Multiple Personality Day: Debunking Myths Surrounding DID

• Written by Mudit Handa

  Reviewed by Rashmi Rai

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Today’s fast-paced work environment has given rise to many physical and mental illnesses. Unlike physiological diseases that are diagnosed easily and affect normal body functioning, psychological disorders are primarily challenging to detect and often go unnoticed. Nevertheless, such disorders hugely impact the day-to-day lives of many people. In 2019, WHO reported that one in every eight individuals globally suffered from some or the other psychological disorders.

Despite such a large-scale impact, the reason why such diseases go unnoticed is that people often stigmatise psychological disorders and feel embarrassed to discuss them if they are diagnosed. One such severe disorder is the Multiple Personality disorder, clinically termed as Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID. 

World Multiple Personality Day is observed annually on March 5th to raise awareness about DID globally.

What is the Significance of World Multiple Personality Day?

World Multiple Personality Day is a global effort towards raising awareness about Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and educating people on mental health and trauma related to dissociation. It emphasises treatments and therapy available for DID.

According to the world’s most reputed convention on mental health issues, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), up to 75% of people have experienced at least one episode of depersonalisation or derealisation in their lives.

What is the History of Multiple Personality Day?

Although the exact history behind Multiple Personality Day is unknown, it is said that the term first came into discussion after an American lady, Mary Reynolds, was diagnosed with multiple personality disorder in 1811. 

What are the Main Goals of World Multiple Personality Day?

The key goals of World Multiple Personality Day are as follows:

• Raising awareness about Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
• Reducing stigma around DID and other mental health conditions.
• Educating the public about DID, its symptoms, and available treatments.
• Providing support for individuals with DID.
• Advocating for better mental healthcare and resources for those with DID.

To understand the symptoms of DID, it's essential first to know what DID is.

What is DID?

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is also called Multiple Personality Disorder. A person suffering from this disease exhibits two or more distinct personality identities at the same time. While each may have a unique name or connection, they imply a distant past and characteristics.

What are the Health Conditions Faced by Patients Suffering from DID?

Individuals with DID may experience a range of challenges, and the severity of which can vary significantly from person to person. Some key aspects of the condition can include:

• Challenges with daily functioning: Individuals with DID may experience difficulties with daily tasks, work, and relationships due to the presence of different identities and the associated amnesia or memory gaps.
• Emotional distress: DID is often associated with significant emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation.
• Trauma history: DID may also be linked to a history of severe trauma, particularly in childhood. The different identities may develop as a way to cope with or compartmentalise these traumatic experiences.
• Co-occurring conditions: Individuals with DID may also experience other mental health conditions. These may relate to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute depression, anxiety disorder, and/or borderline personality disorder.
• Variability in presentation: The presentation of DID may vary widely, and some individuals may have more different and noticeable shifts between identities. In contrast, others may experience more subtle or internal changes.

What are the Symptoms of DID?

While it's best to consult a qualified healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and treatment, here are some common symptoms of DID:

• Amnesia: Gaps in memory, inability to recall important personal information, or experiencing periods of amnesia for events, people, or even entire chunks of time.
• Identity confusion: Feeling a lack of a clear and consistent sense of self, struggling with identity changes, or having conflicting personality states.
• Altered sense of time: Experiencing a distorted sense of time, losing track of time, or having gaps in the perception of time.
• Physical symptoms: Experiencing physical complaints that medical causes, such as headaches, stomach pain, or fatigue cannot explain.
• Emotional dysregulation: Difficulty managing emotions, frequent mood swings, or intense emotional reactions to triggers.
• Dissociation: Feeling detached from one's body or thoughts or having experiences of depersonalisation (feeling unreal or detached from oneself) or derealisation (feeling detached from one's surroundings).
• Changes in perception: Altered senses of sight, hearing, taste, touch, or smell.
• Flashbacks: Experiencing intrusive memories of traumatic events as if they are happening again.
• Self-harm: Engaging in self-injurious behaviours as a way to cope with emotional distress.
• Risk of self-harm or harm to others: Some individuals with DID may engage in self-destructive behaviours or pose a risk to others due to dissociative states.

It's important to note that the presence of these symptoms alone does not necessarily indicate DID. It is essential to have a comprehensive evaluation by a psychiatrist for a proper diagnosis.

What Challenges do Dissociative Identity Disorder Patients Suffer?

Individuals with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) may face certain challenges in their day-to-day life, including:

• Difficulties with daily tasks, work, and relationships: Problems can arise due to different identities and associated amnesia or memory gaps.
• Emotional distress: Significant emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation, is often associated with DID.
• Co-occurring conditions: Individuals with DID may also experience other mental health issues. These may include acute depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), disorders, and borderline personality disorder.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have concerns about DID or any other mental health condition, seeking professional help from a qualified mental health professional is essential.

Treatments for DID

Here's some general information about how DID is often treated in clinical settings:

• Psychotherapy: This is often the primary treatment approach for DID. Different types of therapy may be used, including:
• Trauma-focused therapy: This is a targeted therapy that helps in processing and integrating traumatic experiences that may have contributed to the development of DID.
• Integration therapy: This therapy aims to help people integrate their different identities or personality states into a more cohesive sense of self.
• Other therapeutic approaches: Some psychiatrists provide alternative treatments combined with psychotherapy and medication. Such alternative therapies include creative therapies such as art, music, or somatic therapies, e.g., body-centred therapies.

However, it's essential to seek medical aid from a qualified psychiatrist for proper diagnosis and personalised treatment against the symptoms of DID.

What Kind of Medication Treats Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Although no specific medication is formulated for DID itself, the psychiatrist may prescribe certain medicines to manage co-occurring conditions such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Other mood disorders

Note: You should never take over-the-counter medications for conditions such as anxiety or depression and should only take prescribed medications for the treatment of psychological disorders.

These are some effective ways to treat Dissociative Identity Disorder. However, apart from targeted therapies and medication, you need additional support to facilitate timely medical help against such a disease, i.e. a comprehensive health insurance plan.

Ease Your Mind During DID with Health Insurance Support

A psychological illness such as Dissociative Identity Disorder can wreak havoc in a person’s life, where s/he feels helpless between the thoughts of multiple personalities. 

Although proper treatment helps in coping with this disorder, overlooked conditions of the mental disorders may lead to situations which might require hospitalisation. Here, having a comprehensive health insurance plan that covers all the medical costs becomes essential. While searching for the best health insurance plan, you must look out for the OPD add-on benefit, wherein you can receive coverage for up to a certain number of psychologist consultations per policy year, subject to the policy terms and conditions.

Disclaimer: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.