When the word - closet - is used to discribe a person it means they are not disclosing to others that they are that. for example a closet gay is a person who is gay and practicing that lifestyle but not openly for anyone and everyone by telling family friends and so on.

So add the word closet meaning not openly to the disorder

For example for over 20 plus years I was a closet dissociative Identity Disordered person. I denied to everyone even myself that I had this disorder that I had been diagnosed with. Then I entered therapy and admitted to myself and my therapist that I had been diagnosed with this disorder. But a lawyer advised my therapist and I NOT to disclose my disorder.

So for everyone else I was a closet DID - lawyers, DHS caseworkers, child's therapist, and so on. I knew I had this mental disorder but was unable to reviel to anyone outside my treatment team that I had this.

I now have a new lawyer who says I can now stop hiding that I have this. I can now come out of the closet and relax and say to anyone I want to that I have DID and this is what it is and how I am taking care of it and have been for so many years.