Yep, notes got me thinking again......
Typically, the cause for Dissociative Identity Disorder (once known as Multiple Personality Disorder, not to be confused with Schizophrenia) is a traumatic event which the original person could not mentally deal with, and as a defense another personality was created that could.
It should be noted that while it's convenient to talk of people who suffer from this disorder as having "multiple personalities," (I do it myself) this is just a theoretical construct. People who suffer from this disorder believe they have multiple personalities which then take on a life of their own within the individual (perhaps reinforced by the belief). The new term for this disorder in the DSM-IV more accurately reflects the true problem -- the individual suffers from dissociative identities. Their personality is the sum of these identities, which have been split off at some point in the past. The split is usually due to some individual or multiple traumatic events.
*points up* Summary straight outta the mouth of the DSM IV
I've read more about what causes it, than about just how the identities work themselves to the outside world. I've seen a couple experiences where it's another sort of event which..... I almost want to say reanimates them. Like a chronic illness which gets someone down real deep, when they kick it, finally, and the body has nothing to fight anymore..... boom, here comes the parade.
I dealt with my father's illness for several years before he passed away. Oddly, the diagnosis of ALS coincided with about when I first started realizing I wasn't alone. A few months after his death is when the voices got extremely loud, and I basically figured my shit out. I wasn't fighting greif anymore.
Maybe it's the right conclusion, seems simple enough. Though I am no professional I did enough work in school to research what was happening. I thought I was simply schizophrenic, and had developed my own little version of reality which includes the guys. An internship I had in school was to volunteer at a home for schizophrenic patients. I had to see what others were like. Then the switches happened, they came out. I chucked the schizo idea *laughs* My reality is fairly intact.
So sure, I've figured out how they got here. But where did they come from, the world asks?
Hell if I know.
A cross between an elephant and a rhino?
Not a pretty picture, kid. But it's true. None of us remember where it all began. Sure, we can all point out the times he was growing up where we pushed through a little influence. We KNOW we've been here since childhood. And it may be a little denial wrapped up within ourselves - but we've no memories of abuse or trauma.
Well..... we do. Two of us do. But the people involved while a generic part of family bear no resemblance to the person who would fill that role in the Big Guy's life.
Meaning either A. We're still in denial and someone in here has a memory that's going to rock all of our worlds. or B. It's symbolic.
*nods* So there could be abuse somewhere, back along the line. From who I don't know yet. Nor do I know what reason. It could be physical, sexual...... or something as simple as mental. It may not even have been technical 'abuse'.... but for some reason I - we - saw it that way, and the fractures began.
And in a while, a long while, when we are collectively ready to explore those dark shadowy spots of my childhood and find the memories that fill in the blanks, we will seek out someone qualified to help us.
Right now we are still working together to smooth out the hitches and potholes along the road. So when we are ready, and everybody is comfortable being out, we will go. Because I know the things we find out will make or break us. Or maybe just me. I won't lie and say I'm not scared of what I'll find. The possibilities terrify me.
good luck.. [rainbow_blade]