ADVERTISEMENT

Q. Why does my friend forget her own identity?

Answered by
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
and medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team.
This is a premium question & answer published on May 03, 2016 and last reviewed on: Dec 08, 2021

Hello doctor,

I have a friend suffering from identity confusion. I read what DID is, but I found the symptoms too extreme in describing her case. She resorts to creating several characters to identify what she is feeling. Each character has its likes and dislikes and people it trusts. She usually has a smooth change between characters, but this time the change is not going smoothly. She does not have a memory problem in remembering what each character did. I have tried to advise her to seek professional help, but she cannot seek help due to personal reasons. I wanted to ask if you could give me a clearer image of her case and how I can help her through the change and make it smoother. She has been living through her characters for a long time and does not know who she is. This is one of the main reasons for her confusion and frustration. She is disgusted by herself and feels this is not normal. Please help.

ADVERTISEMENT
#

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a rare psychiatric disorder in which individuals develop two or more personalities in their life. The identity of one character is usually not known by others, and the disorder is not commonly seen and is difficult to diagnose. She shows different behaviors, but she remembers what she did in other personalities. This almost rules out the identity disorder. Yes, she could be showing such behavior due to some underlying psychological conflict and should be evaluated. Please try to persuade her to visit a psychiatrist for help. A psychiatrist will diagnose, and she will improve in her symptoms. Antidepressants and Benzodiazepines can help to improve her symptoms.


Was this answer helpful?

 | 

Same symptoms doesn’t mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!



Related Questions:
Stress in a Broad Perspective - More Than Merely a Mental Illness!!

.. due to the mental (psychiatric) illnesses. Physical wellness also counts for stress levels in modern life .. ...   Read full

Can I take antidepressants only when needed and not continuously?

.. not mentioned the severity of your depression. If you have the first episode of depression. and you were stable on medication for more than six months then you can try to stop the medication. But if you have again depression then you need to take...   Read full

Do antidepressants cause low sex drive?

Do you have any psychological issues like depression, anxiety or even simple stress ... I am suffering with anxiety and depression and take numerous medications such as Prozac, Klonopin, Trazodon...   Read full

Also Read Answers From:

ideaComprehensive Medical Second Opinion.Submit your Case

Also Read


H3N2v Influenza - Treatment and Prevention
Management and prevention of an Influenza A virus variant include various treatment options and measures. The below arti...  Read more»
Flu A - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
The flu, or influenza, is a contagious viral infection that attacks the respiratory system. Flu A and B viruses are resp...  Read more»
H3N2v Influenza: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
The H3N2v is a non-human influenza virus seen in pigs and can cause human infection. To know more, read the article belo...  Read more»

Ask your health query to a doctor online?

Ask a Psychiatrist Now

* guaranteed answer within 4 hours.

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.