DID without trauma?

by Emma

Is it possible to develop DID without going through childhood trauma? The closest thing to trauma that I've ever experienced would be falling out of my crib when I was little or the friendship/esteem problems I had during middle school where I basically convinced myself that the sole reason for my existence was for other people's happiness. I tried to get rid of my own feelings and identity because I realized that they where getting in the way of making other people happy. It got to the point where I had no idea about what my interests were or what I thought about myself.

About a year ago, I started hearing a voice in my head (kind of like telepathy) and I figured it was probably a coping mechanism.

Now I have 6 of them (Luka, Cecil, Alexei, Emma, Aria and Nikolai) and they're not very happy with me questioning their existence (Aria hates me). I can switch with them so we tend to use this to our advantage. I don't experience amnesia when we switch, but I do feel like i'm not in control.

Do you think that maybe its just my imagination or is it something else?

How do I bring this up with family and friends?

Ben's Reply:

In my experience, most psychological issues originate with some form of trauma.
Sometimes, even people with significant traumas do recognize them as traumas. And many other people have less obvious traumas. I'm not an expert in DID, so can't give you a definite answer about this. But I think it is best to not be too quick to diagnose yourself. I think that labels can often do more harm than good, unless it leads to self-understanding and a way to cope. I do think that seeing a good therapist could be a very helpful thing for you, and seeking out one who specializes in Dissociative Disorders or DID would probably be a good place to start.

I have known people that have alter egos that they identify by name, and yet they don't fit the criteria of DID. There are many possible ways to look at this. Exploring this with a therapist who can help you understand what it all means would be helpful.

Best Wishes,
Ben