Multiplicity
For
some people who experience severe trauma or abuse in childhood
the only means of survival may be to develop what is sometimes
known as Multiple Personality Disorder or Dissociative Identity
Disorder. Society has the unfortunate habit of needing to diagnose,
label and add the word ‘disorder’ to things not yet
fully understood. In an attempt to move away from the idea that
survivors might be disordered or needing treatment, many survivors
prefer the term Multiplicity. A simple definition is having two
or more personalities in the one body.
Different individuals can experience multiplicity differently.
Some may hear voices in their heads, feel day dreamy or have parts
of themselves, which deal with different situations that arise
in everyday life. They can hold responsible jobs, raise families
and cope well.
Some
multiples have a lot of personalities. Some can switch between
the personalities while having no contact with, or awareness of,
them. The personalities may be different, in constant conflict
with each other or abusive to each other, or to the body.
Multiples
have the same problems associated with childhood abuse as anyone
else. These problems may include feelings of isolation, guilt,
shame, fear, anger, betrayal and powerlessness.
Most
multiples continue to cope well throughout life and are creative
and successful people. It is only when problems arise that there
is a need to seek help. Often it is not the multiplicity itself,
which is the problem, though sometimes this is seized on and a
course of intervention designed to ‘cure’ the individual
and integrate them into one whole person is pursued. This may
be what is wanted by some, but certainly not all. More frequently,
if the problem is associated with being a multiple i.e. time and
memory losses or internal conflict, there becomes a need for the
multiple to understand themselves better. Whatever the problem,
each person needs to be treated as the highly complex and unique
individual they are.
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