On-Line Therapy for Dissociative Identity Dissorder ?

Question

A web friend of mine in England has Multipal Personality Dissorder, but has had numerious bad experiences with face-to-face therapists, and after the last abandonment is unwilling to see any more therapists. Her system knows that this is not a good development, and has asked me if I know of any on-line therapists who deal with this dissorder. Anyone here have any suggestions that might point me in the right direction for finding one ??

Answer 1

I don't know of any online therapists who work with this disorder and although I'm really sympathetic to how your friend feels ( I had some bad experiences with therapists myself) I really believe that face to face therapy is the best way to go. Also with online therapy, you have to be careful that someone is truly qualified and isn't someone who's trying ot pull a scam. What's important when looking for a therapist for someone with DID is to find one who treats this disorder or who at least has a lot of experience working with trauma survivors.

I came across a few sites on the net that may be helpful;

Abuse Consultants http://www.abuseconsultants.com/index.asp is an an online treatment resource for severe trauma and sexual abuse.

Labyrinth of People http://members.cox.net/lop1/ is a support and resource site for people with DID

Multiplicity http://www.m-a-h.net/ is also a good site for resources and support

I hope this helps and I wish your friend all the best in her recovery. :)

Answer 2

I would recommend against online therapy unless this is the absolute only available means of treatment because so much of the therapist's insight is based on the face-to-face contact and the way which one communicates feelings and emotions through body language, facial signals, etc. If your friend will only get help online, I would suggest that she find a therapist close to her home who will agree to work with her either online or over the phone until your friend feels comfortable enough to go in for in-person sessions.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, the best therapy is face-to-face.

There is a website, http://psychcentral.com, that has helped me. It's more of an online chatroom. You can send mail to a psychologist for advice, and there is a chat board specifically for DID - in which other sufferers can talk and help with your struggles.

Online therapists are out there, but some are frauds/scams, so it's not as safe. At least with a face-to-face therapist, you can see actual credentials!

Answer 4

Oh, no. There is no such thing as "online" therapy. It is completely unethical and no real doctor/therapist would even do such a thing.

If your friend has had so many bad experiences with so many therapists.....SHE is the problem....not them. I can see maybe not having the relationship you want with ONE, but to have that happen over and over? It's her. She has a disease and it's her disease that is causing this. She has to be honest and want to get help from the therapist. Some people are addict to misery. It happens a lot.

Answer 5

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a severe condition in which two or more distinct identities, or personality states, are present in—and alternately take control of—an individual. The person also experiences memory loss that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness. DID is a disorder characterized by identity fragmentation rather than a proliferation of separate personalities. The disturbance is not due to the direct psychological effects of a substance or of a general medical condition, yet as this once rarely reported disorder has become more common, the diagnosis has become controversial. Symptoms: -The individual experiences two or more distinct identities or personality states (each with its own enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and self). -The reported range of identities is from 2 to more than 100. Half of the reported cases include individuals with 10 or fewer. -At least two of these identities or personality states recurrently take control of the person's behavior. -Each may exhibit its own distinct history, self-image, behaviors, and, physical characteristics, as well as possess a separate name. -Particular identities may emerge in specific circumstances. Alternative identities are experienced as taking control in sequence, one at the expense of the other, and may deny knowledge of one another, be critical of one another or appear to be in open conflict. Transitions from one identity to another are often triggered by psychosocial stress. -Frequent gaps are found in memories of personal history, including people, places, and events, for both the distant and recent past. Different alters may remember different events, but passive identities tend to have more limited memories whereas hostile, controlling or protective identities have more complete memories. -Symptoms of depression, anxiety, passivity, dependence and guilt may be present. In childhood, problem behavior and an inability to focus in school are common. -Self-destructive and/or aggressive behavior may take place. -Visual or auditory hallucinations may occur. -The average time that elapses from the first symptom to diagnosis is six to seven years. -The disturbance is not due to the direct psychological effects of a substance or of a general medical condition. The primary treatment for DID is long-term psychotherapy with the goal of deconstructing the different personalities and uniting them into one. Other treatments include cognitive and creative therapies. Although there are no medications that specifically treat this disorder, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs or tranquilizers may be prescribed to help control the mental health symptoms associated with it.