The Reality of Dissociative Identity Disorder  (DID)

Introduction

The mission of this site is to promote better awareness of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). This diagnosis was formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). They are one and the same. DID is real. MPD first appeared with it's own classification number in the DSM-III 1980 edition. In the DSM-IV it was changed to DID. This is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders which is used to diagnose in the United States. In other areas of the world, where the ISD-10 is used for diagnoses, it is still diagnosed and listed as MPD.

We offer information we believe may be helpful to survivors as they travel their unique path to healing from various traumas which may cause DID. In addition, we believe those who would like to help survivors will be equipped to do so by learning more about DID, along with its most prominent causes, as well as its associated issues and disorders. We hope to reach survivors, supportive family and friends, as well as professionals such as social workers, doctors, therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists. If you have, believe you have, or come in contact with someone who may have DID, and you have a desire to learn more in order to have a better understanding of the disorder, we hope you find this site informative and helpful to you.

This web site is designed and maintained by a survivor. It contains information written by and/or gathered by those of us who live with DID every day of our lives. Those represented here are at many different levels of recovery and healing, with widely varying experiences, as well as falling at different points along the dissociation continuum. There are multiple paths to take to reach true healing and we believe you will find this site representative of that reality.

The Reality of Child Abuse

Child abuse is real. We have all seen it on the news, in magazines, in the newspaper. Sadly, some of us have witnessed it happening to a child, either known or unknown. Then there are those of us who have endured the pain of child abuse ourselves. Some child abuse survivors always remember what happened and do not speak of it, as that is forbidden by the abuser. It is a bitter fact that many child abuse cases go undiscovered until the child reaches adulthood, and is no longer able to keep dissociative barriers intact which have kept the secrets hidden in their mind. I fall into this latter category. The memories began breaking through my cracked dissociative barrier, and my world began to fall apart. I had never sought or been treated for any mental health condition in my life. It wasn't even my idea to seek such help, although I am now very thankful for the people who cared enough to step in and make sure I received help early on. I don't believe I would have survived without the level of support I received from supportive family and friends, professionals, and trauma treatment centers.

It takes years of the most difficult work one may ever take on, with professionals trained in treating trauma survivors, for healing to begin. Outside support is also essential as the professionals are only one part of the team effort it will require for recovery to take place. It is not a straight or easy path to healing. There is not even one treatment path that will always work for everyone. Child abuse causes horrendous emotional damage to the child, whether it is noticed during childhood, or comes to the forefront in adulthood. Any measurable sense of self-love, self-esteem or self-worth has often been brutally stripped away at an early age. There is usually a very low ability to trust, if trust can be found at all. Healthy relationships are difficult, if not impossible, to form and/or maintain. It normally takes years of difficult work to rebuild these things which many take for granted. This site is dedicated to those who now, as an adult, are beginning the difficult path to healing from the emotional and physical wounds inflicted by those adults who chose to abuse them as a child, to the degree that going away mentally, which is dissociation, became the only way to survive, thus causing them to develop the survival mechanism known as DID.

The rules of secrecy and obedience enforced by perpetrators cause many cases of child abuse to remain undiscovered. Some child abuse victims survive, seemingly unscathed by their abusive experiences, to lead everyday lives, obliviously carrying hidden secrets and horrifying memories of past abuse. Many other children die or commit suicide early in life as a result of child abuse.

What price is paid for refusing to believe child abuse happens, or not taking action to end child abuse and punish perpetrators? Adult survivors are left with long-term effects, with many becoming dysfunctional, relying on state and/or federal aid if they can find it, in order to afford the long healing process. Some professionals treating adult survivors of child abuse believe they are seeing the ones who the perpetrators would consider failures, because they have not been able to maintain the rules of secrecy and obedience and are in their office getting help. I believe that makes them successes. Despite the odds, they are breaking the rules of silence and asking for the help they need to recover. They are speaking their truth and walking through their fears with courage, each on their unique path to healing.

The agony endured while doing the recovery work and at the same time attempting to keep memories from emerging, often feels more devastating than the original abuse. I want all survivors to know you can heal! You survived the original abuse. You are courageous. You are strong. You can survive the healing process! So take a chance. Look out from your hiding place. Seek help. Your future can be brighter than your past.

Child Abuse Video ~ Concrete Angel by Martina McBride

Disclaimer: This site contains information to be used only for the purpose of support and general education. It should not be used for diagnosis and/or treatment of any physical or mental conditions. It is owned, designed and maintained by a healing survivor in recovery. The author of the general text is the owner and that general text remains the property of said owner. Other materials used on the site come from various authors and will have the author credited and those materials remain the property of said authors with copyright information included when and where it is available.  We assume no liability for the contents or effects of this site. Some of the content may be disturbing. Read at your own risk. If you believe you are suffering from a physical or mental condition seek help from a qualified professional physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist; a crisis center; or call 911.

Recommended Online Support Group
for those who have been diagnosed with DID
and are in treatment for healing with a professional,
and for those professionals who treat those with DID:

Multiple Paths To Healing - DID

Thank you for stopping by.

You are visitor number: