How to Be Taken Seriously About Dissociation

It can help to describe observable symptoms, functional impact, safety issues, and patterns over time rather than trying to prove an identity claim. 1 2 3

Main ideas

  • Lead with impairment: time loss, unsafe behavior, memory gaps, identity shifts, internal conflict, or crisis patterns.
  • Bring examples that show frequency, triggers, and consequences.
  • If a clinician dismisses dissociation without assessment, it may be appropriate to seek a second opinion.

Questions for reflection

  • What symptoms should I track between sessions?
  • Are you willing to assess dissociation directly?
  • If you do not specialize in this, can you refer me to someone who does?

Clinical note

You do not need to perform DID to deserve assessment. You need a clinician willing to listen carefully.

Footnotes

  1. International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. (2011). Guidelines for treating dissociative identity disorder in adults, third revision. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 12(2), 115-187. pp. 115-187. Full adult DID treatment guideline PDF. ↩

  2. Pietkiewicz, I. J., Banbura-Nowak, A., Tomalski, R., & Boon, S. (2021). Revisiting false-positive and imitated dissociative identity disorder. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. Differential diagnosis article. Open access diagnostic caution article. ↩

  3. Brand, B. L., Sar, V., Stavropoulos, P., Kruger, C., Korzekwa, M., Martinez-Taboas, A., & Middleton, W. (2016). Separating fact from fiction: An empirical examination of six myths about dissociative identity disorder. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 24(4), 257-270. Abstract and overview of six myths. Text-fragment link to the article's summary claim. ↩

Up next

Treatment Goals for Dissociative Traits in Therapy

Therapy goals should turn dissociative patterns into concrete safety, communication, and functioning targets.

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Independent from NPD Recovery. Educational content only, not emergency or medical care.