Multiple personality is a dissociative mental disorder in which two (or more) personalities coexist in the mind of a person, each of which has its own character, worldview and even physiological characteristics (blood pressure, pulse rate, etc.). This syndrome became widely known after the publication of Flora Rita Schreiber's book "Sibyl". The multiple personality that the main character suffers from is made up of sixteen separate selves. Moreover, the story of the Sibyl is not fictional, it is a real case of psychotherapeutic practice, which many scientists refer to in their writings.
The diagnosis of "multiple personality" can be made if the control of a person's behavior and abilities is alternately carried out by several ego states, the change of which, as a rule, is accompanied by memory lapses. Often even the most seemingly simple things are forgotten: date of birth, date of wedding, actions committed a few minutes ago. Sick notcan remember where certain things come from, it seems to him that he is called by other people's names, his handwriting often changes, as well as the perception of people around him and the world. These are all symptoms of multiple personality.
A characteristic feature of this disorder is the phenomenon of depersonalization, that is, a distorted perception by the individual of himself. The patient may feel a change in the structure of his own body or observe himself from the side. But people who are found to have a multiple personality are not aware of their disorder and often do not believe that several different personalities coexist in them.
Most scientists are inclined to believe that a multiple personality is formed as a reaction to severe mental trauma experienced in childhood. This process helps keep unpleasant sensations from reaching consciousness. That is, this disease originates in childhood, but it may not appear immediately. Its development is usually accompanied by a loss of trust in others. Therefore, it can be difficult for psychotherapists to connect with each of the subpersonalities.
The first step in treating this disorder is for the patient to understand it. Specialists use hypnosis, group or family therapy for this. The next important step is to revive hidden and denied memories. This can also be achieved with hypnotherapy or sodium amobarbital treatment. Since the patient will by all meanstry to force out unpleasant memories, he may have bouts of aggression. As a rule, after identifying the origins of the disease and restoring memory, it becomes easier to instill in the individual an awareness of his own actions and ensure the merging of all subpersonalities into one whole "I". This process can be painful for many of them, since the merger can be perceived as tantamount to death. But with a sufficient degree of understanding by a person of his disease, he himself will strive for the successful treatment of this severe disorder.
