Multiple Personality Disorder Essay

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Mental disorders have baffled psychiatrists, physicians, and the public since the beginning of time. Multiple personality disorder, also known as dissociative identity disorder, is a severe form of dissociation, a mental process which produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. Dissociation is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personalities, or alters, that control a person’s behavior. “Nonetheless, some documented cases of MPD have noted patients having as many as one hundred alters” (“Multiple Personality Residential Treatment”). These different alters have their own age, sex, or race. Alters are alternative personalities, which are dissociated parts of the self that represent memories, emotions, and ways of relating to the person. They are able to function autonomously. The host is the original person, which is the one who is in charge of the body (“Dissociative Identity Disorder”). One can develop multiple personality disorder through various components, but luckily, there is a cure.
Multiple personality disorder is rare, but the causes of this challenging condition are consistent and predictable. Frequent abuse from family members, overwhelming stress, or even genetics can contribute to MPD. The trauma usually involves emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, but it may also be linked with other significant traumatic events. To cope with trauma, people may separate the thoughts, feelings, and memories associated with the troubling experiences from their usual level of conscious awareness. Mainly, MPD is due to extreme and repeated trauma that occurred at important periods of development, such as childhood growth. If one is physically, emotionally, ...

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...herapist, one’s goal is to cure the patient through relaxation, not ordering them to doing something based on one’s belief.
There is no sure way to prevent multiple personality disorder. However, those with MPD need immediate help before they put themselves in danger. If one’s condition worsens, the individual can put others in grave danger as well. This disorder is extremely difficult to treat, but it is not impossible. Through the help of dedicated and experienced psychologists specializing in dissociative disorders, hope is possible. To further address the challenges of MPD, scientist should study and research more about this rare condition in order to improve the treatment process. Moreover, the public should be informed about what MPD is due to the fact that it is such a rare disorder. This way people are able to prevent it and educate others about this topic.

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