...Abstract Dissociative Disorders is the disruption in the integrated functions of consciences, memory, identity, or perception of the environment. They are marked by a dissociation from or interruption of a person’s fundamental aspect of waking consciousness such as personal identity and one’s personal history. In this paper I will be discussing the main dissociative disorders, which are: Dissociative Amnesia, Dissociative Fugue, Dissociative Identity Disorder, and Depersonalization Disorder. All of the dissociative disorders are thought to stem from trauma experienced by the individual with the disorder. (Maser, 2000) Seen in a number of other mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder, symptoms of dissociative or even one or more of the disorders are shown. A cross-cultural perspective is particularly important in the evaluation of Dissociative Disorders because dissociative states are a common and accepted expression of cultural activities or religious experience in many societies. (Frances, 1994) Dissociative Amnesia The first disorder is Dissociative Amnesia which is characterized by an inability to recall important personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature, that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness. This disorder is formerly known as Psychogenic Amnesia. Dissociative Amnesia involves a reversible memory impairment in which memories of personal...
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...Child Abuse and Its Effects on the Child’s Ability to Form Attachments The moment that a child is conceived begins a lifelong journey of attachment. Studies have shown that embryos begin bonding in the womb when they feel movement, hear voices, and through the stimulation of smell and taste. This attachment with a caregiver grows even stronger when the child is born and as they move into childhood develops further into other relationships. The intensity associated with the importance of this development is best described by Perry (2001), “The most important property of humankind is the capacity to form and maintain relationships. These relationships are absolutely necessary for any of us to survive, learn, work, love and procreate” (p. 1). That is, as long as the proper environment and development is exposed to the child. Exposure to constant distress or inflicted abuse and/or neglect to a child can result in reactive attachment disorder, along with many other socioemotional problems and disorders. This will affect all relationships, as well as their ability to accomplish goals and lead a directed, goal-oriented life. When and if others intervene within the abusive situation, will determine how the child will deal with an attachment disorder. If intervention does not occur, attachment disorders associated with abuse and/or neglect can lead to violence in children and adults. There are ways to help children cope with this disorder, but it will become a struggle they will have...
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...Multiple personality disorder is a disorder that is often confused with dissassociative identity disorder for the reason that they both are characterized by the disassociation that a patient/inflicted individual experience; however, multiple personality disorder holds itself a personal definition that suggests that it is a disorder in which 2 or more personalities exist within the inflicted individual, both of which taking turns in controlling the individual’s behavior and consciousness.1 Multiple personality disorder has been seen throughout all of history as different types of behavior, ranging from inappropriate to highly respected forms as the cultures in which they are recognized differ. In the Paleolithic era, shamans would often tell stories through cave paintings of their own experiences of animal embodiment, and such experiences are analyzed to be instances of MPD. Demonic possession in many cultures has also been attributed by researchers to misunderstandings of the behavior of individuals with Multiple Personality Disorder. It is important to note that the last two occurrences of MPD were actually, and in some places today, are still appreciated as established and reputable practices. The earliest reporting of a case of Multiple personality disorder was by a male named Eberhardt Gmelin in 1791, when he describes a young woman to have spoken French perfectly, and with an French accent when speaking German, but then she would seemingly turn into a German woman who could...
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...one mind that disrupted one’s identity and psyche which can cause various problems. Dissociative identity disorder (DID) or formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), is one of a group of conditions called dissociative disorders or dissociation(s). This condition is consider rare in the US which the approximated number of cases of 20K to 200K per year. (www.google.com) Dissociation is a mental process, which produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. During the period of time when a person is dissociating, certain information is not associated with other information as it normally would be. Dissociation can be used as a defense mechanism or a coping mechanism that a person uses to disconnect from a stressful or traumatic situation or to separate traumatic memories from normal awareness. It is a way for a person to break the connection between the self and the outside world, as well as to distance oneself from the awareness of what is occurring. Dissociation can serve as a defense mechanism against the physical and emotional pain of a traumatic or stressful experience. By dissociating painful memories from everyday thought processes, a person can use dissociation to maintain a relatively healthy level of functioning, as though the trauma had not occurred. For example, during a traumatic experience, a person may dissociate the memory of the place and circumstances of the...
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...Robin and I Characters: Robin (main), Kevin, Perry Park, joseph, Jonah, nana, Mr.X “Anna! Tell the police what happened. You don’t have to be scared. Just tell what your father did to you,” Robin shouted. “My dad didn’t do anything to me. It was that guy who intruded our house and beat my father up,” Anna told the police officer. “What are you talking about Anna? What are you thinking? I came to save you and that’s what you repay me,” Robin said while struggling with the officer. Robin is an only son of the big company. His parents sent him to America after the accident. He is a role model in one of the American’s college. He is good at sport such as America Football. He has a warmhearted personality. He loves to help other people. However, Robin lost his memories when he was 8. At 9 pm, one of Robin’s friends called him for help. Her name is Anna. Robin rushed to her house. He spent less than 5 minutes to go to Anna’s house. Her dad was beating her. Robin tried to stop the old man. The old man took his baseball bat and hit Robin’s head. He repeated his hitting skill on Robin. Robin was almost unconscious. Suddenly there was a gunshot. Police arrived and stopped the old man. They ask Anna who attacked her. Instead, Anna told lie that Robin intruded and her father saved her. Police led Robin to the police station while he was protesting the entire way. After police released Robin, he went home and met his secretary. “Young master? Are you in your right mind?” “I...
