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 sensationalized 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 dissociative experiences shaped by the diagnostic classification of DID and the internal reality of how those experiences truly manifest. I draw inspiration from thinkers both within and beyond the field of dissociative disorders, including William James, Ian Hacking, Pierre Janet, Erving Goffman, Philip Bromberg, and Elizabeth Howell.
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 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 sensationalized 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 dissociative experiences shaped by the diagnostic classification of DID and the internal reality of how those experiences truly manifest. I draw inspiration from thinkers both within and beyond the field of dissociative disorders, including William James, Ian Hacking, Pierre Janet, Erving Goffman, Philip Bromberg, and Elizabeth Howell.