[dogtanian]

did anybody else see this documentary? it was on this evening on channel 4 in the uk. it was about a lady with DID and it was so moving and well made. it really helped to show something to the public about a clearly non very well-researched disorder. if it's on again (these things tend to be repeated), please try to catch it, it was really good.

i don't know what else to say about it, but it made me really more aware of the disorder and feel for those people who have it. xx

[silver_queen]

Oh no! I meant to email my dad about that and make him record it so I could watch it and I totally forgot! It did sound a bit extreme though - I read that the woman had 20 caregivers or something?

[dogtanian]

yep, one who was her foster mother from age 14 (they met when pamela was in hospital, which seemed a little odd) but she'd set up a trust for her which involved 20 round the clock carers. it was very sad. i was surprised to see she appeared to be on no meds, apart from sedatives when she was aggressive.

[silver_queen]

Well, I believe there are no meds to treat DID, so unless she had another disorder or condition, she wouldn't have need of them. I'm glad there was actually a TV show on it though, because usually, I don't think that much coverage is given to it.

[nothemama8]

Yes silver there are no meds to help with DID ironic isn't it that we have so much research but nothing to help med wise for DID
Angie

[dogtanian]

ah, that would explain it!

it was a great show, it wasn't sensationalist at all

[kimmydawn]

i've not seen it nor heard about it. however, how wonderful is it that a fact-based movie has gone out that's not been so sensationalized that it's almost like watching science fiction? this is very encouraging.

thank you for sharing!

kd

[silver_queen]

Yep Kimmy - it's really good that a programme on DID was shown, I agree. I just so, so wish I had remembered to record it. Ah well - perhaps like Dogtanian says, it might be repeated - or, it might be on their website too, perhaps...

[kimmydawn]

silver, watch closely about it to see when it might be repeated. most good movies are. possibly in a while you'll be able to rent it somewhere as well?

i'd like to see it, but don't think it's offered here.

kd

[silver_queen]

I looked on their website in the hope that perhaps they were offering it to be viewed online, but that wasn't the case . They do have a bit of info about the programme though here...

Kimmy, it wasn't a film but a documentary... so it will never be available for rent, unfortunately . So the only chance I have of viewing it is if they repeat it - I don't know how likely that will be though. I can't imagine a huge number of people watching that programme.

[vulnerome]

I really wanted to see this but was in transit at the time.

Apparently those in charge of Pamela's care took out an injunction to prevent filming (and broadcast) on the basis that she was not competent to give consent to tell her story in public. Am glad that she was able to fight for her right to tell her story and that her fight was sucessful.

The story was billed as unusual, even within the realm of DID in that she, and all her alters, were fully aware of the existance of the others. That said, it must have been strange for her, or whoever was foremost at the time, to watch the programme.

[Poppet]

Hi Peeps,

I watched this programme too. Also worth noting is that Pamela had learning disabilities too, which made her life more of a struggle.

She could get aggressive at times and her main carer was often quite harsh with her (in my view) and I felt that didn't help her aggression.

I did wonder if the general public would think that all ppl with DID were all needing this much care round the clock. Which isn't the case, ppl with DID can hold down professions and bring up children, and do not all need round the clock care.

Yes, its good that the things weren't sensationalised, it was handled sensitively, the cameraman/interviewer took 2 years to gain her trust to make the film.

I know of ppl with DID who do not have outside carers. Everyone is unique and some ppl have a carer inside.

Channel 4 have a habit of repeating stuff really late at night, so I hope you get to see it Silver.

hugs to all, Poppet

[dogtanian]

also, if you have cable they often show these things again on E4.

[RhysMadison]

I live in the USA so I couldn't watch it. Seems like a very interesting feature. I wonder if they'll have it for sale on the internet one of these days. You can buy pretty much anything on the 'net.
Re: meds. Yeah, they can't have a med for DID 'cos DID isn't just one person. If there is depression thruout the system, then anti-depr. would help. But there's just too many different people. Plus if one is depressed but the one who isn't takes the med instead, there's more side effects. That's how it is for me. Depending on who's out, who ever is affected differently from the others.
I tell people to think of DID as being conjoined twins. You have 2 minds, 2 personalities, one body (well sometimes two but they are joined together so for argument's sake, just say it's one body). One wants to go left, the other right. Gotta compromise. NOW add many minds, 10,20,50 different personalities w/ one body.
If one has a headache, the other doesn't. I hope this makes sense. It's how I describe it (w/ little more detail, just don't want to make this too lengthy) to other people.
Love,
RM

[kimmydawn]

OMG, rhysmadison...what an awesome way of explaining our experience!

may i borrow that?

kd

[RhysMadison]

Thank you for the compliment KD!! I tend to make up metaphors to help my family understand what it is I'm going thru. Sure, feel free to borrow it. I'm glad you liked it!! Made my day!
Love,
RM

[Zorah]

I`ll watch out for it in Australia. We usually get them in the end. In general, this type of show annoys me totally. My older son is schizophrenic & the amount of crap that appears on film & TV about this disorder makes it harder for him to be accepted for what he is, in society.
Why do they always show the most extreme cases? at both ends of the spectrum admittedly.
I can`t help thinking this program will do no service for those of us who are DID. I have never had a carer & have passed in a work environment all my life.
They already think we`re all like Sybil in the book, how can a show like this do anything but harm to community perceptions of DID ?

[RhysMadison]

I agree Dawntreader. People tend to assume we're all just like Sybil. What I found out, people like her are very rare.
Love,
RM

[misty]

from what I understand sybil was draumitized for tv sake. Two faces of Eve same thing and her recovery was not complete from what I hear after her movie. She had more personalities. TV is tv.

[dogtanian]

dawntreader, you asked me how she had 20 carers, and how it could be afforded on the NHS. her foster mum/primary carer had set up a trust to look after her, which i assume accepts charitable donations and/or voluntary work by the carers, but i'm not sure. how she managed to acquire 20 of them wasn't explained, it was a team of them, i'm pretty sure they were on rotation, but it didn't really explain.

what it did say was that keeping her at home with carers cost the local nhs authority £500,000 per year. which is obviously a lot more than it would cost to keep her in an institution. many people i know were quite shocked by that and supposed she ought to be in an institution, but having been in an institution myself i disagree. i think being treated at home is very important.