How Dissociative Identity Disorder Affects Daily Life and How You Can Help

For people like Tristan who cope with dissociative identity disorder every day, their reality of selfhood is different from what the rest of us typically experience. At different points throughout the day or the week or the month, they see, feel, understand, and interact with the world through more than one identity. In a way, their “alters” take turns living their life. The various identities usually have unique names, personalities, voices, interests, genders, even ways of dressing.

At some point in their past, an experience was too intense, overwhelming, or painful, and their mind adapted by withdrawing and compartmentalizing certain sensitive parts of itself. It dissociated. It was intended as a way to protect the whole person, but this coping mechanism basically ruptured a complete consciousness so that they understand themselves as being a system of various individuals. And the mind is not in a position to reintegrate these different identities without help.

Some people with DID are aware that they have this disorder and that the various versions of themselves take turns living different moments and stretches of their days. Other people are not aware of the wider perspective and live out their days confused and destabilized by this disintegration. One very important truth is that these alternate personalities are all critical aspects of the original individual. When a person is able to gain a clearer perspective and some helpful coping skills, their alters may work together as a cooperative system. One personality might be best at interpersonal skills, another at organizational skills, and another at leadership, for example. So, they can manage life situations by compartmentalizing certain responsibilities.

But it isn’t always the case that a person’s system of alters is awake and prepared enough to cooperate. If the individual isn’t even aware that they are living with this disorder, it can be extremely destabilizing to endure a rollercoaster of personalities and thoughts and behaviors. The unpredictable patterns and inability to cope can severely upset relationships, school and job opportunities, and basic life responsibilities. And an individual’s sense of self is far from grounded in this distressing scenario. They may be at risk of other problems and disorders, too, as they struggle through their days.