Multiple Personality Disorder

What is it? Multiple personality disorder describes a

condition in which a person displays multiple distinct identities or personalities (known as alter egos or alters), each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment.

Diagnosis

• At least two personalities routinely take control

• Associated memory loss that goes beyond normal forgetfulness

• Symptoms cannot be effects of drug use.

Symptoms

• Multiple mannerisms, attitudes and beliefs which are not similar to each other

• Unexplainable headaches and other body pains

• Distortion or loss of subjective time

• Depersonalization

• Severe memory loss

• Depression

Symptoms (cont’d)

• Flashbacks of abuse/trauma

• Sudden anger without a justified cause

• Frequent panic/anxiety attacks

• Unexplainable phobias

• Auditory of the personalities inside their mind

• Paranoia

Causes

Linked with

• overwhelming stress

• traumatic experiences

• insufficient childhood nurturing

• ability to dissociate experiences from consciousness

A high percentage of patients report child abuse

Treatment

• Psychotherapy

• Medication for other involved disorders.

• Behavioral treatments such as responding to only one identity.

Prognosis• Treatment is a process and may take a very long

time• Patients with mostly dissociative or posttraumatic

stress disorder symptoms usually recover.• Patients with related addictions, personality, mood,

or eating disorders usually have a longer more complicated recovery process.

• Often times consist of symptom relief rather than identity integration.

• Individuals with condition commonly attempt suicide

My personalities

• Jeff Wilcox (original identity)

• Ivan Busca

• Dougan Leonard

• Grillz

• Sarah Gray

• Vanessa Wilcox

Jeff Wilcox

• Original identity

• Abused as a child

• Paranoid

• Suffers severe memory loss

• Loves to party

Ivan Busca

• Member of the Russian mafia

• Very outgoing, yet secretive

• Tall

• Hefty

• Dark Features

• Aggressive

Dougan Leonard

• Very introverted

• Is afraid of people

• Short

• Thin

• Forever Alone

Grillz

• Is against all authority

• Gangsta

• Grew up in the Bronx

• Lady’s man

• Stylish

Sarah Gray

• Loud

• Obnoxious

• Desperate for men

• Tall

• Skinny

Vanessa Wilcox

• Jeff’s “sister”

• Seemingly normal

• Outgoing

• Loves fashion

• Boy crazy

Having Multiple Personality Disorder is terrifying. I’m always afraid of becoming another person. I’m told it stemmed from early childhood. I was sexually abused by a neighbor when I was younger.

I often wake up in unfamiliar places in strange clothing. I have no recollection of the moments before.

My family obviously knows of my disorder. They sometimes treat me like a freak. I have no reason to disagree. They usually do their best to love me though

I can’t seem to keep steady girlfriends, and only have a few friends. My friends are constantly concerned for me. They think I’ll commit suicide or make a mistake as one of my other identities.

A few of my other identities have done terrible things such as hurt others. This scares me more than anything: that I’ll do something irreparable.