Input re Multiple Personality Disorder

[SEVERUSMAX]

I know I'll need to do plenty of research for this on my own, and this is a long way off (due to plenty of other stories I have in the works), but I have a germ of a story idea that I can't let go until I eventually write it. It's about a married man with multiple personality disorder. He's kind of a wimp when dealing with his wife, until the multiple personalities emerge and he begins asserting himself. Of course, between his sudden backbone (not something that the wife can accept, as she married him in order to control her husband) and his 2 new personalities: a suave ladies' man with a British accent and a domineering homosexual with leather fetish tendencies- his marriage is soon history. Worse still, he has to find a new job, so he moves and starts over.

Any input?

 

[Huckleman2000]

I know I'll need to do plenty of research for this on my own, and this is a long way off (due to plenty of other stories I have in the works), but I have a germ of a story idea that I can't let go until I eventually write it. It's about a married man with multiple personality disorder. He's kind of a wimp when dealing with his wife, until the multiple personalities emerge and he begins asserting himself. Of course, between his sudden backbone (not something that the wife can accept, as she married him in order to control her husband) and his 2 new personalities: a suave ladies' man with a British accent and a domineering homosexual with leather fetish tendencies- his marriage is soon history. Worse still, he has to find a new job, so he moves and starts over.

Any input?

Been there, done that.

LOL, not really! But sort of, I guess. I don't have any experience with multiple personality disorder. I can sort of understand the situation of a dominant wife and the difficulties of asserting oneself in that situation, but it never got to the point of drama that you characterize. My life is a far more mundane version of the circumstances that you're describing.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Been there, done that.

LOL, not really! But sort of, I guess. I don't have any experience with multiple personality disorder. I can sort of understand the situation of a dominant wife and the difficulties of asserting oneself in that situation, but it never got to the point of drama that you characterize. My life is a far more mundane version of the circumstances that you're describing.

Hmmm.....well, I am not sure what sort of trauma would cause it, for one thing. I don't think he really wants to be pushed around by his wife, but he has been manipulated and slowly turned into a wimp by sneak means. Eventually, however, something causes him to snap and refuse to be pushed around anymore. After all, the mind and the ego can only take so much.

 

[3113]

Given the story you want to tell, I don't think you really need to do research on the subject. But if you do....

It's not called "Dissociative-idenity disorder" and you might want to check this out: Bogus Sybil.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Given the story you want to tell, I don't think you really need to do research on the subject. But if you do....

It's not called "Dissociative-idenity disorder" and you might want to check this out: Bogus Sybil.

Thanks for the input, 3113.

 

[rgraham666]

From what I understand, grand hystreé (sp?) is caused by severe psychological trauma. The mind forms separate personalities to deal with things that the core personality cannot. So I believe you should decide what the trauma is.

The personalities appear in response to situations that the others can't handle. Decide what the stressors that trigger each personality are.

Each personality may or may not be aware of the others. They are mainly younger in age that the person whose body they inhabit. They'll hold different skills than each other. And one personality is usually the repository of memory. It keeps all the memories of the person, including the traumatic ones. This personality is often the most mature and worldly of the people inside.

One thing I noticed, grand hysterics are always very, very intelligent people when reintegrated. I suspect that's why they splinter, rather than manifest some other mental condition. They have the brain power to support multiple personalities.

 

[rachlou]

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder, has several diagnostic features:

• The presence of two or more distinct identities, each with its own unique, and enduring, way of relating to the world and self.

• At least two of these identities recurrently take control of the person’s behavior.

• An inability to recall important personal information to an extent that is more than ordinary forgetfulness. Classic examples are finding new clothes in your closet which you don’t remember buying; finding yourself in a place or situation and not being able to remember how you got there; having a complete loss of memory for what happened in the previous few days.

you got me interested, so I looked up some info - hope the above is of some use

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Thank you for the input, Rob and rachlou. I thought that suffering a gang-rape or something might be a trigger for the initial creation of alternative personalities. The man in question is already feeling a threat to his masculinity, and he reacts to a rape like that by splitting. My thinking is that he briefly lands in county lock-up for a misdemeanor (costing him his job, of course), gets sodomized, and then finds a cold reception from his wife when he gets out. It's the last straw, the final humiliation that provokes him to react.

 

[rgraham666]

Thank you for the input, Rob and rachlou. I thought that suffering a gang-rape or something might be a trigger for the initial creation of alternative personalities. The man in question is already feeling a threat to his masculinity, and he reacts to a rape like that by splitting. My thinking is that he briefly lands in county lock-up for a misdemeanor (costing him his job, of course), gets sodomized, and then finds a cold reception from his wife when he gets out. It's the last straw, the final humiliation that provokes him to react.

Hmm.

From what I understand the trauma is most often in early childhood, before a person's personality is really set. I suppose splitting could occur later in life, but I don't know enough to say if this is so.

I guess some research is in order.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Given the story you want to tell, I don't think you really need to do research on the subject. But if you do....

It's not called "Dissociative-idenity disorder" and you might want to check this out: Bogus Sybil.

Interesting link 3113.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Hmm.

From what I understand the trauma is most often in early childhood, before a person's personality is really set. I suppose splitting could occur later in life, but I don't know enough to say if this is so.

I guess some research is in order.

