If you feel that you are struggling with a dissociative disorder, you don’t have to struggle alone. You can call The National Mental Health Hotline at 866-903-3787 to speak to a professional about depression and get help with mental health resources.
Mental illness can develop as a response to trauma or after a significant, jarring life change. Dissociative disorder is one such condition. If you are seeking dissociative disorder support for yourself or a loved one, you’ve already made a big first step in searching for a dissociative identity disorder (DID) hotline to get answers to your questions in a confidential environment.
You may feel a lack of continuity between memories, actions, thoughts and even your identity. People diagnosed with DID tend to choose unhealthy or involuntary methods of escaping reality, leading to problems in their everyday life and relationships.
Dissociative Hotlines
You may not know that you have dissociative identity disorder, but perhaps you suspect something is wrong. Maybe you’re having trouble recovering from trauma, and you find yourself making unhealthy or self-destructive choices that are causing problems with your work, school or family responsibilities.
Have you been looking for a dissociative identity disorder hotline to ask questions about your condition? Are you confused about where to find support in your area, like getting a nursing assessment or an appointment with a psychiatrist?
Not everyone takes this important first step. Some people may not realize that there’s anything wrong, while others are afraid to speak up and admit to having trouble connecting their thoughts and memories. Although a lot of work has been done in the last couple of decades to de-stigmatize mental illness, some people may still feel guilt or shame about asking for help.
A confidential DID hotline connects people in need with trained mental health professionals via phone, text, or online chat. These professionals will answer your questions or simply listen. You may remain anonymous if you choose, and everything you say and ask is confidential.
You may be connected with resources in your area, including free or low-cost help for dissociative disorder support.
Dissociative Disorder Statistics
You may feel alone or like no one else understands how it feels to live with dissociative identity disorder. That couldn’t be further from the truth — in fact, it affects about 1.5% of the global population!
Many people may be misdiagnosed at first, but if you’re having intrusive thoughts of self-harm or suicide, or if you’re actively engaging in self-harm, then you may need to speak with a more engaging, trained specialist to get an accurate diagnosis.
Here are some more alarming facts about DID:
- The American Psychiatric Association estimates that up to 90% of people who suffer from DID developed it in response to childhood trauma.
- DID is more common in girls and women than in boys and men.
- People with dissociative disorders may be more at risk of developing substance abuse disorder or using alcohol or drugs to self-medicate.
What Can Cause Dissociative Disorder
We noted that DID is a trauma response, where the brain changes to keep difficult memories from surfacing. Not everyone with DID will present the same symptoms, and you may notice that your symptoms may be better on some days, and worse on others, over time. Many people see their condition worsen when they’re under stress.
Information on Dissociative Disorder
The American Psychiatric Association’s published Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) notes that there are three types of dissociative disorders:
- Dissociative amnesia: This is memory loss that’s more serious than simply being forgetful. People with this type of dissociative disorder cannot recall information about events, people or even themselves, especially from when the trauma happened. You may experience dissociative amnesia concerning specific events, like intense combat or abuse. You may enter a dissociative fugue state, which means you may become confused or wander away. Amnesia episodes may last minutes or hours and, on rare occasions, even last months or years.
- Dissociative identity disorder: This is sometimes referred to as “multiple personality disorder,” characterized by the person switching to alternate identities. You may feel like other people are living inside your head or may hear these people talking with each other or to you. Each identity may have unique characteristics, be a different age than you are, or even have different names. It’s not unusual for someone with DID to change their physical appearance when one of the personalities is the dominant personality.
- Depersonalization-derealization disorder: This is characterized by being outside yourself or detached from the present and your situation. You may not feel fully present in the moment or like you are watching someone else act and talk. You could be in a dreamlike state or a fog. These symptoms may last for just a few minutes and can come and go over the course of many years.
Dissociative Disorder Can Be Treated
Fortunately for people with dissociative disorders, there are treatments available. Many people benefit from a combination of talk therapy and medication. Although the treatment can be difficult, you can learn healthy ways to cope and lead a more engaging, productive life.
Resources For People with Dissociative Disorders
It’s not uncommon for people with dissociative disorders to self-harm or have thoughts of suicide. If you are feeling like this, there are safe, confidential helplines on the Mental Health Hotline website.
You can also contact one of these agencies:
Crisis Text Line: Text and Online Chat
Crisis Text Line is a Text and Online Chat service providing 24/7 free support to those struggling with various mental health issues, including DID.
Online chat: crisistextline.org – Text: 741741
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
NAMI offers a volunteer helpline staffed by knowledgeable professionals who can answer your questions and connect you with valuable resources within your area.
Call: (800) 950-6264
Mental illness is treatable, and if you’re on this page looking for resources for dissociative disorder near you, you’ve already taken an important first step in getting help. Mental Health Hotlines provides access to confidential helplines, staffed around the clock. When you call, you can ask questions and get guidance in a confidential, safe, environment.