My friend has multiple personality disorder?

Answer 1

• EXTREMELY doubtful. There is heavy debate in the scientific community if the disorder even exists. If it does, there are literally a handful of people who have been "documented cases". At any rate, one of the supposed key features of Multiple Personality Disorder (now called Dissociative Identity Disorder) is that the person is unaware that he/she has multiple personalities. Thus, if your friend is claimed that he/she has it, they are lying. If you, yourself came to this conclusion, like I said - DOUBTFUL.
• I disagree with the above poster, for starters there's debate in the "scientific community" whether just about any disorder really exists. If you've actually done your research, there's the possibility of them being unaware of the disorder. Worth noting, the Hollywood depiction of Dissociative Identity Disorder is a little bit a truth, mixed with a lot of ... well, Hollywood (not a good source for information really.)

  For starters, talk to them in depth about it, maybe you're the person they trust enough to come out with such a touchy subject (do they even have a reason to lie to you? also, why would they lie to you about this.) To the above poster (first bullet) please read the DSM page on it before jumping to conclusions, even if the DSM isn't perfect it's better than saying "there's debates going on, they must be lying." I think it would improve the quality of your posts.

*Also, talk to them about whether they have the actual disorder/meet the critieria for Dissociative Identity disorder [ie, dissociation, amnesia, etc], or if they mean simply that they are a multiple. Either way they will need a friend and a listening ear. Multiplicity is natural and healthy, though it can be hard to understand for those who do not experience it [just as people are fond of saying that the nature of the Trinity is confusing, for instance, being three in one and one in three]. Dissociation is a disorder that brings with it loss of self, and may bring with it other baggage such as co-morbid disorders or past experiences.

Here is one resource which can get you started: http://www.astraeasweb.net/plural/faq.html