Living with dissociative identity disorder can be an extremely lonely experience. The media portrays this psychological illness in a terrifying manner, causing the victims to be perceived as threatening and unpredictable.
Far from this, persons living with this condition aren’t a danger. They deserve as much love, care and support as any other individual. If you have a friend or family member who’s been diagnosed with DID, you might be wondering how to treat them. This post seeks to shed more light about the condition and offer a few coping tips. Let’s dig in:
What Is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
I’ll start with a fun fact: dissociative identity disorder was originally called multiple personality disorder. Regardless of what you prefer to call it, this condition causes the victim to portray more than one personality – a phenomenon called “alters.”
In certain cases, the different alters are aware of each other. But in others, they operate independently of each other. The million dollar question is, why do these alters manifest? Well, they’re believed to stem from a mental process that causes the victim to dissociate or become detached from their identity, memories and thoughts.
While there are several reasons why people experience DID, the main culprit is past trauma. In fact, research shows that a whopping 90% of persons suffer from this mental disorder because they’ve undergone childhood abuse and neglect.
Do you have a loved one who’s recently been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder? If you do, here’s how you can help them:
Supporting Persons Living With Dissociative Identity Disorder
Enlighten Yourself About Dissociative Disorders
The first thing you need to do is enlighten yourself about dissociative disorders. This will help you understand exactly what your loved one is going through.
More importantly, you’ll get to learn some of the things that trigger their episodes. This means that you can keep an eye out for such triggers, helping your loved one avoid them whenever possible. Depending on the kind of trauma they went through, the triggering factors can be smells, places, sounds, seasons of the year, large crowds among others.
Keep Loved Ones Safe
Another way you can support your friend or family member is by keeping them safe. This study reveals that persons living with dissociative disorder often experience suicidal thoughts. This is not surprising considering how closed off they can be.
In light of this, be sure to keep a close eye on your loved one, especially if they’re expressed suicidal thoughts. “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)
Recommending Treatment Options
Unlike bipolar or depression, dissociative identity disorder is not common. Due to this, the victim may feel like they’re going through it alone.
And once this happens, it reduces their likelihood of seeking help for fear of being stigmatized or singled out. If you suspect an ally or family member to be suffering from DID, help them seek treatment by:
- Looking for a time when the individual is relaxed. This sets the stage for a calm and productive conversation
- Inform them that you care and support them. Your loved one needs to understand that your advice is well-intentioned
- Offer to find a mental health provider on their behalf. Offering your assistance makes the entire process feel less overwhelming for the victim
- Take them to their first appointment. Finding a therapist is not enough. Go the extra mile of accompanying them to their first appointment. This way, they have someone to lean on in case they receive distressing news
Wrap Up
If your loved one just got diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID), you might be feeling a bit scared and overwhelmed. However, it’s important that you stay calm so that you can offer them the help they need. Educate yourself about the illness and keep a close eye on the victims.
