establish, with symptoms well hidden.
In addition to that, it has been observed that historically, DID occurs more frequently in females than males (Davies, 2013).
Patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria for DID are regularly seen in Australian inpatient and outpatient settings (Milddleton W, Butler J, 1998).
Overall, the prevalence of DID in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings seems to be around 10%,
while approximately half of them 5% has DID,the most severe type of dissociative disorder.
Independent studies from various countries clearly demonstrate that DID constitute a common mental health problem not only
in clinical practice but also in the community as well (Burger, 2011).
The impact of DID on the sufferer and their supports or family, is significant,
and thus it represents an important disorder to discuss and create awareness about.
How to Deal with Dissociative Identity Disorder
The ultimate goal of treatment is to enable an integrated functioning of the alter personalities (ISSD, 2005). The presence of multiple disorders that come with DID make a comprehensive plan of treatment necessary. The degree of effectiveness of treatments for DID have not been studied. However, treatment options are mostly based on case studies, not research. Generally speaking, treatments may take many years before coming into effect (Better Health Channel, 2012). Options include:
Medical techniques
Medication could be prescribed to sufferers of the disease; however, there is no specific medication for the disease although a practitioner can provide a prescription relating to the disorder (Davies, 2010). Psychiatric drugs such as barbiturates would help to alleviate anxiety levels and relieve tension (Cherry, 2013). During an interview with Ms E Smith (2013), she outlined that anxiolytics such as benzodiazepine can be treatments such as supportive psycho-therapy and desensitization would be helpful to enable the patient to manage the anxiety surrounding therapy. Another viable form of treatment would include psychotherapy also known as “talk therapy” or counselling. Examples include cognitive therapy and psychoanalysis which would require long term management (Better Health Channel, 2012).
Non-medical coping techniques
To provide a supportive and functioning system to sustain the medical techniques used, several non-medical coping techniques and mechanisms can be adapted into the lifestyle of the sufferers. A key factor that would help relieve the patients of increased trauma would be by keeping stressors to a minimum (WebMD, 2005). However, when a crisis occurs, patients should prepare a crisis plan. A crisis plan is to teach patients to develop a list that ranges from simple to complex activities to decrease the intensity of emotions. This can help them reconnect with personal strengths and to remind them that choices can be exercised (Waseem & Pataki, 2013). In a growing trend, people with DID are able to come together to form mutual self-help support groups within larger communities and virtually, through online communities (Psych Central, 2012). By enforcing healthy coping strategies to handle different situations, many DID patients are able to manage their lives better. Positive coping mechanisms such as setting goals, building optimism, honing communication skills, overcoming negative thinking patterns are beneficial in reaching the milestone of slowly integrating the different personalities (ReachOut.com, 2013).
How to cope with family members suffering from the disease
Mental illness often has a “ripple effect” on families, creating tension, uncertainty, troubled emotions and big changes in how people live their lives (SANE Australia, 2013). Therefore, it is reasonable to provide training and support to families of people suffering from mental illnesses. There is strong evidence suggesting that proper support leads to a better outcome for all parties involved.
Where to start? Well, the first step towards creating a balance in living with a family member suffering from DID is by understanding and accepting the denial (Heretohelp, 2013). To understand that your loved one suffers from a disease is likely to have a serious emotional impact on yourself, so it is imperative to prepare and learn as much about the disease as possible (SANE Australia, 2013). Caring for someone with DID is no easy task, and sometimes, instinct is not enough. A good way to train about how to care for family members suffering from DID is by joining a support group to meet other people in the same position (SANE Australia, 2013).
In light of a crisis, it can be severely distressing and immobilizing, communication in a clear, honest and understanding manner can lower the intensity of the situation (Pathways to Promise, 2012). Be firm but friendly and unthreatening; seek help from a doctor, psychiatrist, emergency team or police (SANE Australia, 2013).
When caring for someone else, it is important to keep yourself healthy. Use a support network regularly for empathy, reassurance, affirmation and refocusing (Pathways to Promise, 2012). There are services provided to help families work through difficult issues of conflict. If in need of assistance, seek professional help. During an interview, Ms R Halton (2013) gave insight that when there is a crisis, they should seek help from professionals such as a physician, psychologist or psychiatrist as they have been trained in this field to handle crisis situations.
Conclusion
Through research, interviews and experiments, it is has been reaffirmed that it is critical to educate the community on the topic of Dissociative Identity Disorder. Although DID is a rare occurrence, many individuals in the future may still be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In turn, this would delay the effects of effective treatment and much needed research and experimentation. Therefore, it is imperative that acknowledgement is given to the existence of DID to give way to new research so viable treatment methods could be discovered. Increased awareness of the disease would better equip families of sufferers and sufferers themselves to further understand the context of DID. It is evident that there is insufficient awareness regarding the illness, therefore, my website is aimed at helping people understand this disease and to provide insight into how to provide assistance and to cope with living with Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Helplines for people suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder
ReachOut.com Australia
http://www.lifeline.org.au/
ReachOut.com is Australia’s leading online youth mental health service. Site for information based support and stories.
SANE Australia Helpline
1800 18 7263
Provides information about symptoms, treatments, medications, where to go for support and help for carers.
Helplines for families of sufferers suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder
Here To Help
1800 310 6789
Trustworthy information aimed to help people and families manage and prevent mental health problems.
Pathways to Promise, Ministry and Mental Illness Cooperative
(314) 877-6405
A telephone and online support and resource centre which offers educational material for people experiencing a mental illness and their families.
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277
A leading provider of relationship support service for individuals, families and communities aimed at supporting all people in Australia to achieve positive and respectful relationships.
From my research, it was evident that the issue of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is still not a familiar topic amongst the Australian society.
My website is aimed to educate and provide needed awareness regarding DID and to offer help to people and families suffering from the disease.
Biological Background
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a condition where two or more personalities exist in the same body (Birnbaum, & Thomann, 1996).
When sufferers switch personalities, their behaviour, memory and characteristics change so completely that they appear to
be different people altogether (Brown 2001). New personalities are usually created by traumatic childhood events.
When a child undergoes abuse, he or she may disassociate themselves from the situation so completely that they forget it.
Their thoughts and memories form a separate personality (Brown 2001). DID is therefore a coping mechanism
designed to deal with events so traumatic that the childhood mind cannot cope with (Nicki 2008).
Dissociation is commonly used by survivors of sexual abuse to ward off anxiety and tension.For chronic victims, this then develops into a full blown disorder (Nicki 2008), and may develop up to 13 separate personalities over the course of their lives (Birnbaum, & Thomann, 1996).
Prevalence of Dissociative Identity Disorder
During an interview, Ms T Malseed (2013) outlined that the prevalence of DID has increased dramatically in recent years.
This might be because some mental health professionals are now aware of the diagnosis,
thus previously undiagnosed cases are now being recognized (Jacobson, 2001).
However, the true prevalence of DID is difficult to establish, with symptoms well hidden.
In addition to that, it has been observed that historically, DID occurs more frequently in females than males (Davies, 2013).
Patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria for DID are regularly seen in Australian inpatient and outpatient settings (Milddleton W, Butler J, 1998).
Overall, the prevalence of DID in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings seems to be around 10%,
while approximately half of them 5% has DID,the most severe type of dissociative disorder.
Independent studies from various countries clearly demonstrate that DID constitute a common mental health problem not only
in clinical practice but also in the community as well (Burger, 2011).
The impact of DID on the sufferer and their supports or family, is significant,
and thus it represents an important disorder to discuss and create awareness about.
How to Deal with Dissociative Identity Disorder
The ultimate goal of treatment is to enable an integrated functioning of the alter personalities (ISSD, 2005). The presence of multiple disorders that come with DID make a comprehensive plan of treatment necessary. The degree of effectiveness of treatments for DID have not been studied. However, treatment options are mostly based on case studies, not research. Generally speaking, treatments may take many years before coming into effect (Better Health Channel, 2012). Options include:
Medical techniques
Medication could be prescribed to sufferers of the disease; however, there is no specific medication for the disease although a practitioner can provide a prescription relating to the disorder (Davies, 2010). Psychiatric drugs such as barbiturates would help to alleviate anxiety levels and relieve tension (Cherry, 2013). During an interview with Ms E Smith (2013), she outlined that anxiolytics such as benzodiazepine can be treatments such as supportive psycho-therapy and desensitization would be helpful to enable the patient to manage the anxiety surrounding therapy. Another viable form of treatment would include psychotherapy also known as “talk therapy” or counselling. Examples include cognitive therapy and psychoanalysis which would require long term management (Better Health Channel, 2012).
