Multiple Personalities Support Group
Dissociative identity disorder is a diagnosis described as the existence in an individual of two or more distinct identities or personalities, each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment. At least two of these personalities are considered to routinely take control of the individual's behavior, and there is also some associated memory loss,...
This is copied and pasted directly from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.I have experienced all of these types of dissociative amnesia and was wondering what has everyone else experienced.
Dissociative amnesia: This disorder is characterized by a blocking out of critical personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature. Dissociative amnesia, unlike other types of amnesia, does not result from other medical trauma (e.g. a blow to the head). Dissociative amnesia has several subtypes:
Localized amnesia is present in an individual who has no memory of specific events that took place, usually traumatic. The loss of memory is localized with a specific window of time. For example, a survivor of a car wreck who has no memory of the experience until two days later is experiencing localized amnesia.
Selective amnesia happens when a person can recall only small parts of events that took place in a defined period of time. For example, an abuse victim may recall only some parts of the series of events around the abuse.
Generalized amnesia is diagnosed when a person's amnesia encompasses his or her entire life.
Systematized amnesia is characterized by a loss of memory for a specific category of information. A person with this disorder might, for example, be missing all memories about one specific family member.
Dissociative amnesia: This disorder is characterized by a blocking out of critical personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature. Dissociative amnesia, unlike other types of amnesia, does not result from other medical trauma (e.g. a blow to the head). Dissociative amnesia has several subtypes:
Localized amnesia is present in an individual who has no memory of specific events that took place, usually traumatic. The loss of memory is localized with a specific window of time. For example, a survivor of a car wreck who has no memory of the experience until two days later is experiencing localized amnesia.
Selective amnesia happens when a person can recall only small parts of events that took place in a defined period of time. For example, an abuse victim may recall only some parts of the series of events around the abuse.
Generalized amnesia is diagnosed when a person's amnesia encompasses his or her entire life.
Systematized amnesia is characterized by a loss of memory for a specific category of information. A person with this disorder might, for example, be missing all memories about one specific family member.
Annabell1217
I've experienced all of those except Generalized amnesia. I most experience Selective amnesia. Do flash backs happen because of amnesia or repressed memories?
Wheezie
Yes flashbacks happen because of weak points in the walls between your conscious mind and repressed memories.At some point that wall fades and you get complete recall of a traumatic memory.
Annabell1217
That's interesting... What if someone doesn't want to remember that traumatic memory?
Wheezie
I think a person can actively suppress traumatic memories but the key is even though these memories are suppressed you still live with the consequences of them.You will get flashbacks,want to self harm,be depressed and have all of the symptoms of PTSD even without remembering the memory.The only way to alleviate all of those symptoms is to remember,process the emotions involved with the memory and heal.
stephanietram
We have experienced the lack of years worth of memories from childhood, events within the last 2 years when the DID became noticeable, and parts of most days get lost as we switch and the other parts don't remember what the front-person was doing.
deleted_user
very common especially as you begin your journey it is part of healing,,, and will get better for sure as you work with therapist,, warrior
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