How to answer the question, "Is DID a real thing?"
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- čas přidán 9. 05. 2024
- In this video from The CTAD Clinic, Dr Mike Lloyd (Clinic Director) outlines a way of answering the question , 'is DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) even a real thing. A subscriber asked Mike to answer this, and he goes through five ways of answering this question.
#dissociativeidentitydisorder #did
Thank you for validating DID as a therapist and a professional. It is so hard to get treatment from individuals when they don't believe your even real.
You are most welcome, we have to do what we can.
Thanks for this. Although I’ve been diagnosed, I sometimes have a hard time believing DID is real and just think I’m delusional. You give such clear reasons. I’ll be saving this one to rewatch on doubting days.
We fall into that repeatedly. It's easier to go into denial or believe we're "delusional" rather than face the truth of the things that happened to cause the D.I.D.
I struggle with this too, particularly as new parts come out and give me names like Butterfly and Bluey. No wonder I think I am making them all up but fortunately for me I have the most wonderful psychologist who has worked with many people who have been diagnosed with DID and she keeps reminding me that my parts are indeed REAL.
@@millydaisy29 We had an alter named Butterfly too! Another one was named Little Yellow Feet. LOL
Very useful! Thank you! I’ve been in the mental healthcare system since I was 11. Nobody even considered DID until I was 26. Prior to that, I was accused of being a manipulative mastermind, due to changing behaviors that weren’t acknowledged as DID. I was blamed for 15 years for a disorder I didn’t know I had because no treatment team believed in it, so it was never even a consideration. This lead to so much mistreatment in psych hospitals. It really affected me (and still does).
That’s why I’m grateful you are here as an expert telling the world the truth. Misdiagnosis can have real and damaging effects. I was so confused for so many years, thinking I was just horrible (like some doctors said) because they were trying to fit my symptoms into the wrong diagnoses. It was a real Alice in Wonderland kind of situation. Thanks, again. 😊
Same! I finally got the proper diagnosis 2 years ago at age 56. I had to get out of the mental health system and I got off all meds 16 years ago. This is what allowed us to start making connections in our system and start healing.
I have been told I am lying and faking the blackouts.
@@annemurphy8074 cheers to you i was diagnosed at the same age although i knew about it long before , i had a great doctor; sadly he passed away in 2021 but he taught us how we can do IFS therapy for ourselves, Not easy but it does work.
@@alysmarcus7747 I'll check that out, thanks. Glad you had a good doctor. So many people don't get adequate help.
Interesting that MRI can reveal a persons DID so to speak. Would love to hear more on that 💙👊. Thank you Dr. Mike
i second this
Third!
Therapists always frame DID, or OSDD as “everybody has parts of ourselves.” Do they do this as a protection mechanism for the client or is it because they just don’t know any better?
Everyone does have parts, you have a persona for going to work, another for hanging out with your friends, another for your family etc. The difference is in DID those parts can take over the body independently from eachother, these parts may not know the other parts exist, they might not share memories with eachother so "you" may be completely unaware of what happened to you and things you've done just yesterday, but it's a condition of avoidance so you just think oh, nothing eventful could have happened yesterday as I can't remember much of it. In actuality you would tell yourself that and get on with your version of your life even if the day before another part of you had been winning a rally race or discovering the cure for cancer.
Unfortunately it's a real life stealer too.
Yep it's wrecked my life lol
Yes.
I definitely believe it exists. I’ve lived through nightmares of wrong treatments for almost two decades that nearly killed me several times. It’s a very painful condition. I hope I can receive proper treatment now. Thank you for sharing. (I live in Denmark)
This is really helpful. My girlfriend has encountered doctors and even a therapist or two that don't believe its a real thing. It took forever just to convince her family it was real, and sometimes I doubt they really believe it.
People who don't think it's real go a little far at times. It's actually scary.
Oh wow. Brilliant video. Again.
I have heard from every type of mental health professional that dissociative identity disorder isn’t real. And that I don’t have it.
Quite happy to be wrong if it isn’t what fits.
But at 36, really tired of the diagnosis and medication rollarcoastar, and not being believed when I say something is different to what they say or doesn’t fit. And being told I’m the one that’s got it wrong. (yet in the same breath some of them say “you are the expert on you…”???? Make it make sense”)
There really is no sense denying this condition, but yet, so many still do.
Thank you for this explanation. I was diagnosed about 8 years ago. I'm 61, (18, 10, 5, 3 and a newborn) now. 😂 The MRI is an amazing reference! I'd live to see actual images of them!
