Most Multiples (people with so called Dissociative Identity Disorder), would say no. Many multiples have become empowered. The Empowered multiple community is quite large, and it is amazing how many intelligent, successful, creative and multi talented people are multiple.
While it is true that some multiples are under psychiatric care, mostly due to abuse issues, and that their issues are often complicated by multiplicity, neither abuse nor complication is typical much less universal in all multiples. Most multiples have lived silently, because they feel they are avoiding the persecution and judgment of those who do not understand their perfectly natural and functional variation, of normalcy. Many multiples actually enjoy being multiple, and consider their situation an asset.
In fairness Mental Health professionals had no idea, prior to the empowered multiples movement that there were so many highly functional multiples. In the past they had only been exposed to a few, broken and battered survivors of abuse, who were suffering with a confusing network of personalities. These people suffered blackouts and regressions to early childhood, which they had absolutely no control over. It is no wonder that doctors felt this was a serious disorder, which caused all their problems, not a not a mechanism which had actually helped them deal with an unbearable situation.
Almost all Multiples Resist Integration
Most multiples love ALL of their selves. They see each person as a separate being, and in most cases they are totally separate souls. Many multiples do not seek out mental health professionals because they fear doctors will “kill” all but one of them. For many years the goal of therapy was ‘integration.’ It is only due to the protests of empowered multiples that doctors are second guessing integration as the ONLY solution to multiplicity.
Those who have allowed themselves to be “integrated either say it did not work, or they seriously regret it due to a profound sense of loss, and genuine loss of abilities and skills. They seriously resent their therapists, and wish to be as they were.
It may be hard for a singlet to understand how it feels but imagine that you went to a doctor who recommended you kill everyone else in your house or apartment building. How would you feel? If you thought the doctor could force you to commit such an act, obviously you would avoid him and conceal the fact you had any housemates at all. This is the position most silent multiples took. They merely pretended to be alone in their houses, and stayed away from anyone who might be able to expose them. Extra people inside other people have been hiding in the attic like Anne Frank, and only coming out when it is safe.
Most Multiples live completely normal lives and do not see a psychologist in their lifetimes. While some of them are open about their situation, most only speak of these things in other groups of multiples. While most multiples do not feel that they need psychologists most all of them enjoy a support group, and due to anonymity issues, most support groups are on line.
Sources and Resources
Anthony Temple - Astraea's Web - Last Accessed Nov. 4, 2010AstraeasWeb.net/plural/why-activism
Astraea's Web - Glossary - Last Accessed Nov. 4, 2010http://astraeasweb.net/plural/glossary.html
Astraea's Web - FAQ - Last Accessed Nov. 4, 2010 AstraeasWeb.net/plural/faq.html
Authors own research
Benefits and Liabilities of Multiplicity
Multiplicity Gender and Romance
Kim Mclendon - Kim is a Graphic Artist and owns a full service Advertising Agency, which caters to small local businesses. She has over 25 years ...
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