Life with DID

At the last minute I decided that I needed to have this blog about the challenge of living and trying to survive in life while coping (or not coping as is my current case) with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). Coping and functioning with a disability requires overcoming unique challenges. The class lectures this semester about blogging with a disability initiated my thinking about making my final project about my own disability.
War on WoMen-Domestic Violence (11-04) Photoshop CS

This blog will hopefully provide insight for those unfamiliar with this condition, and support for those like me that suffer from DID. DID was formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, and is considered one of the most challenging mental disorders to diagnose and treat. The condition has effected every aspect of my life, and has made it impossible for me to cope with everyday aspects that most people take for granted. There are great online resources that outline the legal aspects regarding some of the challenges that people with DID have to cope with handling both work and school.

One of the most positive things that I have done though is get myself back to college to complete my degree. The rigors of class work have been a daunting challenge to say the least. The effort it takes for me to be around other people at this time is emotionally devastating. I have not had the extensive therapy to identify all the alter personalities that reside within my mind, but know that I have only a few of these alters that can successfully deal with the challenges of school. If these personalities choose not to come forward on any particular day, then my time spent in class is wasted for that day. The memories of my life are fragmented within my mind, and none of my personalities have access to full range of stored memories. One can imagine if during a test or exam if you could not access the memories of what was covered in the classroom. I think I have roughly ten to twelve different personalities that make up the whole me. That means within my mind, there are ten to twelve sets of memories that are separated from each other. Onward and upward.