Before I list symptoms of DID, I need to note two things:
- Having any of these symptoms does NOT mean you have DID.
- This list is not exhaustive. You might experience something not on the list below.
If you have any concerns or notice that you have some of these symptoms, you may want to see a mental health practitioner who is knowledgeable about Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Symptoms of DID:
- Feeling like you aren’t in control of your body.
- Sometimes you can do something (like drive a car) that you don’t know how to do at other times.
- No memory of recent hours or days.
- People telling you about conversations they had with you that you don’t remember.
- People who you don’t know but who seem to know you– and perhaps they call you a different name.
- You don’t know who you are sometimes.
- You have emotions that don’t match your circumstances, either in intensity or type.
- Having thoughts that don’t seem to be yours.
- Having impulses that don’t seem to be yours.
- Hearing voices in your head, either commenting on you or talking directly to you.
- Finding items that aren’t yours or that you are sure you have never had.
- Finding writing or art, etc. which you didn’t create but is clearly yours.
- Finding notes in different handwriting on your papers.
- Having thoughts, emotions, or intentions which suddenly vanish.
- Being unable to remember important life events like getting married or the birth of a child.
- Finding yourself somewhere and having no idea how you got there. This might be across town or in another state.
- Having times when you do not recognize family or close friends.
- Being told that you did or said something that isn’t at all like you.
- Finding items where they shouldn’t be or having objects missing from where you know they should be.
- Being accused of lying when you are certain you are not.