Non-medical coping techniques
To provide a supportive and functioning system to sustain the medical techniques used, several non-medical coping techniques and mechanisms can be adapted into the lifestyle of the sufferers. A key factor that would help relieve the patients of increased trauma would be by keeping stressors to a minimum (WebMD, 2005). However, when a crisis occurs, patients should prepare a crisis plan. A crisis plan is to teach patients to develop a list that ranges from simple to complex activities to decrease the intensity of emotions. This can help them reconnect with personal strengths and to remind them that choices can be exercised (Waseem & Pataki, 2013). In a growing trend, people with DID are able to come together to form mutual self-help support groups within larger communities and virtually, through online communities (Psych Central, 2012). By enforcing healthy coping strategies to handle different situations, many DID patients are able to manage their lives better. Positive coping mechanisms such as setting goals, building optimism, honing communication skills, overcoming negative thinking patterns are beneficial in reaching the milestone of slowly integrating the different personalities (ReachOut.com, 2013).
How to cope with family members suffering from the disease
Mental illness often has a “ripple effect” on families, creating tension, uncertainty, troubled emotions and big changes in how people live their lives (SANE Australia, 2013). Therefore, it is reasonable to provide training and support to families of people suffering from mental illnesses. There is strong evidence suggesting that proper support leads to a better outcome for all parties involved.
Where to start? Well, the first step towards creating a balance in living with a family member suffering from DID is by understanding and accepting the denial (Heretohelp, 2013). To understand that your loved one suffers from a disease is likely to have a serious emotional impact on yourself, so it is imperative to prepare and learn as much about the disease as possible (SANE Australia, 2013). Caring for someone with DID is no easy task, and sometimes, instinct is not enough. A good way to train about how to care for family members suffering from DID is by joining a support group to meet other people in the same position (SANE Australia, 2013).
In light of a crisis, it can be severely distressing and immobilizing, communication in a clear, honest and understanding manner can lower the intensity of the situation (Pathways to Promise, 2012). Be firm but friendly and unthreatening; seek help from a doctor, psychiatrist, emergency team or police (SANE Australia, 2013).
When caring for someone else, it is important to keep yourself healthy. Use a support network regularly for empathy, reassurance, affirmation and refocusing (Pathways to Promise, 2012). There are services provided to help families work through difficult issues of conflict. If in need of assistance, seek professional help. During an interview, Ms R Halton (2013) gave insight that when there is a crisis, they should seek help from professionals such as a physician, psychologist or psychiatrist as they have been trained in this field to handle crisis situations.
Conclusion
Through research, interviews and experiments, it is has been reaffirmed that it is critical to educate the community on the topic of Dissociative Identity Disorder. Although DID is a rare occurrence, many individuals in the future may still be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In turn, this would delay the effects of effective treatment and much needed research and experimentation. Therefore, it is imperative that acknowledgement is given to the existence of DID to give way to new research so viable treatment methods could be discovered. Increased awareness of the disease would better equip families of sufferers and sufferers themselves to further understand the context of DID. It is evident that there is insufficient awareness regarding the illness, therefore, my website is aimed at helping people understand this disease and to provide insight into how to provide assistance and to cope with living with Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Helplines for people suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder
ReachOut.com Australia
http://www.lifeline.org.au/
ReachOut.com is Australia’s leading online youth mental health service. Site for information based support and stories.
SANE Australia Helpline
1800 18 7263
Provides information about symptoms, treatments, medications, where to go for support and help for carers.
Helplines for families of sufferers suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder
Here To Help
1800 310 6789
Trustworthy information aimed to help people and families manage and prevent mental health problems.
Pathways to Promise, Ministry and Mental Illness Cooperative
(314) 877-6405
A telephone and online support and resource centre which offers educational material for people experiencing a mental illness and their families.
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277
A leading provider of relationship support service for individuals, families and communities aimed at supporting all people in Australia to achieve positive and respectful relationships.