I am an autistic person who is diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder.
On this site, I share my story, conceptualize my internal experience, and document my understanding of what factors shape who I am and how I experience life.
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a diagnostic label for a psychological disorder that may develop when one is subjected to repeated trauma in early childhood. This diagnostic label refers to a condition that includes both
These two distinct aspects are often conflated with one another, making DID a highly misunderstood and controversial disorder. The modern-day conceptualization of DID, which generally involves viewing oneself as having "multiple people living in the same body", is entirely influenced by the dominant cultural narrative and is only one way of interpreting complex dissociative experiences. It is crucial to recognize that despite its name, DID is not inherently a disorder of identity——it is a disorder involving severe internal compartmentalization caused by repeated early childhood trauma. However, because the diagnostic label of DID designates it as an identity disorder, individuals are inclined to interpret their internal experiences within this framework presented to them.
By sharing my own journey of living with DID, I aim to foster a deeper understanding of the disorder that transcends the often reductive and dramatic narrative of "multiple people living in the same body". I believe there are multiple ways to interpret one's internal experiences, and I do not confine my understanding to a singular framework. My goal is to differentiate between the cultural interpretation of DID and the underlying psychological realities faced by individuals living with the disorder. In doing so, I hope to encourage a more nuanced understanding of DID that honors the complexity of dissociative experiences rather than reducing them to simplistic narratives.
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a diagnostic label for a psychological disorder that may develop when one is subjected to repeated trauma in early childhood. This diagnostic label refers to a condition that includes both
- a genuine post-traumatic reaction involving severe internal detachment and compartmentalization; and
- a cultural interpretation of these experiences.
These two distinct aspects are often conflated with one another, making DID a highly misunderstood and controversial disorder. The modern-day conceptualization of DID, which generally involves viewing oneself as having "multiple people living in the same body", is entirely influenced by the dominant cultural narrative and is only one way of interpreting complex dissociative experiences. It is crucial to recognize that despite its name, DID is not inherently a disorder of identity——it is a disorder involving severe internal compartmentalization caused by repeated early childhood trauma. However, because the diagnostic label of DID designates it as an identity disorder, individuals are inclined to interpret their internal experiences within this framework presented to them.
By sharing my own journey of living with DID, I aim to foster a deeper understanding of the disorder that transcends the often reductive and dramatic narrative of "multiple people living in the same body". I believe there are multiple ways to interpret one's internal experiences, and I do not confine my understanding to a singular framework. My goal is to differentiate between the cultural interpretation of DID and the underlying psychological realities faced by individuals living with the disorder. In doing so, I hope to encourage a more nuanced understanding of DID that honors the complexity of dissociative experiences rather than reducing them to simplistic narratives.