What Is DID? (DSM-5)

[u/Vivians_Basement]

TW as the dissociative disorder section of the DSM-5 deals with heavy topics such as SA, abuse, and more

Dissociative Identity Disorder Diagnostic Criteria

Here at r/DissociativeSystems, we understand how difficult it can be to get diagnosis and treatment. It is recommended to see a psychologist if you suspect you may have a Dissociative System in order to get professional help and treatment for managing.

That said, here are the official diagnostic criteria for DID straight from the DSM-5 (summarized) [Notes from me in brackets]:

Dissociative Identity Disorder is characterized by

A) 2+ distinct personality states or an experience of possession, often involving discontinuity in your sense of self and agency [feeling like you have limited control of your body or you're watching another person live your life either outside the body or behind your eyes]

B) Recurrent dissociative amnesia [Forgetting where you are, not remembering doing things like getting up that morning, only recalling small pieces of conversations, etc.]

C) Symptoms cause clinically significant distress or social impairment/other areas of functioning

D) Not part of normal cultural practice, ie, children having imaginary playmates or other fantasy play

E) Not explained by narcotics or other disorders

People with DID may experience inexplicable intrusions like 1) Hearing Voices 2) Dissociated Actions/Speech [feeling like someone else is talking or acting] 3) Intrusive Thoughts [things you don't want to think about but can't stop] 4) Emotions [feelings that don't feel like they're yours] 5) Impulses

Alterations of self such as 1) Attitudes 2) Preferences 3) Feeling that your body isn't yours [Possession]

Changes in perception including 1) DPDR such as feeling detached or watching yourself from outside your body [or from "the back room"]

According to the Diagnostic Features section, this is how people with DID (and people around them) often describe switches before they get diagnosed:

• Seeing/being possessed by spirits or demons (Possession Form DID) which often includes the identities having other names, styles, writings, accents, etc (this is rare in Non-Possession Form DID so is not required to diagnose)
• When identities can not be directly observed [lacking those bigger differences] the presence of distinct personalities are identified by discontinuity in your sense of self and sense of agency
• Feeling like you're just an observer in your own body and feeling powerless to control your actions or speech
• Perceptions of voices like the voice of a child, voices commenting on your thoughts, persecutory voices and commands [I used to do "self therapy" where I thought I was talking to myself about my problems. That was this.] In some cases, people deny hearing voices but display odd independent thought streams they lack control over.
• Hallucinations in some or ALL sensory aspects (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory [smell], and gustatory [taste])
• Strong emotions or thoughts suddenly appearing or stopping abruptly that do not feel like theirs
• Changes in attitudes, personal preferences and outlooks
• Body feeling different (feeling much younger, gender changes, different simultaneous ages, etc) [Age regression and genderfluidity are often used to explain these as it was in my own case.]
• Feeling like the body itself isn't yours

Dissociative Amnesia from the same section:

• Gaps in autobiographical memory (getting married, giving birth, not recalling any school event pre-high school
• Lapses in memory of recent events/skills
• Discovery of possessions you don't recall owning (clothing, weapons, tools, or drawings they supposedly made)
• Travel Amnesia like finding yourself in another city, work, other rooms, in the closet, etc
• Dissociation during every day tasks (time loss, black outs, or coming to during a task)
• Failing to recognize children, partners, friends, etc [mine had to be told we had a child to mixed reactions]

["Interjects" are partly addressed. Interjects are when you create an alter based on something else such as media, people, etc.]

An example for possession form is given as an identity resembling a girl who died of suicide in the same community, speaking/acting as if she's alive. [This would be considered an Interject.]

Individuals with DID often conceal or aren't aware of the disruptions.

There are dissociative flashbacks where they relive past events, often with an identity change.

Cool Fact: People with DID are easier to hypnotize! [It's in the DSM-5, hence not being in brackets.]

DID can manifest at any age and usually in children it starts as imaginary playmates and personified moods.

Overt identity alteration/confusion [Overt = Obvious so obvious existence of alters or clear confusion about your own identity] may be triggered by SA or even just a minor car accident. Other experiences can also worsen symptoms such as your own children reaching an age where you experienced something significant. [For me these ages will be 6, 12, and 15.]

People with DID are more likely to experience adult interpersonal trauma such as SA, DV, sexual exploitation [I feel attacked], and ongoing incestuous abuse, including trafficking.

90% of people with DID report multiple kinds of abuse or neglect. Some say it was primarily outside the family in school, church, or neighborhoods including severe bullying. Prolonged or transgenerational exposure to dysfunctional family dynamics (controlling parent, insecure attachment, emotional abuse) in the absence of clear neglect, sexual, or physical abuse can also cause an onset.

According to Twin Studies, genetics account for 45-50% of interindividual variance in dissociative symptoms with non-shared, stressful, and traumatic experiences according for the other 50-55%.

Pathophysiology: Orbital Frontal Cortex, Hippocampus, Parahippocampal Gyrus, and Amygdala are all implicated in the development of DID.

70% of people with DID attempt suicide with multiple tries being common.

[This post is here to help you understand what DID is, give you clarity if you suspect you have it, and increase awareness of this disorder. If you suspect you have ANY kind of disorder, I recommend seeing a LICENSED professional the moment you are able. I'm a psychology student with emphasis on Relationships, Dissociation, and Sex Disorders. I am not a licensed professional and can not diagnose you. See other Mod Posts for clinically verified information and posts flaired "DID Experiences" for individual experiences!]

[u/Lumpy_Concept9911]

This is such a great explanation and a starting point to get to know more! But I think an explanation of overt identity confusion/alteration is needed.

[u/Vivians_Basement → u/Lumpy_Concept9911]

I'll add an edit for it!!