Table of contents:
- What is multiple personality disorder?
- Myth or fact: Demon possession can cause multiple personalities?
- Myth or fact: People with multiple personalities only seek attention
- Myth or fact: DID is a rare condition
- Myth or fact: DID is the same as Schizophrenia
- Myth or fact: Medications only make DID worse
Probably not many people know that severe trauma that a person experiences in childhood can change a person's life, even a person's personality. Often this severe trauma causes them to develop multiple personalities, aka dissociative identity disorder. Unfortunately, this mental disorder that is recognized by the medical world is still plagued by dubious myths that make sufferers even more reluctant to get help. So, which personality disorder myths are true, and which ones?
What is multiple personality disorder?
Multiple personality disorder, aka dissociative identity disorder (DID) or previously known as multiple personality disorder, is a complex psychological condition. A person with this psychological condition will have many personalities as a form of self-defense from the severe trauma he has experienced
The personality that appears can be a person with a different identity, be it name, age, gender, temperament, hobbies, and habits. And depending on each personality, each "person" in one body can have different health conditions. Each personality that emerges can also have a different style, gesture, and way of speaking because each personality will reveal who he is in his own way and will control the sufferer's behavior and thoughts. The process of changing the original personality with different personalities is called "switching", which will usually appear at a certain condition after being triggered by something.
Given the complex psychological condition of a person with personality disorders, no wonder there are many misunderstandings that arise in society. This article tries to uncover the truth behind the myths surrounding multiple personalities.
Myth or fact: Demon possession can cause multiple personalities?
Myth. The number of personalities that appear in one body often makes ordinary people think that this happens because of trance. In fact, it is clear that DID is a psychological disorder that occurs because:
- There are problems in the brain that make it difficult for them to process their bad experiences in childhood.
- The existence of severe trauma experienced by a person in childhood. Children's brains are more vulnerable than adults, because their brains are still developing. This vulnerability can increase the risk of personality disorders.
- Lack of emotional and social support when a person is badly traumatized. This "neglect" will further increase the risk of the child developing personality disorders that persist into adulthood. It will also make them more likely to "break away" as a way of dealing with trauma.
Myth or fact: People with multiple personalities only seek attention
Myth. Many people still think that people with mental disorders are attention-seeking, overbearing, or even drama queens. Logically, it seems impossible for someone to have many different personalities at one time.
This distrust is what ultimately creates a negative stigma in the sufferer, which makes them reluctant to seek help, isolates themselves from social life, and makes their condition even worse. It should be emphasized that personality disorders are real health conditions that have been recognized by the medical world and health professionals for a very long time.
Myth or fact: DID is a rare condition
Myth. Not everyone has friends / family who experience this psychological condition. However, that does not mean that personality disorders are rare conditions. Studies have even found that one to three percent of people are at risk for developing this disorder.
Myth or fact: DID is the same as Schizophrenia
Myth. Many people think that it is a personality disorder same with schizophrenia. In fact, these two things are very different. Schizophrenia is a psychological condition that causes sufferers to experience hallucinations, delusions, and / or paranoia. Often schizophrenics feel they are hearing / seeing / thinking something that is not real. Meanwhile, people with personality disorders did not experience the three things above that schizophrenics do.
Myth or fact: Medications only make DID worse
Myth. Personality disorders require a special set of medication. A person with this condition is strongly advised to consult a psychiatrist for proper treatment and care. In fact, a study has found that the proper treatment and care of DID patients can improve their psychological condition, especially to help them control the appearance of each personality in themselves.