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...Dissociative Identity Disorder Porsha Castillo Belhaven University ABSTRACT This paper will focus on the mental disorder Dissociative Identity Disorder. It will follow the case study of JANE. The paper will include the hisroty of the disorder as well as treatment, and current research of the disorder. Dissociative Identity Disorder Rebecca, a 14 year old girl, presented to a hospital by her mother with a complaint of ‘behaving like a male’ for past 2 weeks. She was identifying herself as Mr. S. and dressed herself like a male. She was not recognizing her neighbors, relatives, or teachers anymore and her belongings as well. She was not able to recount her personal information either. Her mother also reported a significant and contrasting change in her behavior, like she had become stubborn, confident, outgoing and demanding during this period in contrast to her normal behavior. She developed interest in drawing and painting, would demand different types of fast food items, dresses, and certain objects in the altered state. Her mother fearing worsening of her illness readily fulfilled these demands. Rebecca stopped going to school and would stay at home all day long. Upon exploration, it was found that about 2 years back, her father and older sister had left the house to live separately from Rebecca and her mother. There was a strained relationship among the parents on the issue of not having a son. Since separation, there was no communication with them. Rebecca was...
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...Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a mental disorder that has stumped psychologists for many decades. “Previously known as multiple personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a condition in which those affected have more than one distinct identity or personality state” (Fundukian and Wilson pg. 379). Researchers have not been able to study this considering they do not know the direct cause of the disorder. A good case study for analyzing DID is Robert Louis Stevenson’s book Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In this story, the reader goes on an adventure to learn the truth about the relationship between Dr. Jekyll, the successful and respected doctor, and Hyde, the evil and cruel deformed human. The audience learns that through...
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...Marry Me MISFIT. By kerra white Marry Me Mistfit, That is not a joke. The Mistfit seems to be a mysterious guy, who honestly has no idea why he was being punished, "I call myself The Misfit […] because I can't make what all I done wrong fit what all I gone through in punishment" (Pg. ). The story goes thorough and he is the major topic on people’s mind ever since he escaped the ‘pin’. He seems intelligent, but is the one character that actually questions life and religion. The Misfit was Put away in Prison for killing his father, but as the story goes on, he questions why he was punished, he was convinced that he had not killed his father. He spoke with certainly that His father, Had died from the epidemic flu, and he was charged with a false crime."It was a head doctor who said what I had done was kill my daddy but I known that for a lie. My daddy died in nineteen ought nineteen of the epidemic flu and I never had a thing to do with it. He was buried in the Mount Hopewell Baptist churchyard and you can go there and see for yourself." (pg.) The Misfit seems to be a very confusing person, He was talking to the old Lady about where he came from, and when the old lady asked about his parents, he told her that they were the “finest people in the world” (pg.), and even states that his “daddy’s heart was pure gold” (Pg.). But what seems to be the question was the misfit lying about killing his father or was he innocent? The question is never really told, but from the ending...
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...multiple personalities. Possible symptoms of this disorder include exhibiting two or more distinct and altering personalities, which Jack does. The attitudes and beliefs of the two personalities of the individual are not similar to each other; they could even be opposites, and they have their own voices and mannerisms. Typically, the host personality denies the awareness of another, which can have its own unmemorable authority and control over the individual’s behaviors. Other symptoms include the loss of time, depersonalization, sudden anger, anxiety attacks, mood swings, depression, hallucinations, phobias, traumatic flashbacks, suicidal tendencies, sleep disorders, and memory lapses, according to www.webmd.com. These symptoms arise from dissociation, which is separation from reality. Jack experiences many of these symptoms, such as the sleep disorder of insomnia, experiencing the hallucination of his alter, loss of time, extreme bursts of anger, depression, memory lapses, and even dramatic mood swings from time to time. I do not think Jack’s...
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...Di·ver·gent (adj) - tending to be different or develop in different directions. Divergent is who I am and who I will always be. No, not the movie series, but the definition. Every day I wake up, take a bath, and then rush out the door because I am always late to school. Thoughts about school and work and photo schedules and everything else that happens in my chaotic life overflows my mind as I speed down 1960. I always wonder about who else deals with depression and anxiety on a daily basis. MentalHealthAmerica.com states that 1 in every 5 teens "suffer" from clinical depression. Suffer, yeah right. My depression and anxiety has made me stronger. It has defined me in ways I have not ever thought of. I have become more motivated, become self-dependent and always pushes me to think unconventionally. Thinking unconventionally is a huge part of getting through depression. Not many people have to constantly think through different scenarios to be calm, this is where the anxiety comes in at. No, I am not one of those angsty teens that want attention, I really face difficult tasks everyday. I will never know what I will feel like when I wake up or when I will burst into tears and stop breathing, but hey, that is what makes me unique. I have never been the one to let something come to me on its own time, I am a go getter. My junior year in high school I joined yearbook, and I was given a spread on the first day and was told the deadline was in two weeks. The minute I was told that I...
