Which are you? A multiple or DID?

A multiple is an individual that has alters or parts of any level... and they can deal with life on life terms effectively not needing professional help. One can also call them “high functioning”. Yes?

A person with DID is an individual that has alters or parts of any level...and they effectively can’t deal with life on life terms. One can also call them “disabled”. Yes?

People claim that they are one or the other.... Which would you consider your system to be and why...even if you are riding the fence. Are you in treatment or not....and how is that going?

I was just wondering. I consider us more a multiple in most matters...but when it comes to relationships and social situations...it is very much more a disability....

So we are on the fence.

Where is the fine line between functioning and nonfunctioning?

According to the government....if you can work and pay your bills....you aren’t disabled even though you can’t remember 5 minutes ago.

We want treatment....but can’t ever remember to start looking for one.

I have DID but I am definitely not disabled. I do not have any trouble functioning in life or my job. I process all my issues in therapy and deal with them in sessions. I guess you could just say I am a multiple. I just prefer saying I have DID. Its just a label, just a word, and neither means much to me.I am in therapy and its going well. Years ago every day was a bad day. But these days, its rare for me to even have a bad hour. Most days are good days.

The fence...? Probably more in the multiple category? We are not diagnosed with DID or DDNOS at this point as treatment began for bipolar disorder and eating disorders but we have opened up to our psychiatrist recently about 'us' and slowly processing previously blocked out past traumas that started surfacing. I suppose I'd say that we function externally quite well, we are married with children and a job but we do suffer horribly internally and struggle A LOT to try and keep these outside things together - only a few of us ever front and different parts of us are more capable in different areas than others and 'hold the fort' accordingly ie- one doesn't like our husband or children very much so that can be a big problem at times. We don't black out completely very much at all (that we know of), its mostly a co-con situation between the fronters and the ones that don't, we will all answer to the bodies name (although some hate it passionately) even though the 'original' by that name is rarely around anymore. There is general awareness that a situation happened when another was fronting but no detailed memories of it - a bit like retelling a story overheard in a crowded restaurant. It's hard to explain...

Suzi

I, personally, cannot label myself either one. I know beyond a doubt that I have a dissociative disorder but other than that I cannot say. I have not gotten to a professional who is trained enough to help me find out. In most instances I know from recovered memories that my other sides are not that different from me. They may be a little more out-goiing than me. They may be alittle more comfortable around strangers than me. They may act-out more often than me. One may act more like my mentally ill mother. One may act more like my abusive older brother. The differences are not severe enough for other people, laymen, to see the difference. I try to explain to people that they have to look for memory loss to tell if I have switched into another state around them.

I am me with many many different parts. I dont subscribe to the "MH" labels or definitions. Circumstances created my different parts. I am not "disabled" not "disordered". I personally find both of those offensive but that is just me that doesnt make them right or wrong for anyone else. I am beyond fortunate that I have the living situation that I do so whoever needs or wants to be out is not a problem. Just my 2 cents worth

I am curious about where you got these "definitions" from? I have never seen either of them described that way. As far as I know people with DID used to be called "multiple" because the name of the disorder back them was multiple personality disorder. But now it is referred to as Dissociative identity disorder instead. My guess is people who were diagnosed before the changeover might refer to themselves as "multiple" but I have never seen that as denoting the person to have multiple parts but be high functioning. Equally I think people who are diagnosed with DID can be either high functioning or low functioning or anywhere in between.

I say I have DID because that is what I am diagnosed with. However I have always held a job and been able to support myself and I have never been in hospital. I consider myself to be high functioning even though I definitely do have a disorder that seriously impacts certain areas of my life.

I'd like to add that I see myself as psychologically injured rather than as having a mental illness. I have a psychological injury due to trauma.

This from Amyjay.

I'd like to add that I see myself as psychologically injured rather than as having a mental illness. I have a psychological injury due to trauma.

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For me, I can understand the need and desire to try and figure it out. That is Analytical and a very strong, upfront, part of who I am right now.

I have not been diagnosed with either explanation of why I function the way I do, without my internal consent.

I do feel that I might fall somewhere within the spectrum but I would rather not be labeled as either.

The closest my counselor has come to giving all of this a label is trifected. I believe that is the word he used and it makes sense from his explanation. He said it was due to trauma, attachment and gaslighting.

For now that’s what I have on my plate to work through.

This would not be a clinical type of designation...but more of a personal belief.

Many youtubers and face-bookers (ahem) have such beliefs that they embrace their multiplicity....as do I...of course this isn’t an unanimous sentiment in our system....

Maybe the very fact amnesia of the initial trauma has caused some to believe that they were born this way?

We ourselves have been a committe of thinking solving problems from every angle as a group and has become quite valuable to those that employ and enjoy our very unique ability of problem solving, creativeness, and complexity of thought which has wrought rapid advancement in employment positions....or fast tracking to the top.

So....it has it’s beneficial sides.....does it out way the bad?...can and not.

Which are you...everybody?

we have always refered to ourselves as "did"

we can't cope with daily life.. in fact it's a stupid thing for us to even think about trying to cope- we just don't manage

I understand, but for many of us the mental illness causes problems in our personal relationships and at work. I have been alone for most of my life because the mental illness created problems with intimacy for me. It was the communication problems that caused this. If people knew that I was abused as a child and this caused me to switch into these other states and act out of character (misbehave so-to-speak) they would have been more forgiving. But since no one knew that I had this mental illness they are not forgiving if you act ugly.

I have EUPD/CPTSD with parts.... what am I??!!

I'm a human being with a shattered and fractured sense of self.

Oh I didnt mean to indicate it hasnt caused me great amounts of problems much more than I ever care to recount. But fortunately or unfortunately I was "thrown into the system" at a very early age and until 6 years ago was still in it. I cant work and havent since 1992 but it is a personal preference to not use any labels on MYself. they serve a purpose just not to me. my marriage for whatever it is worth is really no more than in name only. 2 of the 3 offspring have publicly vehemently and viciously disowned me as a parent citing that I am too "effed up" among other things and I have not heard from nor seen either of them in many years. So yes I do understand what you are saying

I’ve been thinking about this and I’m kind of seeing it from a different perspective.

What if it’s not one or the other but a variance of who or what part is more “in front”?

What I mean is, there have been times that I’ve lost time and obviously another part of me was driving the car I was behind the wheel of.

From that perspective, I would say that that was a DID episode. It was extreme and I was obviously pushed out of the drivers seat completely.

Then there are times that I become a witness to what’s going on or who’s talking. I’m “still there” because I have visual memory of it, I just wasn’t the one in control at that moment.

From that perspective, I would say that I was experiencing a “multiple” episode.

Maybe it’s the continuum thing.

I don’t know. It’s just been on my mind and I was curious to see what the thoughts were.

I have never heard it described in this way, and I can't relate. I function pretty well, but do not use the multiple term because I am one person. My therapist uses DID and I have used that at times, but only in the context of therapy.

I've been dx'd with many things. When I was dx'd with DID I didn't want to believe it...still don't despite evidence. If I have to, I refer to me as "dissociative".

Well, we are a “multiple” because we just are. Some of the others claim that it’s a disorder because they hate it...that can’t be helped.

I guess if you have a life goal and this condition interferes in ones aspirations...it would be considered a disorder.

Just curious and just asking.

A disorder...or a way of life.

I guess for us it is both depending on who you are asking.

This was also my impression, that multiplicity and multiple are seen as positive words of advocacy in some circles online.