What is causing these symptoms? Do I have multiple personalities?

Question

I'm 16. Ever since november last year or maybe earlier, I've been having the same set of symptoms that have been getting more and more severe. In november I took my mock exams so my GP put the symptoms down to stress. When they didn't go away after a few months, he referred me to a hospital who suggested a partial epilepsy diagnosis and I've had various MRI scans, EEG scans and medications... none of which helped. The doctor at the hospital then referred me to a psychiatrist who ignored these symptoms and diagnosed me with 2 seperate disorders: Bipolar Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder which I'm not sure is correct, although I do have obsessive rituals and mood swings. I still have no explanation for these symptoms that have been getting gradually worse for almost a year. I looked them up on google and found they matched the symptoms of multiple personalities (Dissociative Identity Disorder) almost exactly. I'd like some opinions before I bring this up with my psychiatrist next week, since I've heard some doctors are skeptical.

Here are my symptoms:

* Feeling like everything's not real or is changing colour and getting brighter.

* Feeling like I'm outside my body or it doesn't belong to me

* Sometimes I don't recognise myself in the mirror (which can be very disturbing!)

* On two seperate occasions I forgot important personal information (my name and where I live.)

* Occasional black outs when I'm feeling stressed... the last one happened when I started having a panic attack in the car, and I ''woke up'' to find I was in the middle of town.

*Sometimes I feel as though part of me is outside my body and is commenting in my voice in my head on what I'm doing while the other part is in control. (the only happens when I'm stressed, or when I'm not at home.)

So, what do you think? Any advice/opinions would be appreciated. I'm not sure whether to bring this up with my psychiatrist as I don't want it to seem like I'm making it up or something. Thanks for reading/answering, sorry it's so long. X

Answer 1

I read a documentary story about D.I.D.

It sounds like you may have it, but I can't be completely sure. The patient in the story blacks out, but other personalities take over. She doesn't know what they're saying, but they all have different names and they talk to her psychiatrist.  

Answer 2

i think your experiencing depersonalisation... if you have anxiety check this out.. anxietynomore.co.uk

Answer 3

I think you are cool the way you are.

Answer 4

You sound like you have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) it is indeed curable, research it and you will know. Please see a psychiatrist to confirm this, this is a guess, it's not uncommon for people to have this so don't feel embarrassed to ask.

Answer 5

Maybe as well as being Bi-polar,you might have mild schizophrenia.See your therapist and ask them to look into it.Stay focused,the more you worry the more you'll feel down.

Answer 6

Maybe a brain tumor or something along those lines.

Just a shot in the dark though

Answer 7

That does not sound anything like multiple personalities, at least without a few other key symptoms.  I'm no expert, but I would suggest you seek professional help, but almost as important is get educated yourself.  You can always pick up a DSM4 (see reference) for some important information, an interesting read and some plain old gee-whiz information.

This is the first question I've answered on this, and I hope it helps.

Answer 8

It's depersonalisation without a doubt. I get it too sometimes often when I talk alot, I start 'watching myself' and waiting for me to stop talking. It is really strange.

Answer 9

and schizophrenia?

http://www.seroquel.com/csch/care/explor...

Answer 10

Yep - sounds like DID

Answer 11

Hi,

Although looking up symptoms online can be helpful in giving you an idea of what could be wrong with you its best not to try and self diagnose or get too worried about things you read online.

Yes, your symptoms may match D.I.D but they striked me instantly as being like shizo affective disorder too.

I think you should definatley go your psychiatrist with your concerns.  Dont worry, no one will have any reason to think you're making things up. After all, I suffer from depression from myself and would not seek the label if I didnt genuinly need the help! ;)

Make a list like you have done here, on paper of all the things you are experiencing to make sure you dont forget anything. The clearer the picture your psychiatrist has of your symptoms the more likely he is to give you a correct diagnosis, and in turn hopefully medication and treatment that can help you.

Stress to your psychiatrist that you feel that things are getting worse and worse. You're still young and hopefully if things are nipped in the bud they wont affect your future too much so dont be afraid to fight to get the help you need.

Good luck.

Answer 12

im not a shrink but to me it sounds like dissociative identity disorder ( the new name for multiple personality disorder, they renamed it because not all who disassociate have noticable extra full blown personalitys ) only a really good psychiatrist will be able to tell for sure though (not all psychiatrists believe in the disorder or can spot it though)

should bring it up at your next session with psychiatrist.... but be prepared for them to over react a bit, and be prepared for them to push for  assimilating  the " personalitys" into one

it is possible to live a normal life( or even a better life .. it can be dern usefull)  with the dissorder.......... but only if you can open up communication with your other selfs.. ( or fragments of other self )

on the bright side those of us who are lucky enough to have d.i.d are never alone and always have some one to talk to or to take over if things become too much or help out ...

on the down side those of us who have d.i.d are never alone lol its a bit of a double edge sword

opening up communication is vital however, as is cooperation, and each part or fragment will have its own problems that will have to be worked out.