Signs & Symptoms of Depression & Multiple Personality Disorder

The signs and symptoms of depression and multiple personality disorder are numerous and often mimic each other. In many cases, the two go hand-in-hand. Not everyone will experience all of the symptoms, or the same ones; however, familiarizing yourself with the signs and symptoms of each can help you manage your own condition or help you spot a friend or loved one in need of help.

Symptoms of Depression

• Depression can be far more than a sad or "empty" mood. It can also include many types of physical ailments such as stomach problems, aches and pains, headaches, changes in appetite, insomnia, fatigue, decreased sex drive or excessive sleeping. A person with depression may find that they are very anxious, but they cannot figure out why. They may feel hopeless or worthless and lose interest in activities and hobbies they used to enjoy. Feelings of guilt and helplessness may overwhelm them, or they may become very irritable. In extreme cases, untreated depression can lead to suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Recognizing Depression in Others

• It is normal to get depressed from time to time, but there are certain signals that may indicate a greater problem. Family and friends can often spot the more serious illness of clinical depression in the way their loved one acts and talks. The individual may have great difficulty making decisions, even relatively minor ones. They may be unable to concentrate and forget things easily. Some may develop drinking or drug habits or suddenly start having difficulty in relationships. Someone who is clinically depressed may want to spend increasing amounts of time alone and drop out of regular social interactions.

Multiple Personality Disorder or Dissasociative Identity Disorder (DID)

• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a serious illness once known as Multiple Personality Disorder. According to WebMD.com, people with DID experience a disconnection from their thoughts, memories, feelings, actions and their sense of personal identity. It is believed to be a subconscious coping mechanism the individual developed during childhood trauma that initially allowed them to separate themselves from the violent or painful situation.

Symptoms of DID

• The signs and symptoms that are common to those suffering from DID include amnesia or memory loss of certain people, events and periods of time. They experience mental health issues including depression and anxiety disorders, as well as a sense of being "detached" from themselves. Their perception of the people and things around them are distorted and unreal and a lost sense of identity.

Recognizing DID in Others

• DID is far more in-depth and more serious than daydreaming or "spacing out." Someone with DID often lacks the ability to recall long periods of time, such as their entire childhood. When under stress, an individual suffering from DID may "switch" back and forth from personality to personality, so you never know exactly "who" you are talking to. Each identity may have its own name, age, gender and personal history. They may drive away and forget who they are and where they are going, then assume a new identity in a new place. They may also describe feeling as though they are outside their own bodies watching themselves and say time and the world around them are slowing down.