Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is not dangerous



Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is still largely misunderstood, that is why it is important that people learn to understand that DID doesn’t make a person dangerous. Movie characters with DID are often portrayed as violent homicidal people who have no control over their state of minds. The only thing these movies accomplish is to further confuse people about DID and make the producers a little richer.

The reality is that DID does not increase violent behavior in a person. In fact, people with DID are no more prone to violence than people without an identity disorder. While every DID system is unique, those with violent alters tend to direct their aggression toward the inward life. This means that much of the violence is geared toward other parts on the inside.

Some alters can be unkind:
I am married to a wonderful lady with DID. My experience has been that while she had some abusive alters, who routinely made me the target of her pain, she was never dangerous to our children or myself. This has been the experience of most other Significant Others I have spoken to. Some have had spouses with DID who’s alters were nothing but delightful, others with spouses who have angry alters, but none ever felt threatened.

Dangerous alters:
Not to dismiss, there are certainly dangerous alters, but like I said, no more than in any other segment of the population. Some Multiples have taken part in ritually abused, not by choice but by control of their abusers.

Conclusion:
If you meet someone with DID, you do not have to be afraid. They won’t likely lock you in a basement and dress up in different costumes and become physically abusive.  On the contrary, they want to be a friend and they want you to be a safe person whom they can share their journey with. So rather then shunning people who dissociate, learn more about them and give them space to be who they are.


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