Can a person have dissociative identity disorder when drinking alcohol ?

Question

When this person drinks {which is not very often}her personality completely changes,she starts speaking in an English accent,but has never been out of the United States,her parents are from California......this person becomes extremely sexually aggresive,and then in the morning acts like nothing has happened,I dated this person for about 3 months and noticed this about 7 or 8 times,she was abused as a child but i do not know all the details,when not drinking she is a very articulate,smart ,charming person...a good job and successful,I have met many people since our breakup that known her for 25 years,and I am not the only person who has seen this..I brought this up with her and now we do not talk anymore,but I still am concerned....also she has said things in this state to me that she totally denies the next day{I love you,I need you,don't ever leave me,will you always protect me?}..always in an English accent..strange !!!

Answer 1

A person who is multiple/DID is going to be that, whether she is using alcohol or not. The issue at hand is does she show her other personality at times when she is not drinking?
Are there other times or situations where she does not remember what she has said or done -- does she have missing time?
Are there other distinct voices, facial looks, sets of opinions, specific knowledge, or other ages that she comes across
with? Can she play the piano or do math, say, in one personality, and yet not in another?

I am not up on more current statistics. 15 years ago when dealing with DID, I learned that the AVERAGE DID diagnosis took place after 7 hospitalizations for the one person. That says to me that there can be alot of problems going on with the person, before these other personalities are visible, recognized and identified, or treated.

Getting a long range observation here is really important. Are other people identifying the same thing you are?

In DID the core person we see everyday is very likely unaware that the others exist. They are dissociative identities, rather known as alternate, unknown, personalities.
In not knowing the others exist, that is where the missing time comes in, the core person doesn't know the other alter has taken over being "out" and in control. One of your specific clues in this case is that the woman uses a specific accent, not used when displaying other, more average moods. This could very well be indicative of an alter personality. Are there other times when she is childish? Fearful? Aggressive? Shows extremely talented or knowledgable abilities? Maybe a personality that is silent or sick. Where there is a second personality, (from abuse or trauma) there are likely others if it comes from a repeated trauma situation.

The use of alcohol makes it easier to switch, or it may be her cue to change, lowering her inhibitions. That's not so very different from the therapeutic hypnosis used in therapy to access the other alters.

Some people function pretty well in their life. Others, though would greatly benefit or be much more functional and emotionally stable (eventual goal) when treated for their DID. It must be by a known and established therapist with a track record of helping these people with the disorder to become functional, to be greatly improved or cured -- Yes! it is possible!!!
Once there is a co-knowledge and the person understands how to join this knowledge and talent to make it accessible and under the control of the core person, this is how that person with DID will be cured, and function with only one personality.

You may have called it right about this person. If you keep even a distant knowledge of her life, especially if plagued by depression or self-injury or suicidal attempts, when the moment is right Speak Up and identify what you have seen to family who can see that she gets the help she needs.
Documenting what you have seen on paper may be helpful to be passed along to her Dr.s.

Answer 2

Only a doctor (psychiatrist or psychologist) can determine if it is a Dissociative Disorder. She does need help. Has she ever received help in the past, in dealing with issues of child abuse? I am sorry she is in denial. Most alcoholics will deny they have a problem with alcohol until the very end. It doesn't necessarily mean she has a problem with alcohol. But many loved ones of people who drink have noticed personality changes of one sort or another.

If you get a chance to talk with her again, tell her you really care for her as a friend. Someone else may have to see her do this in an inebriated state, before she will seek help.

It may be some type of dissociation, or she may just choose not to remember while drinking. If you've known her for as long as you say, find someone she will listen to.

God bless.

Answer 3

People who drink accessibly can have personality disorders. They also can get a certain type of skisophreana (not sure how to spell it) but I once new a gal that had multiple personailies and she was phsycotic with this type of disorder mentioned above, she once was normal but the drinking ruined her brain. Someone else I know has this problem. Drinking does damage the brain especially if the drinking has been on going for years.

Anyone who drinks turns into a differnt person, even you will if you've had too much! This is why years ago they called it "spirits". Beceause it does make you a different person and some people used to think that when you drink that a spirit would enter your soul b/c yours has left.

Answer 4

Alcohol Induced Split Personality

Answer 5

Indeed a person can suffer from DID(or any one of the other Dissociative Disorders).Alcohol can also bring about some unusual changes in people,esp. if drunk in large amounts.It (Alcohol) can also cause memory problems.It seems you do care about your friend and she does need to see a Psychiatrist for analysis and treatment.Perhaps one of her other friends could record her while she is in such a state to convince her that she really needs to see a Psychiatrist.Good luck to your friend and in you helping her.