Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, (MPD) is a complex and controversial disorder which is "characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states that recurrently take control of the individual's behavior, accompanied by an inability to recall important personal information that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness. It is a disorder that is characterized by identity fragmentation rather than a proliferation of separate personalities." (DSM-IV-TR) Over the years experienced clinicians have continued to doubt the existence of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and have argued over the best form of treatment for this cluster of symptoms. Understanding the dissociative phenomena provides insight into the incredible strength and determination to survive of individuals who have experienced enormous trauma. It also helps clinicians understand the impact of severe trauma during early childhood on development and consolidation of the sense of self.

To answer the question, I actually found it interesting and explained a lot of the behavior that I was seeing in the other person. I was actually very accepting of it, but then I tend to easily accept abnormal explanations for unexplanable events (i.e. I believe in the after life, that people who are dead come back to visit those of us that are still living, that there are parallel dimensions or quantum universes where the slightest choice of a decision alters the path and outcome of our lives, that there are angels and demons that affect and influence our lives and that "good" people have angels protecting them and "evil" people have demons entrenched in their lives and freely dwell in their sin, that time travel is possible, etc.). However, my significant other (SO) was in denial and tried to explain away all of their behavior until we discussed it and learned that conversations that I have with myself were not the same types of conversations that they were having. For my SO, there were other, different voices that were actually holding conversations and could express opinions that were different and they could share things internally that I didn't hear, but that would be shared with me afterwards. It took a long time for acceptance to take place and finding a psychiatrist that was accepting of it helped a lot. At one point, my SO asked the psychiatrist if there was a test that could be taken to determine if my SO had DID. The pyschiatrist stated that there was no need because my SO had so much DID, it wasn't necessary. As a measure of my SO's DID, I was able to identify and count over 70 different and unique personalities existing at the same time. Denial? Anger? Fear? Nah. I was actually in awe and amazement that it wasn't more considering what my SO had been through.

I think that I have that too.I was diagnosed last year as having DID.I didn't know what to make of it.I thought of Sybal,like the movie and book,you know? That all I could think.I still don't really know.???*+++++*

I was diagnosed with MPD a year ago. It was only recently when i actually started working with my alters in therapy. I didnt want to accept taht i had it because i didnt want to believe what happened to me. I thought i had the perfect childhood, only to discover that i was abused. My ex girlfriend was actually the person who first told me about my alters. She told me about them before we went out and even now after breaking up she is the one always there for me, and my alters. None of my family know and only a handful of friends know. My girlfriend told me this, "just because you have mpd doesnt make me love you any less, in fact it is nice, because instead of 1 great friend/girlfriend, i have 4 strong and amazingly generous friends. I wouldnt ever walk away from you." It made me feel so good when she told me that, that i still remember it. If you want, i have made a support site that has a MPD topic. The link is http://selfhelp.yuku.com