We're having a rough Spring/Summer transition. 😔 This video came at a good time, believe it or not.
This is very useful. I was diagnosed two years ago. The understanding received was second to none. I have now been passed to another psychologist who has pretty much knocked all previous records out the window. I quote " i shall diagnose you " end quote.
💔
I reckon we've all felt it's not a Real Thing at times!
This video was excellent!! Thank you! I hate it when people think it doesn't exist. It's so invalidating. Just being able to recall what you said in this video will be so helpful. Thank you!
This is an incredibly helpful video from the perspective of someone that is plural but unfortunately lives somewhere that treatment and diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder is something very hard to find. Love this channel!
Deniers may struggle with *their* own private demons, and want to act-out "against" the thoughts ( the human clients, or their own memories ).
Yes, it is.
The end lol 😂😂😂😂😂😂
That would have been a far easier video to make!!
Plurality has existed for all of human history and many plural systems exist, without the pathology. In every culture outside the christ blinded colonial sphere people have known about it and it's a vast and varied thing
Ironically our country (UK) still doesn't really fully accept it on a grand scale especially up north. I'm yet to meet anyone who even really recognises it. Like everyone kinda just nods there heads and tip toes around tge issue rather than ever confronting it no wonder we never come out anymore so little in our own country it's kinda ridiculous considering we are meant to be great and ahead in a lot of stuff yet our NHS lags behind looking sorry for it's self.
And good luck getting a diagnosis on the NHS. One: the official diagnostic tool costs too much and they consider the money would be better spent elsewhere; and two if they do diagnose you they have to treat you, and given 1:1 therapy is the main treatment, that's too expensive for many NHS areas. So it makes sense to avoid DID altogether, and hope 6 weeks of group CBT gets you back on track.
Re MRI scan
When I was in psychiatric hospital for nine months every one was sent for an MRI shortly after admission to rule out any biological conditions. Mine was the only one during my stay that I know of that was abnormal. It was quite scary being called in to healthcare and being told that the results showed abnormalities. They couldn’t explain the nature of the abnormality so suggested I was questioned on MS symptoms. I had and still have no symptoms of MS.
It’s only now I’m wondering if it was the mystery of my since diagnosis of DID Fascinating!
Well, you never know. Childhood trauma impacts the brain, we are seeing the physical effects of that.
Thankyou for this. those are five pretty powerful - yes, we said so. 🙂
Dr Mike thank you for this post. Could you do another one explaining in laymen's terms the research around MRI scans showing differences between the brains of those of us with DID and those who don't have the disorder. I found this new knowledge so encouraging - that there is physical proof that we aren't making it up.
As a system, we thank you ❤
I would love to hear more about the neuroscience of dissociation and DID. I only have a very basic understanding of what happens neurologically.
Check out Simone Reinders work!
Thanks for that, a lot of DID non believers say it's all a hallucination, stress, imagination, made up and many other hurtful and harmful things. The argument on how it is in DSM/ICD and is very helpful!!!
Is there tips on how to deal with medical professionals who only believe DID is real if they see physical signs of switching?
Can you talk about medication and dissociative disorders? Specifically the use of antipsychotics.
I still have not been diagnosed or anything, sure it is what i have going on. The way i have come to describe it to myself is like a pie chart. You can either argue that the "pie" does not exist, it is not a real pie, you cannot eat it etc. Or you can look at what it means which is a clear way to get display and make sense of certain things. My brain sees it this way and it is how it makes sense of it. The "existence" of the pie is irrelevant.
Thank you Dr. Lloyd.
You are very welcome!
Another great video, thank you sir for talking about this in great detail. 😊
Thank you!
Thank you!
Great video 💪🏻
Thank you 🙌
Thank you so much for this video.
Dr Mike, Could you please do a video about the commonly used words for OSDD/DID? Ie, "system", "alter", "switching", "we", etc?
For example... and please correct me if I'm wrong... Isn't "alter" just a shortened way to say "alternative state"? And isn't "system" a term that was adapted from the "Internal Family Systems" model?
It would be helpful to have a resource from a professional to discuss the use of this basic vocabulary (understanding, of course, that the use of these words is up to individual/system preference). There are some who are against the use of these words, and we find this confusing because you use them in all of your videos (and most, if not all, systems with a longstanding online presence use these words as well).
We know you get a lot of requests for topics... Apologies for another to add to the list.
Thank you all so much for everything that you and the entire clinic do.
