Quote:
Originally Posted by amandalouise
yes it is possible to have any mental disorder including DID with out knowing you have a mental disorder. there are many people in this world that discover they have a mental disorder after their treatment provider has them go through diagnostic evaluations for mental disorders.
that said it can be normal to not remember ones early childhood. the brain is an amazing thing that does not always remember every thing. in the grand scheme of things usually what a brain will store in a persons memory is things that are important to that person. I know many people who are completely normal who do not remember their early childhood simply because things they went through just were not that important to them at the time. for example if someone living in poverties whole survival depends upon scavenging for food they will remember looking for food but they might not remember what their siblings did for playing, or what their parents were like or what they did in school in kindergarten, first or second grade. they may not remember their birthdays during the years their survival depended upon scavenging for food, getting food and eating was that persons important part of their life.
my point it for many people it can be completely normal to not remember anything from their early childhood.
not remembering childhood can also be part of medication side effects, physical health problems, stress, lack of sleep ...gosh there are so many different things including mental disorders of all kinds having memory problems can be related to.
my suggestion is go according to what ever your own treatment providers have diagnosed you with, they are the ones that can best say why you are having this memory problem and what to do about it.
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Thanks for your response and links, amandalouise. I was professionally tested last year and my diagnoses were: Cognitive Disorder, NOS in conjunction w/Dysthymic Disorder w/anxiety features, Personality Disorder, NOS w/avoidant features. My T is a PhD psychotherapist and is not the same PhD who tested me. My T (and testing psychologist) feel there was sufficient trauma to be concerned about memory and cognitive issues in general. (There were other traumas that I didn't mention that revolve around abandonment and indications that I was chosen, unconsciously, by my family to be the bearer of traumas in the family as a whole.)
My concern and my T's concern is my very dramatic reaction and anxiety whenever my T goes out of town for a weekend (though I don't miss a session) and whenever small changes occur in times or days of my appts. (which has only occurred once). My T took a week off earlier this year and I became seriously suicidal...though I had access to T by text, email or phone calls.
I understand what you are saying. I need to read the current thoughts about dissociative disorders. I've always maintained I did not suffer from DID because I remember where I go, things I do, things I buy, etc., etc. I do dissociate periodically in appts. w/T, but know that does not necessarily indicate DID. But, as of my last appt. w/T, I cannot continue to tolerate the level of fear and anxiety when T goes out of town. And I am quite attached and trusting of T, so terminating therapy would break my heart. I will most likely ask, in my next appt., if T thinks I could have dissociated those years I'm missing? (T asked early on if I might be/have DID)
Thanks, so much, again for your thoughtful response.