The leading theory behind Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), is called Structural Dissociation and was first introduced in 2006 in a book 'The haunted self: structural dissociation and treatment of complex traumatization', written by Onno Van der Hart, Ellert Nijenhuis and Kathy Steele.
The theory states that nobody is born with one personality. We are born with several ego states that all have different purposes. These states integrate or come together to form our personality between ages 7 and 9. The only thing that can prevent this integration from occurring is a traumatic event or several traumatic events before the mind has fully integrated. When this integration doesn't occur, DID is developed.
DID is characterized by more that one identity or personality state.
According to this theory, there are 2 types of alter states. These are called ANP and EP. ANP stands for apparently normal part, and refers to alters that deal with daily life and have developed in a way that allows them to be trauma free or have better ways to cope with trauma. EP stands for emotional part, this is any alter that is highly impacted by trauma and holds on to the emotions felt at that point in time. These parts can not cope with daily tasks and can hold the most trauma. There isn't an 'original' personality.
Typically, but not always, the more complex or long lasting the trauma is, the more severe the dissociative states. There are 3 levels of structural dissociation. Primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary structural dissociation consists of one ANP and one EP. Those with Primary structural dissociation may develop PTSD, DPDR, Dissociative amnesia or simple dissociative disorders.
Secondary structural dissociation is characterized by one ANP and multiple EP parts. those with secondary structural dissociation are likely to have BPD, OSDD, C-PTSD, or other stress related disorders.
And finally, Tertiary structural dissociation is characterized by multiple ANP and EP parts. Those with this level of structural dissociation will have DID.
(IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE ON PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY DISSOCIATION LET ME KNOW)
Example: Your mind fully integrates at age 8. The only way for you to develop DID is to experience trauma before age 8. Any trauma after this can cause further splitting, but the original trauma must occur before 8 years of age. This will prevent your ego states from integrating, resulting in multiple states of consciousness.
Who is the original?
In most cases there is an alter who fronts most of the time and they are often called the 'host'. The host can change over the years and this may cause memory gaps that span over years. The host may not identify with the birth-name, age, gender, or appearance of the body. In some cases the birth-name isn't used by any of the alters. There isn't an original alter because no one is born with one personality state and those with DID where split before one was integrated.
Example: I am a DID system. I am Jen, the host and i do identify with the birth-name and body. I wasn't always the host. I know this because there are years of my life that i do not remember at all. I don't remember much at all until around age 12. I remember little tiny bits and pieces. but it is more like i was switching into front and i wasn't the one living our life until that point. I am not the original despite identifying with they body. No one is the original.
There are two ways of recovering from DID. However these will just make life easier, there is not a cure. Did systems can integrate into one singular personality state, or continue to be individual and live with functional multiplicity. There is not one way that is better than the other. Some want to be as 'normal' as possible and just want to 'get rid of' the other alters so that they can live as one person and have a fully integrated personality. Others want to learn to work together and get the most out of life as a team, rather than one state. The path chosen will depend on the trauma that occurred and the alters involved. It is important to think about both paths and get professional help with recovery.
Some health professionals believe the only way forward is to integrate. This is not the case. The mind split for a reason and if it is less painful to keep the amnesic barriers up then that may be what needs to happen. Integration doesn't mean you no longer suffer, you may even find it more challenging because all trauma memories will resurface and you then have to deal with them every day. Yes you will be 'normal' in that you have one personality state, but this means you hold everything yourself. The recovery for DID depends on the individual situation and there is no right or wrong way of healing.
For more information of structural dissociation and DID please check the links below:
Thank you so much for reading, i hope that this helped you understand more about structural dissociation and DID. Remember that i am not a professional, just someone with DID, wanting to raise awareness for the mental health community. Thank you for all your support. Keep smiling :)
Jen xx
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