Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID, is a mental health condition commonly known in the media as Multiple Personality Disorder. It’s characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states in the same individual. Each of these personality states may have a unique name, characteristics, behavioral traits, and even a personal history.

It’s considered a rare condition that affects fewer than 200,000 cases in the United States per year. It is also a mental health condition that is widely misunderstood, which is why Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day was created. This day falls on March 5th and is designed to bring awareness to this particular condition.

The History of Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day

Up until about 1995 or 1996, DID was known as Multiple Personality Disorder, and this name is still often used in movies and other media. The name of this mental health condition was changed to Dissociative Identity Disorder because professionals felt that this name more accurately described the symptoms of the condition.

It’s been estimated that approximately 2% of the general population has DID, and it’s predominantly caused by individuals who have experienced severe childhood trauma combined with a disorganized attachment style.

This holiday was created a few years ago by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) to advance not only societal understanding of this condition but also clinical and scientific understanding of it.

Facts About Dissociative Disorders

Although we urge everyone reading about Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day to speak to a mental health professional or to gather their information on DID from a reputable source, we thought we’d leave our readers with a few facts about this disorder that could be used as a launching point for further research. Let’s take a look at the following facts.

• Symptoms of DID include memory loss about specific people and events, loss of time, out-of-body experiences, a sense of emotional detachment, and a lack of a sense of self-identity.
• People with DID may feel like one or more voices are taking control of their thoughts.
• The average onset age of DID is 16, although depersonalization episodes may begin anywhere from early to mid-childhood.

Observing Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day

This day is primarily for mental health organizations to spread awareness about DID so that people have a better understanding of it. It is also a good day for family members of those suffering from dissociative identity disorder to learn more about this condition. People can spread the news about this holiday using the hashtag #DIDAwarenessDay online.