The Rise of Public Attention to Dissociative Identity Disorder

People have been fascinated by the concept of multiple personality disorder ever since American psychologist Morton Prince, MD, Ph.D. first wrote “The Dissociation Of Personality” in 1906.  For decades following, cases of multiple personality disorder were sporadically diagnosed but it wasn’t until the 1970s that attention about the disorder came to the general public through books and films like “Sybil” and “The Three Faces of Eve”.

With differing opinions about diagnosis and treatment from established medical authorities, the origin of these puzzling cases remained largely a mystery. Many individuals with multiple personality disorder were misdiagnosed with schizophrenia and many were subjected to extreme treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy, as was Lillian in “Lillian, A True Story of Multiple Personality Disorder”.

Following the end of the Vietnam War, curiosity about dissociation as a psychological state grew significantly with the rise of service men and women who were manifesting a cluster of symptoms known today as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For these individuals, dissociation became their primary psychological defense against the trauma of war.  Soldiers reported terrifying flashbacks, amnesia, depression, hyper-vigilance, episodes of explosive anger, loss of time and out of body experiences. However those afflicted did not report a loss of identity, much less having more than one personality.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder, as Multiple Personality Disorder is more commonly referred to today, is the brain’s reaction to trauma that occurs in childhood before a child’s identity has been fully formed, typically before the age of five.  Unlike those returning from war whose identity was formed before their trauma occurred, Dissociative Identity Disorder occurs when children experience trauma before they have language and before they are capable of protecting themselves physically and emotionally.

For these individuals, dissociation becomes a lifelong way of coping.

Early Childhood Trauma

The majority of adults with DID are typically subjected to ongoing trauma throughout their childhood and in response form two or more personalities. Each personality holds the memories, emotions and bodily sensations associated with the trauma experienced, thereby protecting the core self from reliving the trauma state.

Lillian was one of those children. She was horribly abused sexually, emotionally, and physically by family members and members of her community. As a self-protective response, Lillian developed 22 personalities, each with his or her own identity, name, age, interests, aptitude, physicality and trauma history.

When first hospitalized in 1979 following a suicide attempt, Lillian was completely unaware of having other personalities. Indeed, Lillian mystified her psychiatrist by making a complete recovery from suicidal depression in only four days. Was it recovery or was it another personality that took control, exhibiting a well-functioning woman who was not depressed, much less suicidal?

In upcoming blogs, I’ll share more details about Lillian’s Dissociative Identity Disorder. Lillian’s personalities each have their own layered story to tell in the unraveling of Lillian’s recovery. 

Each personality has their own story

In future blogs, you’ll meet six-year-old Amy who loved to draw with crayons and play the piano. You’ll get to know 16-year-old Sarah Ann who endured severe sexual abuse in the name of exorcism by a self-proclaimed reverend associated with a religious sect. You will meet Jackie, who fervently believed Lillian was possessed by demons and repeated tried to murder her, an action perceived by doctors to be suicide attempts. You’ll learn about Lucy and Robin Jean who constantly battled each other for the affections of Jimmy,  Lillian’s husband.

After writing “Lillian, A True Story of Multiple Personality Disorder” I began to learn about more cases and stories that compelled me to further explore the extraordinary lives of people with Dissociative Identity Disorder. I look forward to sharing these stories and more with you in upcoming blogs.

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