I just wanted to start this story off by providing you with a few articles to help you understand what my OC is facing in her every day life; a psychiatric disorder called Dissociative Identity Disorder (previously known as Split or Multiple Personality).

Dissociative Identity Disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder) is thought to be a complex psychological condition that is likely caused by many factors, including severe trauma during early childhood (usually extreme, repetitive physical, sexual, or emotional abuse).

What Is Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Dissociative identity disorder is a severe form of dissociation, a mental process which produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity.

Dissociative identity disorder is thought to stem from a combination of factors that may include trauma experienced by the person with the disorder.

The dissociative aspect is thought to be a coping mechanism -- the person literally shuts off or dissociates himself from a situation or experience that's too violent, traumatic, or painful to assimilate with his conscious self.

Who Is At Risk for DID?

Research indicates that the cause of DID is likely a psychological response to interpersonal and environmental stresses, particularly during early childhood years when emotional neglect or abuse may interfere with personality development.

As many as 99% of individuals who develop dissociative disorders have recognized personal histories of recurring, overpowering, and often life-threatening disturbances or traumas at a sensitive developmental stage of childhood (usually before age 6).

Dissociation may also happen when there has been persistent neglect or emotional abuse, even when there has been no overt physical or sexual abuse.

Findings show that in families where parents are frightening and unpredictable, the children may become dissociative. Studies indicate DID affects about 1% of the population.

How to Recognize Dissociative Identity Disorder and Its Associated Mental Disorders

Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct or split identities or personality states that continually have power over the person's behavior.

With dissociative identity disorder, there's also an inability to recall key personal information that is too far-reaching to be explained as mere forgetfulness.

With dissociative identity disorder, there are also highly distinct memory variations, which may fluctuate.

Although not everyone experiences DID the same way, for some the "alters" or different identities have their own age, sex, or race.

Each has his or her own postures, gestures, and distinct way of talking.

Sometimes the alters are imaginary people; sometimes they are animals.

As each personality reveals itself and controls the individuals' behavior and thoughts, it's called "switching."

Switching can take seconds to minutes to days. Some seek treatment with hypnosis where the person's different "alters" or identities may be very responsive to the therapist's requests.

This was something I copied from a WebMD article I found on google, since I can't put links on here. I suggest that, if you are interested in psychology, watching some of Hank Green's youtube videos because he explains things in a way that I don't find boring, as well as various other articles available to you on the interwebs.

Thank you for choosing to read this story,

Hannah, the author.