It doesn’t matter if its Monday or Friday, there’s no calendar yet made for us. Us, the one person… or the one body with many minds.
I live with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or, as you might have learnt from one of those ridiculously sensationalist movies, multiple personalities. And, unless you spend a lot of time with me or see me every day, you would probably not know it.
Despite what you imagine about DID, I don’t change from nun to monster or from serial killer to child. My changes can be subtle and only perceptible to those who have been able to stick around long enough to know me. Sometimes the changes are evident because my large breasts become more exposed and my dresses are quite revealing, or my boots are too masculine and so is my demeanor.
Or you can tell which are the peace-loving, adventurer ones of us because they usually wear things on their hair (hats, flowers) and “free spirit” type clothing. Or simply because, when you say hello to me, I will have no idea who you are.
Sometimes my day doesn't start until 3pm; others, it just doesn't finish. These are the most trying times because I have been awake, without knowing, for the most part of 24 hours straight.
Sounds crazy — and this is what people enjoy calling us. How they can enjoy perpetuating ignorance and the comfort of not going a little bit beyond their limited understanding, I don't know. But I know I am not crazy. I am aware of my condition, I treat it and am slowly embracing it, because the truth is, lovers and friends, even family, will come and go more easily when you have DID - but this, my own crew, is here to stay.
Top Comments
Thanks for sharing - this is really well written :)
I'm not sure how you feel about this one and I know it's completely fictional, but I thought Toni Collette was so brilliant in "United States of Tara"!