There's a lot of stigma surrounding this disorder to the point where it's not even accepted as a legitimate illness to even doctors and psychiatrists. (Despite research proving and providing evidence that it is, in fact, legitimate.)

To attempt to debunk some of these misconceptions, I have decided to do a little chapter all about the "myths," if you will, concerning DID.

I will have a link to the website from which I found my information in the comments section, as well as helpful videos at the end.

Link here ☞

1. ᴅɪᴅ ɪs ᴠᴇʀʏ ʀᴀʀᴇ

In fact, DID studies show that it is common in as many as 1% of the general population.

That may not seem like a large amount, however the DID prevalence is astonishingly high.

Some studies show a diagnosis of DID in as many as 6% of patients in a clinical setting. (All highly traumatized.)

It's believed by many that there are far more people who may be affected by DID and do not know it, due to not being diagnosed. (It can be difficult to identify DID in a patient, especially if only one alter is presenting to the doctor.)

2. ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅɪᴅ ᴀʀᴇ ᴠɪᴏʟᴇɴᴛ

This might be a bit shocking, but all those movies such as Split featuring "DID" characters? They are wrong.

Sorry, to burst your bubble if you enjoy such movies, but they are incredibly inaccurate and, frankly, disrespectful to the DID community.

There is absolutely no link between increased violence/crimes and people with DID. They are no more violent than the average person.

This myth especially needs to be put to an end, as it does nothing but encourage unnecessary fear for the ignorant and furthers the stigma about people with DID, further isolating them from the rest of society.

People with DID may not be any more violent than the average person, HOWEVER, someone with DID is actually MORE likely to be a VICTIM of violence.

DID is a trauma based illness, usually linking to a traumatic event suffered during childhood. People with DID are more likely to be re-traumatized and abused by multiple people during their lifetime.

Please, do not disrespect them by adding to this stigma and complying to the myth that they are vicious! It is not true!

3. ᴅɪᴅ ɪs ᴀ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ ᴅɪsᴏʀᴅᴇʀ

I can see where some of the confusion for this one comes from. DID use to be referred to as "multiple personality disorder."

This, however, is an incorrect term, hence the name change to Dissociative Identity Disorder.

DID and personality disorders are, in fact, two SEPARATE mental health conditions.

In the DSM-5 DID is actually categorized as a DISSOCIATIVE disorder. These involve loss of contact with oneself, and they tend to start during childhood.

PERSONALITY disorders, however, are characterized by a fixed pattern of personality traits that interfere with a person's capability of leading a stable life.

See? Big difference.

4. ᴅɪᴅ ᴀɴᴅ sᴄʜɪᴢᴏᴘʜʀᴇɴɪᴀ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ

This is another REALLY big difference. If you don't know much about either mental illness, you might think they seem pretty similar.

They are not. Not even close. They aren't even related disorders.

The misconception happens when one focuses only on part of the SYMPTOMS rather than the disorder as a whole.

So, what is the difference then? I think I'll have a chapter focusing more in depth on this question later, but for now let's see the basic difference.

DID is (to reiterate) a DISSOCIATIVE disorder when two or more completely formed individuals co-exist inside one body.

Schizophrenia is, however a PSYCHOTIC disorder (no people with schizophrenia are not inherently violent people either) in which people can experience extreme delusions and hallucinations.

Big, big, big difference.

5. ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴀʀᴇɴ'ᴛ sᴛᴜᴘɪᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴠ/ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇ ʀᴇᴘʀᴇᴄᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴs ᴀʀᴇɴ'ᴛ ᴀᴄᴄᴜʀᴀᴛᴇ.

To that I will ask you this: have you ever known anyone to use that much common sense?

I know that doesn't convey the professional tone I'm supposed to have, but it's an honest question.

In my short 21 years on this earth, I've come to realize that some people can just be down right, in the words of the British, thick.

Unless it's specifically stated that it is not an accurate representation, people probably will take your word for gospel... And even then some people will completely miss it...

The media as actually created A LOT of confusion regarding DID. As stated before in myth number 2, people tend to think those with DID are dangerous and more susceptible to violent outbursts.

Again using 2017's movie Split as an example, the media tends to get some aspects, like Split correct; however a majority is INCORRECT.

I have not seen this movie myself, but I have heard the symptoms, as they are with many other movies and shows as well, are extremely exaggerated or even completely made up.

This is bad because even when one takes information from movies/tv shows with a grain of salt, they still internally believe the falsehoods that are conveyed in the media.

Reiterating my point from myth 2 again, this discourages people with DID to not live their lives and forces them into hiding their illness and not seek treatment. Incorrect portrayal in the media is extremely disrespectful and discouraging.

As this part is getting particularly long, I will talk more about how to correctly write a DID character in a later chapter.

6. ᴅɪᴅ ɪs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴏʙᴠɪᴏᴜs

As previously stated in myth 1, it can be difficult to identify when someone has DID. It is very difficult to diagnosis.

Researchers found on average a person will have up to four misdiagnoses before correctly being diagnosed with DID. A person may spend 12 or more years in the mental health system before this diagnosis is given.

There are many factors contributing to this. As stated before, if one alter is presenting to the doctor only then they may not know.

Also, patients don't typically seek help for this disorder, instead seeking help for the SYMPTOMS of the disorder that disrupt their daily routines.

These symptoms may include mood dysregulation or constant fatigue.

Patients may also seek help for childhood trauma but be unaware of their dissociative identities.

The difficulty identifying this disorder can also be due to the difficulty identifying the symptoms, especially in outpatient settings. The most obvious symptom -- multiple alters -- may not be brought into the light unless a switch occurs during a session of therapy.

As I said before beginning this chapter, even in the medical field DID isn't always taken as seriously as it should be. This is another reason for misdiagnoses.

7. ᴅɪᴅ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟ.

Ah, yes. This is the one y'all have been waiting for isn't it? The biggest stigma of them all, the largest falsehood one could possibly come across.

Denial.

Well, I'm pretty sure I've said it before but in case it didn't stick, I'll say it once more for the people in the back.

DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER IS A REAL THING, FOLKS!

Research backs this claim. It supports and confirms the existence and validity of DID. Shocking I know.

Guides to help diagnosis DID properly are emerging and structured interviews have been found to identify symptoms correctly and successfully.

Researches have used scientifically sound measures to find proof of DID around the world. Failure to recognize the validity of DID discourages and prevents people with DID from getting and seeking out treatment.

Videos debunking DID myths :