It’s a good idea, though people can use these terms in a variety of creative and interesting ways. I prefer asking each how and why they use it in that way!
@thectadclinic Yes, it is always interesting and fun to see how different people refer to their systems and alters, like, headmates, teammates, etc. Those are all interesting and creative and fun to see.
But the main concern we were asking about is when systems are bullied and shamed for using any of these words at all. Some say these kinds of words are harmful and prevent healing. Some say these words are only used by "fakers". So we were wondering if there could be a resource to provide that could explain the origins and meanings of these words.
Interesting video thank you. 🙏
Can I ask, does all you said in the video pertain to OSDD also?
I find OSDD info even harder to come across generally - it's not even heard of by the general public (at least DID is by some).
It's hard having a diagnosis which doesn't even explain what it is in the title 😢
It absolutely would be the same for OSDD, though I think less people really understand that, as you say.
@thectadclinic thank you... that kind of blows my mind! Really important video, thank you for sharing 🙏
Would it be possible in future videos, if not too much bother, to include OSDD in the actual video discussion (talking) where something applies to both DID and OSDD? I only ask because sometimes I'm unsure what is relevant to OSDD and what's not, just because DID is more readily referenced. I know other videos do add in OSDD for discussion sometimes, but some don't. And when they don't, I wonder whether the info/ video is relevant to me (having OSDD) or not? Thank you and hope that's not rude tu ask!
@@Beanbot4094 I agree. OSDD is more common yet it's mentioned far less. I suffer from OSDD and I'm always trying to get clarification on the level of overlap when DID is being discussed.
@terrapreta1 yes it's a hard diagnosis to have because it's not discussed generally out there - there's much more on DID e.g on CZcams / general info sheets etc. I feel constantly like I'm waiting and observing quietly in the background just observing others talk about things from a DID perspective and taking what I can from it, but it doesn't feel right either, because that's not my diagnosis. Almost feels like OSDD is less important in some ways. I know it's not, but the whole dynamic around the lack of info and it not being talked about in it's own right (to the extent of DID) keeps me feeling stigmatised and silenced about it. Does it mean it's a harder diagnosis to discuss openly? Does it mean it's less impactful than DID? I just wonder why, if more people have OSDD why it's not focused on a bit more?
And just to be clear, I'm not having a dig at anyone with DID or those who do amazing education on both OSDD and DID! It's just my experience on the internet - OSDD is much less discussed!!
I do not have DID but I’ve constructed the opinion that since its symptoms are a collection of pretty common, verifiable trauma responses, “if it exists,” it’s simply an unusually severe combination of responses, experienced chronically enough that one’s thinking patterns have been organized around living that way and optimizing. Nothing is actually “wrong,” it’s just a trauma outcome. It shouldn’t be so mysterious or shocking when compared to other conditions like personality disorders which basically assert the same thing.
You probably haven't seen people with DID.
They don't just believe they have different personalities. The alters *genuinely* have different personalities, who are non-superficial.
Woah I need this kind of video but for ritual and/or organized abuse of children... Cause people dont believe this exists
Define “real”.
An MRI scan, that's finally 🙌 a way to scientifically prove/disprove DID even exists.
I'm in the UK, how would I go about requesting another MRI scan?
I had one done back in 2002 because I was in psychosis and they also did a test for epilepsy but they both came back clear.
I was diagnosed with bipolar in 2014 and then schizoaffective disorder during lockdown.
I just know that the DSM symptoms for Schizoaffective do not account for the other symptoms I've experienced since very early childhood.
I have clear memories of times and places it felt surreal and like an out of body experiences...Its such a strange feeling and so difficult to describe...It feels like I'm in constant psychosis but I know its not that....
I remember aged 40 years old sitting at my workplace as a receptionist and suddenly wondering "what the hell am I doing here" and finishing my shift on auto pilot then had to quit my job....I then had what I would describe as a "nervous breakdown" after.
Also on a driving lesson....this is why I am unable to drive due to the level of constant concentration required. I once recall sitting in the driving seat and totally forgetting what I was doing there and how to even drive...I've crashed a car since on a lesson with my ex partner and know I'm not safe to drive so gave up...😆🙈
Thank you for your continued work and support.
I very much doubt you would get such a scan for this, it was done within the context of a research trial. Even if you did, it would be highly unlikely the radiologist would know what to read for.
Hey we have questions about journaling as a system, like what to add what to write egc egc. We know it can help with communication and thats something we want but dont have the tools right now for therapy.
