If you or a loved one have dissociative identity disorder (DID) what are your treatment options? Is it even treatable?
The answer is that while DID is not curable, it is treatable. There are several different ways to treat DID. In this post, we’ll explore several treatment options for DID.
Psychotherapy Options
First, we should talk about going to a therapist. Therapy can treat many different mental health issues, including disorders that seem a little more severe, such as DID.
Treatment for DID in the context of psychotherapy may involve several different pathways, including:
Identifying Triggers
The changes in your personality can often be due to a trigger. For example, being reminded of a traumatic event may cause your personality to shift. Even something as menial as a smell can lead to you changing your personality.
With therapy, a professional can help you to identify your triggers and help you to avoid them. Sometimes, triggers are unavoidable. In this case, the therapist can help you build a tolerance to them or help you reduce the symptoms.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is effective in treating various problems in your life. In short, your habits and your thoughts are linked. CBT could help you tackle some of the more problematic behaviors you have when dealing with DID.
Also, CBT may be helpful with treating the other symptoms that may come with DID. For instance, someone with DID may have a drug addiction. CBT can help treat that and much more.
Family Therapy
DID psychotherapy treatment may also involve your family. If you live with family, your therapist may speak to everyone, especially if you are unsure of your different personalities and how they work.
A good therapist will speak to everyone in a non-judgmental fashion. They will help your family understand your disorder and help you to understand it as well.
Fusing Personalities
The goal of psychotherapy may be to combine all the personality traits you have across your multiple personalities. Fusing personalities tends to involve helping you build one personality that can get past some of the triggers you may have.
Fusing your personality does not mean your identity will change, by the way. Usually, it takes your primary personality and emphasizes the more positive traits while adding some other characteristics you may want to have.
Hypnotherapy
When you imagine hypnosis, your mind may have dated imagery of having to look at a watch, becoming sleepy, and then be open to suggestions.
In truth, hypnotherapy is a bit more complex. It combines relaxation, concentration, and mindfulness. When you’re under hypnosis, you’re more aware and may be open to changing yourself. In addition, you may be able to access some memories that you thought you repressed. These memories may help you figure out why your DID exists in the first place.
Hypnotherapy tends to be used alongside psychotherapy, and it may help someone with DID control their behaviors.
While it has been seen as alternative medicine, there has been evidence to prove it could be effective.
For best results, use it alongside psychotherapy. It is a form of therapy where results may vary.
Other Forms of Therapy
In addition, several other forms of therapy can help.
Art therapy may be beneficial towards helping someone treat their DID. In this form of treatment, you create art, and this can help the therapist look into your mind by how you express yourself artistically. You do not need to be a professional to benefit.
Movement therapy may also help. By dancing or performing another movement, movement therapy may help you to be more mindful and thus be able to treat your DID.
What About Medication?
As of right now, there isn’t any medication designed specifically for treating DID. Instead, medicine tends to come in the form of treating other disorders that you may have.
For example, if you have DID, you may have anxiety or depression. Medications used to treat those may be used, which can help reduce your symptoms and allow the therapist to treat DID much easier.
Another symptom of DID is substance abuse disorder. Some medications are used to stop your cravings. If a drug is your trigger, a medicine used to treat drug addiction may help you overcome DID.
Lifestyle Changes
Finally, some lifestyle changes may help with your DID as well. Exercising more can boost your mental health by releasing endorphins and improving confidence. Exercise’s positive effects may help to reduce your symptoms. The same applies to changing your diet to eat right.
With that said, lifestyle changes are a small part of treating DID. DID is something that does require professional help, so never use eating better as a DID cure. Remember that there is no cure for DID. However, professional treatment may allow you to live your life much easier.
Diagnosis is Key
With DID, it’s essential to have an official diagnosis. While you may have evidence that you have it, there are many different types of DID. To treat yourself, it’s important you first figure out what kind of DID you have.
Mind Diagnostics can help. Mind Diagnostics will help you learn what type of DID you have and help you to get help accordingly. For more information on diagnosing your DID, please click the link below to get started:
https://www.mind-diagnostics.org/blog/dissociative-identity-disorder/types-of-dissociative-identity-disorder-treatment
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