Dissociative Identity Disorder is a relatively new disorder that psychiatrists have been learning about as it often goes undiagnosed among the general population. For those diagnosed with it, however, it can be a terrifying experience to know that the mental conditions they’ve been living with have a name.
Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day aims to change those fears by spreading awareness of its existence to today’s society and help bring about education and success through understanding and compassion.
History of Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day
Dissociative Identity Disorder, originally called Multiple Personality Disorder, is a medical condition where those affected with it have memory loss, out of body experiences, detachment from emotions, and a lack of self-identity.
According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, only 2% of the United States experiences these symptoms and have been properly diagnosed. Originally, when it was called Multiple Personality Disorder, psychiatrists believed and diagnosed people with having at least two different personalities.
In today’s definition, Dissociative Identity Disorder can include multiple personalities, but also includes a wide variety of other symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and dissociative episodes and the disorder is usually caused by previous trauma.
Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day has two goals in mind when it comes to celebrating the holiday. For those personally affected by the disorder, it can be a way to empower them, help share their stories, and learn better ways of loving and accepting themselves in a world where this kind of disorder isn’t well known or understood.
The second goal in mind is to raise awareness about the disorder itself, help others understand what it means to have Dissociative Identity Disorder and learn better ways of managing the disorder in daily life.
Today’s research has shown the existence of the disorder, but due to its rarity in many cases, not many would know about the disorder. The day aims to change that fact and make it more known throughout the world as a valid condition that should be understood by others.
How to celebrate Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day
If you’re someone who has Dissociative Identity Disorder, help raise awareness by having a conversation with your friends and family about how it affects you in your daily life. Speak with your therapist about ways of managing the disorder.
Read up on the latest articles studying the disorder and follow your favorite medical websites on their efforts to bring awareness to the disorder. Reflect on what having the disorder means to you and maybe create flyers and post them around your local neighborhood to spread awareness to the disorder.
Share this holiday on social media using the hashtag #dissociativeidentitydisorderawarenessday and let your friends know what day it is today.