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...Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), or Multiple Personality Disorder, is a mental illness that happens in 0.01 to 1 percent of the population. According to the article, “Dissociative Identity Disorder” DID is described as, “a severe condition in which two or more distinct identities, or personality states, are present in- and alternately take control of- an individual” (Dissociative Identity Disorder). The cause of DID is somewhat unknown, but there is evidence that the cause has to do with severe physical and sexual abuse in childhood. The repeated abuse causes the person to separate their feelings, thoughts, and memories linked to their disturbing experience from the usual level of conscious attentiveness in order to cope with the extreme...
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...Living Beyond Oneself: The Reality of Dissociation Disorder Rebecca Lynn England General Psychology; Valley College Abstract An exploration of Dissociative Disorder including an overview of debates, disorder description, causes, and treatment. Hundreds of studies have been performed concerning this subject. There are countless theories and allegations concerning multiple personalities, even dating back to the days of the witch hunts. Initial symptoms generally begin in childhood. By adulthood, a person has usually forgotten the actual abuse or trauma that caused the psychological disorder, but are left with a myriad of manifestations of abnormal behaviors throughout life. Memories that begin to reemerge later in life are caused by what is called triggers. In depth testing must be undergone to determine if a person actually has this condition. Once diagnosed, treatment is extensive, lasting over many years. Realistically, the person may never completely function normally. Keywords: Dissociative Disorder, multiple personalities, alter personalities, psychological conditions, treatment, abuse, trauma, switching, post-traumatic stress disorder Living Beyond Oneself: The Reality of Dissociation Disorder The Creation of an Alter Person Dissociative Disorder is part of a series of conditions called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, “a condition of reoccurring persistent mental and emotional stress as a result of injury or severe psychological shock.” (NLM) Originally...
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...psychological problems 2) “Sick role” reinforcers 3) Social support b) Treatment i) Cogntivie Behavioral Therapy 1) Identify reinforcers and elimate or replace them 2) Change catastrophic thoughts 3) Identify and challenge misinterpretations ii) Biological 1) Antidepressants 2) Can Somatic Symptom Disorders include real bodily symptoms or do they have to be imagined? 3) How do fears and beliefs about illness play into Somatic Symptom Disorders? What about reinforcement of the “sick role?” 4) What kinds of symptoms does Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Somatic Symptom Disorders target? Are there any biological treatments for it? 5) What is dissociation? What differentiates “everyday” dissociative events from dissociative...
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...(Hayes et al., 1994 410-415). These symptoms include, but are not limited to; auditory hallucinations from both inside and outside the head, dissociative psychosis, Depression, and Anxiety. (Dorahy, et al., 2014, pp. 402-417). Since the major general diagnostic tools used in most research outlets do not include exact guidelines for many dissociative disorders, DID is mostly un-researched (Şar et al., 2009, pp. 693-708). Due to this lack of research, Anti-DID Clinicians believe there is no definitive answer on symptoms which are exclusive to DID, thus, coming up with guidelines for a diagnosis, that is not extremely similar to another, is difficult (Dorahy, et al., 2014, pp. 402-417). While there are understandable diagnostic concerns, dissociation is a term used to describe when a patient experiences a traumatic event, causing the mind to “split” (Picca et al., 1999, 404-415). This “splitting of the mind” has been found to be distinguishable to dissociative disorders, which are primarily composed symptoms that alter consciousness, affect memory, and ones identity (Kihlstrom et al., 1994, pp. 117-124). When these events split the mind, multiple personalities are created inside one body, which is not seen in patients with BPD or Schizophrenia (Dorahy, et al., 2014, pp. 402-417). Patients with DID also often show higher rates of comorbidity than schizophrenia or BPD, in fact, no study to date has shown a patient with DID, to be without at least one non-dissociative disorder (Dorahy...
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...depersonalization, or multiple personalities in the same individual. For example, a person’s sense of identity changes along with their memories, feelings, and perceptions. They experience a loss in connections or parts of their identity are buried or compartmentalized. What Causes Dissociative Disorders? These disorders are controversial and their causes are not really known. Core Concepts A temporary disruption in the normally integrated functions of memory, identity, or consciousness, leading to amnesia, feelings of depersonalization, or multiple distinct personalities in the same individual. Key Definitions Anterograde amnesia – the inability to form new memories after the condition producing amnesia occurs. Dissociation – The splitting off of a group of mental processes from conscious awareness. Depersonalization – feeling detached from the self (as if watching ). Derealization – objects suddenly change dimensions, appearance, or location (i.e, one’s home becomes unfamiliar). Identity confusion – Unsure of own identity and who one is. Identity alteration – person’s behavior suggests they have assumed a new identity. Ego-dystonic – Thoughts, affect, and behavior elements of an individual’s personality that are considered unacceptable and inconsistent with the individual’s total personality or self-identity. Fugue – a period of amnesia during which an individual appears to be conscious and makes rational decisions. The individual has...
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