For tips on system communication, these DID Systems have extremely helpful CZcams channels:
Multiplicity and Me, Infinity System, Entropy System, Mage System
I was watching a video just the other day where they were saying its made up. At least one was a therapist apparently 🙄
Oops, thank you for the video btw haha
What can I say or give people to read when people talk about DID and BPD being the same thing?
I understand you’re passionate, Mike, about your work- But, please stop hitting your desk!!!
(From 1minute in.)
I don’t want to have to stop watching your videos but my nervous system can’t take the thumps on the desk.😵💫
Thank you. ✌️
Not something I was even aware I was doing until too late…
Psychology refuses to incorporate neurobiology
Not at all, as a profession we have a healthy interest in neurobiological processes, as well as neuropsychology being a very well respected specialty.
@@thectadclinic I should have been more specific; in my state in the US, specifically state funded clinics and mental/behavioral health hospitals, DID is very much disregarded. I’ve worked in the field 10+ years and it took me over a year to find any resources, none of which were covered by the state.
Your channel is one of the first resources I found to help me learn more about DID/OSDD and I can’t thank you enough. I’ve learned a great deal about the differences in care between the US vs UK etc., varying types of OSDD, and that the DSM maybe shouldn’t be as highly regarded as I once thought (I used to refer to it as my Bible).
I’ve noticed a correlation of DID symptoms and clients with a dual diagnosis of BPD and Bipolar. While I don’t have the degree to diagnose my clients, I’m at least able to take a closer look at behaviors and ask better questions in an effort to better assist clients.
Thank you for continuing to make videos!!
You are welcome, though many in the UK also don’t, even very scientific ones. The picture is greatly improving here, slowly!
I wish it wasnt real....
It’s hard for me to believe I just think someone trying to be different ion understand this ain’t no way someone just changes personality 😭😭
Next do Tourette Syndrome.
1111 ❤
That's it? You're not going to address criticisms of it and how you'd respond to that? I get the feeling you're too deeply invested in DID to see clearly, eg. you're either mistaken or outright lying about it being the same across different cultures. In some cultures the switch only happens after a period of sleep which apparently correlates with the depiction of the disorder in those countries. In other cultures, it manifests more in the form of possession and is sometimes given a different label because of that. Why don't you mention these things? Why don't you mention the alleged iatrogenic influences? Why don't you mention the influence of TikTok and the sensationalisation and glorification of disorders like these?
I'm personally undecided despite my own similar experiences, but if your goal was to help your viewers defend DID, you're setting them up for failure by not addressing the counterpoints they'll eventually come across, you're only taking a one-sided biased approach and acting like it's enough to convince people when it's not, it's far from it. Homosexuality used to be in those diagnostic manuals too btw, just because it's there now doesn't mean it's going to stay there, science may eventually decide they were wrong to include it. Controversy already exists around DID in the psych community as it is, and it's weird that you just brush it aside. As recently as last year I had a psychiatrist immediately dismiss my "possible DID" diagnosis from a specialist, a specialist who was just as biased as you seem to be in giving me that label despite not actually seeing what she was looking for in our sessions. Which is actually another point of contention - are DID specialists overrepresented in diagnosing the condition because they're the only ones who can recognise it, or are they overrepresented due to them wanting so badly to see it that they'll misinterpret or exaggerate any small thing, like a hammer seeing everything as a nail?
It frustrates me so much that both sides of this are so lacking in nuance. I clearly don't have full blown DID but I do have unexplained and uncomfortable issues with a lot of similarities that I've been told is dissociation, and what I really need is the sensible middle ground to help me work out what's going on, not bias on both sides where neither's advice is of any use to me!
Singlets I stg
Dude, we were 35 when we finally got diagnosed with ADHD. Getting anything else is like... I dunno, see you in next 35 years? 😂
We're chronically not listened to, believed in..
Getting migraine meds took years and years too. And they don't always even work! There's just this horrible pain at the behind the eye and we just... Survive it when ever it starts. It's "just a migraine" and the meds should work.
Like, why we're not believed in? And it makes me believe at times that I'm just bonkers crazy for making up a pain. Talking to myself with just very imaginary rich conversations, since I'm just ADHDer.
I dunno.. I just drive this weird biomecha I live in, with bunch of others and we live in a world, within a world and sometimes I just wish I could write it all down to somewhere, because it's all like a book or a movie! And the biomecha has it's own quirks and issues and all.
I'm just tired, nevermind me babbling.