I am doing a homework assignment for my psychology class and i had just one question about the psychological disorder that I'm working on. I was wondering, can/do different personalities in people with Dissociative Identity Disorder communicate with each other? If so, do they communicate psychologically and/or physically? If a professional psych doctor could answer my questions that would be great
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Answers
Hi averagejoe. Yes, and no. ;)
The key to healing with this disorder is to improve communication, initially. Those who do not have good communication with their other aspects often have the most disordered life. Surely there are some aspects that may not have any knowledge of being DID nor of any others within the same system.
A person with DID can learn to have a stable life without being integrated if the lines of communication are fully opened. Usually, this communication is developed through therapeutic means.
Often, someone who has lived with DID all his/her life, and has little or no knowledge of it, will begin having more difficulties as he/she becomes elderly because the system doesn't work as well in that realm. (Often, though not always, it's set up due to childhood trauma and some aspects may never age beyond the years of abuse. They will continue to act as the child they are, presenting problems for the aged person. Also, the coping mechanisms that may have saved his/her life in childhood, are no longer needed and indeed may be almost dangerous now.)
Journaling is encouraged to assist the patient with "inner" communication. For child parts, coloring, drawing, painting and the like helps them to speak their needs. It can also be an avenue to healing. Many patients with DID will also talk (orally) to "themselves," sometimes having complete conversations with two or three aspects at once.
Often communication between aspects who are present at the same time, will communicate simply through thoughts.
Co-consciousness is a term used when two or more aspects are "out" and aware of each other, at the same time.
Regarding physical communication, one aspect who remembers some things and is "present" while another is "out" can influence the physical body presenting the same malady as when they were living during those years. (Body memories.)
BTW, it has been shown that different aspects within the same person can have different blood pressures, heart rhythms, allergies and brain waves than the others.
Hope this helps some.
TC
drjean
As Jean said, oui et non. Yes and no.
It depends on certain things, and in certain times. Under stress, it is more likely for the other identities to "discuss" or "come out" with each other.
Jean pretty much has hit this one on the head.
Best,
Clyde