It's a mind bender for sure. I've been bingeing DID videos on youtube for the past week or so. I had the same knee-jerk reaction initially, but the more I watch the more it seems plausible to me....
It's a mind bender for sure. I've been bingeing DIDvideoson youtube for the past week or so. I had the same knee-jerk reaction initially, but the more I watch the more it seems plausible to me. More importantly I'm not a mental health professional so I'm not in the position to judge DID in general or whether anyone specific has it. For all I know they could be elaborate method actors, 100% legitimate, or anywhere inbetween.
Generally speaking I think it's best to give the benefit of the doubt. Mental health professionals need to worry about DID validity, causes, etc. so they can administer appropriate treatment. But for the rest of us there is little harm in taking DID at face value, provided those with DID take responsibility for their system; and there's a lot of harm that can come from treating someone who legitimately has it as illegitimate. Respecting the various personalities of someone with DID is an extension of the respect we should show for anyone's self-expressed identity. In the same way that I don't question someone's wheelchair, their tourette's, or their gender identity, I give people with DID the benefit of the doubt.
It's a mind bender for sure. I've been bingeing DID videos on youtube for the past week or so. I had the same knee-jerk reaction initially, but the more I watch the more it seems plausible to me. More importantly I'm not a mental health professional so I'm not in the position to judge DID in general or whether anyone specific has it. For all I know they could be elaborate method actors, 100% legitimate, or anywhere inbetween.
Generally speaking I think it's best to give the benefit of the doubt. Mental health professionals need to worry about DID validity, causes, etc. so they can administer appropriate treatment. But for the rest of us there is little harm in taking DID at face value, provided those with DID take responsibility for their system; and there's a lot of harm that can come from treating someone who legitimately has it as illegitimate. Respecting the various personalities of someone with DID is an extension of the respect we should show for anyone's self-expressed identity. In the same way that I don't question someone's wheelchair, their tourette's, or their gender identity, I give people with DID the benefit of the doubt.