I suppose that's true. I wasn't sure about that. I originally thought of an earlier trauma, but I wasn't sure that he could manage to maintain a marriage for that long if he already had multiple personalities. Yeah, definitely time to research it.

 

[rgraham666]

I suppose that's true. I wasn't sure about that. I originally thought of an earlier trauma, but I wasn't sure that he could manage to maintain a marriage for that long if he already had multiple personalities. Yeah, definitely time to research it.

Ask yourself, "What would Colly do?"

That's right. Research the hell out of it.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Ask yourself, "What would Colly do?"

That's right. Research the hell out of it.

LOL..got that right. Its an interesting concept/subject. I'm sure the research itself will prove enlightening.

 

[3113]

Thank you for the input, Rob and rachlou. I thought that suffering a gang-rape or something might be a trigger for the initial creation of alternative personalities.

I'm afraid Rob's right. This disorder ONLY occurs in people badly, and I mean BADLY and frequently abused in childhood. And very early childhood at that. We're talking from 1-2 years old. It NEVER occurs to a grown adult.

But, once again, it depends on what kind of story you want to tell. If it's more light--like "Me, Myself & Irene," then you don't have to tell us anything about how this person got his disorder. Just that he has it and no one knows it, not even him. That it's been dormant for a while.

What sets it off does not have to be that traumatic in that case.

If, on the other hand, you want to tell a serious story, lke "The Three Faces of Eve" (the story and movie that make folk aware of this disorder) then, yes, you'd better do the research.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I'm afraid Rob's right. This disorder ONLY occurs in people badly, and I mean BADLY and frequently abused in childhood. And very early childhood at that. We're talking from 1-2 years old. It NEVER occurs to a grown adult.

But, once again, it depends on what kind of story you want to tell. If it's more light--like "Me, Myself & Irene," then you don't have to tell us anything about how this person got his disorder. Just that he has it and no one knows it, not even him. That it's been dormant for a while.

What sets it off does not have to be that traumatic in that case.

If, on the other hand, you want to tell a serious story, lke "The Three Faces of Eve" (the story and movie that make folk aware of this disorder) then, yes, you'd better do the research.

There might be a little humor for comic relief now and then, as well as plenty of sex (which conveniently fits into the personalities). However, the thrust is a genuine exercise in intellectual and writer's curiosity. I appreciate your comments and suggestions. I definitely need more research.

Oh, and Rob, I like that point. What would Colly do? Damn, right, she'd research it!

Like you said, if it was only meant to be comedy or satire, that would be one thing. However, I'm not talking about Jim Carrey and Renee Zellweger here. These are just everyday people, one of whom is simultaneously 3 people.

So, it CAN be dormant? Well, that would explain why his marriage hadn't collapsed sooner and he held down a job for so long.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

You might want to read the book....When rabbit Howls. Damn, where's Diva, I can't remember the woman's name now...but she had the disorder. Its a disturbing read but might be helpful.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

You might want to read the book....When rabbit Howls. Damn, where's Diva, I can't remember the woman's name now...but she had the disorder. Its a disturbing read but might be helpful.

Thank you for recommending that, Abs.

 

[LadyCibelle]

I'm afraid Rob's right. This disorder ONLY occurs in people badly, and I mean BADLY and frequently abused in childhood. And very early childhood at that. We're talking from 1-2 years old. It NEVER occurs to a grown adult. [...]

Sorry to contradict you, 3113, but it's not true. Dissociative personality CAN happen relating to a SINGLE event that happened in someone's life and have nothing to do with abuse in childhood

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Sorry to contradict you, 3113, but it's not true. Dissociative personality CAN happen relating to a SINGLE event that happened in someone's life and have nothing to do with abuse in childhood

Interesting comment. Thanks for adding your 2 cents, Lady C.

 

[damppanties]

...Yeah, definitely time to research it.

Let us know what you find? I'm interested.

I have an unfinished story about the idea in my hard disk somewhere and some research related to it. I need to find it.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Have some info, will respond later.

 

[Nirvanadragones]

Sev, I did some papers on this topic. You are welcome to pm me if there is anything specific that you would like to know. Perhaps I would be able to help.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Hmm.

From what I understand the trauma is most often in early childhood, before a person's personality is really set. I suppose splitting could occur later in life, but I don't know enough to say if this is so.

I guess some research is in order.

Yes, it would have to be severe, extended childhood trauma... "DID" doesn't develop overnight.

For your story, a very abusive, overbearing, controlling mother would do the trick, Sev...

his personalities could have been lying dormant until they are triggered by his controlling wife...

 

[rachlou]

You might want to read the book....When rabbit Howls. Damn, where's Diva, I can't remember the woman's name now...but she had the disorder. Its a disturbing read but might be helpful.

Damn! I was tryin to remember that book title when I first came upon this thread. I read the book years ago and it was truly moving and upsetting. The story was a real life account of a woman who had multiple personalities, (at least 100 if I correctly recall), as a result of horrific childhood abuse. It would certainly help your research to read it.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Sorry to contradict you, 3113, but it's not true. Dissociative personality CAN happen relating to a SINGLE event that happened in someone's life and have nothing to do with abuse in childhood

Actually, Lady C, that would be PTSD with dissociation... not true DID... True DID is a developmental disorder... it happens during the actual development of identity.