Q: I, myself have multiple personalities and I was curious if you experience some type of extra sensory perception or paranormal events with yourself. I would like to know if there could be a link between these two, as I experience unique abilities as randomly as "the others" come out. - Anessa
A: It depends on how you want to define extra sensory perception.
Many survivors of abuse have learned to be hypervigilant, and have learned how to read other people very well. They usually had to learn now to read the behaviors, body language, minute facial expressions, tone of voice, and other signals from their abusers in order to try to stay a step ahead of their perp. They may have also developed very strong sensory skills as part of how Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder affects the brain, making them have very good hearing, smell, taste, visions, of tactile perception.
Many people with Dissociative Identity Disorder may have parts who specialize in these perceptive skills. These parts may also have these skills be very important to their overall function and identity. For example, I have a part who has exceptional hearing, and that appears to be her main function and a large part of her identity. She listens for signals of danger, and can hear things most people miss, and then sets off an alarm for the rest of us so we can hop into action. I have another part who is skilled at reading the minuscule changes in people's body language and facial expressions to help figure out their intentions and truthfulness, and to notice when words don't march with the non-verbal cues (like the people on the tv show Lie to Me). Unfortunately she requires so much resources to do her skill that we rarely let her out anymore. Which is a shame because I really wish I had her skills!
As far as the fringes of extra sensory perception, I have met quite a few people with Dissociative Identity Disorder who believe they have parts with this skills. Some people will argue that it really all books down to just really good sensory processing, memory skills, and luck. But many believe they have parts who can discern when ghosts or evil spirits are around, or can tell ahead of time that something bad is going to happen in a place different than where they are.
I have had some experiences with knowing things, like that someone is about to be in a car wreck or about to die, when they weren't even in the same state as I was. My grandmother also had that ability, but she would often not be able to tell who was going to have the disaster so she would call way too many people to warn them. That ability scares me and I try to avoid it.
I'm not sure how the brain develops differently with children who develop Dissociative Identity Disorder. I don't know how the brain develops differently in people who has psychic abilities, who are empaths, or who have other types of extra sensory perception. But I do think people with DID might have a better chance of maintaining a skill, because of the dissociation process, that otherwise they might have disowned or "grown out of" if they had not become DID. I think many children are innately more perceptive and skilled in sensory processing and awareness (like reading emotions and truthfulness in adults). But they are trained to give up this skills because "it's not nice" to call out an adult for lying, or to keep bugging Mommy to find out why she's in a bad mood when she's trying to tell you everything is fine.
I also think people with DID may understand and accept that there is a lot more in this world than just what we can see and put into words. Our minds are so full of things that feel so real, that we can't put into words, that others can't see... but we hold them to be true. I think that's why a lot of people with Dissociative Identity Disorder can be highly creative, can be strong believers in a spiritual world, and can be willing and able to experience the intangible and unexpected (like paranormal or spiritual gifts).
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Friday, September 02, 2011
Do people hide DID/MPD?
Q: Do people with multiple personality try to hide it? - Anon
A: For a large percentage of the time, for a very large majority of the people who have Dissociative Identity Disorder, the answer is YES! There are several reasons.
1. Early on, they may not realize they have anything unique or different about themselves. They may assume all people have the same experiences. So they may not tell anyone.
2. In childhood, adults expect (naturally so) that kids will create imaginary playmates, wild stories, and my act out different role playing or identities. This is all a normal part of development. So the early signs of Dissociative Identity Disorder may be mistaken as normal play.
3. Many survivors of abuse and trauma learn to cope with their trauma by learning to ignore it. They avoid memories, avoid triggers that might bring up those memories, and distance themselves from the emotions too. If they are aware that the Dissociative Identity Disorder exists, they may ignore it because they know it's a symptom of the trauma. To avoid the DID is another way of "acting normal" after something very abnormal happened.
4. Some survivors were threatened that if they told people of the abuse that very bad things would happen to them or to loved ones. Hiding the alters becomes important then because if people see them they will ask questions, and those questions may lead to very dangerous truth.
5. Shame is a powerful motivator. People who carry the shame of their abuse may also feel shame towards their Dissociative Identity Disorder, too. They may be afraid of the judgements people might make if they knew. They may be afraid of losing friends, family, spouses, jobs, even the custody of their children.
6. They may not think their DID is important or a vital part of who they are. Many Multiples go through a period in recovery where they want people to know about the Dissociative Identity Disorder. But they also go through a later period of recovery where they want to be known for their other aspects, talents, interests, quirks, etc. DID becomes just one small part of the whole picture of who they see themselves to be.
7. They may not know they have Dissociative Identity Disorder. Some of the alters know, but they may be protecting themselves and others inside by keeping the knowledge a secret. They may also not know how to reach the other alters yet to communicate.
A: For a large percentage of the time, for a very large majority of the people who have Dissociative Identity Disorder, the answer is YES! There are several reasons.
1. Early on, they may not realize they have anything unique or different about themselves. They may assume all people have the same experiences. So they may not tell anyone.
2. In childhood, adults expect (naturally so) that kids will create imaginary playmates, wild stories, and my act out different role playing or identities. This is all a normal part of development. So the early signs of Dissociative Identity Disorder may be mistaken as normal play.
3. Many survivors of abuse and trauma learn to cope with their trauma by learning to ignore it. They avoid memories, avoid triggers that might bring up those memories, and distance themselves from the emotions too. If they are aware that the Dissociative Identity Disorder exists, they may ignore it because they know it's a symptom of the trauma. To avoid the DID is another way of "acting normal" after something very abnormal happened.
4. Some survivors were threatened that if they told people of the abuse that very bad things would happen to them or to loved ones. Hiding the alters becomes important then because if people see them they will ask questions, and those questions may lead to very dangerous truth.
5. Shame is a powerful motivator. People who carry the shame of their abuse may also feel shame towards their Dissociative Identity Disorder, too. They may be afraid of the judgements people might make if they knew. They may be afraid of losing friends, family, spouses, jobs, even the custody of their children.
6. They may not think their DID is important or a vital part of who they are. Many Multiples go through a period in recovery where they want people to know about the Dissociative Identity Disorder. But they also go through a later period of recovery where they want to be known for their other aspects, talents, interests, quirks, etc. DID becomes just one small part of the whole picture of who they see themselves to be.
7. They may not know they have Dissociative Identity Disorder. Some of the alters know, but they may be protecting themselves and others inside by keeping the knowledge a secret. They may also not know how to reach the other alters yet to communicate.
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